The following narrative was written by Oliver Cowdery as an explanation which precedes the actual blessing text:
"The reader will remember the remarks made at the commencement of the foregoing blessings, pronounced by the first patriarch, and first elder in this church, Joseph Smith, jr. I said that he had authority to bless; this is so, and it may be understood that those men whose names are mentioned in the blessings by his mouth, had long been employed in the work of the Lord, and were personally known to him. I mean those besides his own family, who are myself, Frederick G. Williams, Sidney Rigdon, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, John Corrill and William W. Phelps. Now, after writing these blessings at the mouth of the Seer, I greatly desired to know the mind of the Spirit concerning this my brother, with whom I had labored so many years; And accordingly I besought the Lord with prayer and fasting, who opened the heavens upon me, And thus, while in the heavenly vision, I wrote the following blessing, which is a part of that which was shown and declared should come upon my brother. Therefore, let no one doubt of their correctness and truth, for they will verily be fulfilled. (signed) Oliver Cowdery."
(Patriarchal Blessings Book Volume 2:28, Church Historians Office)
PATRIARCHAL BLESSING:
1. Blessed of the Lord is my brother, for the integrity of
his heart and the steadfastness of his soul.
2. Upheld by the aim of the Almighty, he shall never fall, but
shall be strengthened by his right hand till he overcomes.
3. Like Jacob of old he shall wrestle with the angel, and as a
prince shall he have power with God, and shall prevail.
4. Ever faithful to his friends and true to his word, the goodness
of the Most High shall sustain him, and thousands shall stand
up to defend him from the hand of his enemies and put forth the
hand, and ward off the blow were it needful:
5. But ere his foes are aware he shall be hid under the pavillion
of the Lord Jehovah;
6. For with the voice of his thunder shall he strike terror to
their hearts, and as with the wings of an eagle shall my brother
be carried beyond all harm, by the power of the Anointed.
7. From amid the burning bush, like Moses of old, shall he hear
the voice, saying, I am the God of thy fathers Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, I have seen the affliction of my people and have come
down to deliver them.
8. Go thou, and say to the strength of my house, "To your
tents, O Israel; build up the wastes and raise up the foundation
of desolation that this generation has made."
9. Thus shall he be honored of the Lord, and thus shall it be
recorded of him, that the generation to come may bless his name,
in Israel, saying, "The Lord make thee as Joseph the Seer,
who was of the house of Ephraim the brother of Manasseh:
10. "The Lord do thee good, and bring peace and blessings
among thy house as he brought them upon the house of Joseph the
Seer, who was raised up of a choice vine from the stem of Jacob
through the root of Joseph, even that Joseph who was separated
from his brethren;"
11. For like Joseph of old shall he be; he shall save the just
from desolation by the wise counsel of the Almighty;
12. For by his direction shall they gather into store houses and
barns till they overflow with the richness of the fruit of the
harvest;
13. And by this means shall the just be saved from famine, while
the nations of the wicked are distressed and faint.
14. In due time shall he go forth toward the north, and by the
power of his word shall the deep begin to give way; and the ice
melt before the Sun.
15. By the keys of the kingdom shall he lead Israel into the land
of Zion, while the house of Jacob shouts in the dance and in the
song-
16. Joy O my soul in that day, for thou shalt be with him and
bear thy part in the keys which are confirmed upon thee for an
everlasting priesthood forever and ever-
17. Joy O my heart, in that day, with thanksgiving and with praise,
for thou shalt stand with him before the hosts of Israel-
18. The lame shall leap as an hart, the old shall renew their
strength, and the virgin of Israel, with the youth shall exalt
the name of our God upon harps and instruments of ten strings.
19. He shall be a sure arrow in the bow of his God; for he shall
be hid under the shadow of his wing.
20. His loins shall be like iron, girded by the hand of the Lord;
and his feet shall be swift to execute the commandment of the
Most High when he shall say "destroy."
21. His name shall be had in everlasting remembrance, and his
seed after him, for they shall be saved to the uttermost.
22. His fame shall be sounded in foreign lands, even to the ends
of the earth, as well as nigh at home: for in this the times shall
change, a prophet shall have honor in his own country.
23. His learning and wisdom shall astonish the great for they
shall acknowledge that by his intelligence he has far surpassed
their learning and their science.
24. In palaces of governors, rulers, and kings shall he be honored,
even in his person, for God shall give him power to prevail.
25. He shall be a law giver to Israel, and shall teach the house
of Jacob the statutes of the Most High.
26. His testimony shall shine like the Sun, and the weight of
his influence shall be like the great river that rises on the
East of the everlasting hills, and flows into the great deep so
shall his righteousness ever abound.
27. He shall partake of the blessing of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
the chief things of the ancient mountains, the precious things
that couch beneath, and the treasure hid in the sand.
28. The records of past ages and generations, and the histories
of ancient days shall he bring forth, even the record of the Nephites
shall he again obtain, with all those hid up by Mormon, and others
who were righteous; and many others till he is overwhelmed with
knowledge.
29. No precious thing shall slumber from his possession, for he
shall be covered with the most choice things of all ages, till
his soul shall be satisfied and his heart shall say, Enough! Enough!
30. In his hands shall the Urim and Thummim remain and the holy
ministry, and the keys of the evangelical priesthood also for
an everlasting priesthood forever, even the patriarchal; for,
behold, he is the first patriarch in the last days.
31. He shall sit in the great assembly and general council of
patriarchs, and execute the will and commandment under the Ancient
of Days, for he shall have his place and act in his station.
32. Behold my brother Joseph is blessed, blessed are all those
who bless him; and blessed are all those whom he blesses.
33. Multitudes, multitudes shall come to a knowledge of the truth
through his ministry, and he shall be welcomed into the presence
of kings and the great ones of the earth; for he shall claim his
place among the nobles of the earth and shall be reverenced by
them.
34. He shall also be filled with abundance of the fat of the earth;
his flock shall bring forth thousands and tens of thousands: his
vats shall overflow with wine and oil his cattle shall increases
to a multitude: he shall have horses and mules, asses, sheasses,
and dromedaries, camels and elephants, and all swift beasts;
35. And when he goes forth in haste his chariot shall roar like
the approach of an army; he shall have gold and silver, precious
stones, diamonds, pearls, and the pure platina, with the antiquities
of every kind.
36. Thus shall God bless, and thus shall he be prospered: and
he shall have peace after a little, for his enemies shall be consumed
many of them, and many shall turn and be his friends in very deed:
37. He shall remain to a good old age, even till his head is like
the pure wool.
38. Behold there is not end to the vision, of the multiplicity
of blessings and glories, which shall come upon my brother Joseph.
39. He shall possess a mansion on high and have an inheritance
in that city which is like pure gold, even like transparent glass.
40. His rest shall be glorious and his name remain forever.
41. Thus closes the vision, and thus it shall be; even so: Amen