[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Tooele City, Tooele County
A blessing given by Israel Bennion, Patriarch, upon the head of John Henry Smith, son of Geo. [A.] Smith and Sarah Ann Libbey, born at Carbunca, now Council Bluffs, Pottawattomie Co., Iowa.
Brother John Henry Smith, by the Authority of the Holy Priesthood I now pronounce upon thy head a Patriarchal blessing. Thou art of the house of Joseph through Ephraim, an heir to the blessings of the fathers. Thou art blest in thy Ancestry, being of the favored lineage. The faith of the Gospel is thy birthright. Thou shalt never be turned from it. Thou shalt understand clearly all things pertaining thereto and thy spirit shall agree to the Counsels of the Servants of the Lord readily and easily, for it is natural for thee to comprehend and understand the Word of the Lord. Thou shalt be steadfast and firm in Counsel, yet humble, giving glory to the Lord. Thy face shall be set against iniquity, and in the purity of Thine heart thou shalt indeed be a Watchman upon the Towers of Zion, and shalt Live long and shall enter into the rest of the Lord.
Thy name shall be honored among the Saints and handed down in remembrance to future generations. Thy posterity shall be numerous and faithfull. Thou shalt take part in great and glorious events connected with the establishment of Zion. The spirit of prophesy shall be upon thee and the visions of eternity open to thy sight. Thou shalt have the gift of the holy spirit to guide thee, directing thy labors, both spiritually and temporally, and thou shalt see the Riches of the Earth uncovered for thy good and the good of the faithfull Saints and the good of Zion to thy heart's content. I seal these blessings on thee and seal thee up to eternal life, to come fourth in the morning of the first resurrection, crowned with glory among thy Kindred and friends. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. (1)
-- Thursday, June 15, 1899
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Salt Lake City
The President, Lorenzo Snow, gave my son George A. and wife Lucy E. W. their second Endowments today. I laid hands on with him. (1)
-- 1900 January
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father]] Goes to Washington, D.C., to oppose an anti-polygamy amendment to the U.S. Constitution. (2)
-- Thursday, Feb. 1, 1900
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Washington, D.C.
It is bitter cold for this City.
Bro. H. B. Clawson and I called at the Raleigh Hotel but failed to find Mr. Salisbury.
I wrote letters to Prest. Lorenzo Snow and my son George. ... (1)
-- Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1900
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Washington, D.C.
Bp. H. B. Clawson and me in company with Senator Geo. L. Shoup Called upon President Win. McKinley. He received us nicely and said we should not be hurt. We had a good handshake and he seemed very happy. I told him I would do all I could for him but that he must not overestimate my strength.
I called upon Commissioner H. C. Evans and Commissioner Berger Hermann of the land office. Both wished to be Kindly remembered to my son Geo. A. Smith. ... (1)
-- Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1900
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] ... My son George A. has met with a serious accident to one of his eyes. (1)
-- Thursday, Aug. 30, 1900
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Salt Lake City
My son George A. and I went up City Creek Canyon to its head, and crossed the mountain into Hardscrable to look at a peace of land to make a summer home on. We returned in the evening. I attended the Republican primary. (1)
-- Thursday, Mar 7, 1901
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] ... I spent the evening at [wife] Josephine's. The D. News contains the announcement this evening that Lorin Farr [grandfather] 80 years old, has taken out a marriage license. (1)
Footnotes:
1 - White, Jean Bickmore, Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith
2 - White, Jean Bickmore, Church, State, and Politics, p.xviii, A John Henry Smith Chronology, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith
LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith
Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
