Joseph Smith's Prophetic Blessing of the Twelve Apostles — He Foretold Each One's Individual Destiny Under the Spirit (November 12–14, 1835)

In November 1835, Joseph Smith gathered the newly-ordained Quorum of the Twelve Apostles together in Kirtland, Ohio, and over the course of three days — November 12 through 14 — individually laid his hands upon each apostle and pronounced prophetic blessings upon him. These blessings, recorded in Joseph's journal, were given under the direct influence of the Spirit and contained specific prophecies about each apostle's future ministry, trials, and eventual destiny.

The journal records that Joseph was "filled with the Spirit" as he blessed each man, and that he prophesied of events that would unfold in their lives — their future missions to the nations of the earth, the persecutions they would face, the spiritual gifts they would receive, and the glory that awaited the faithful.

Among the most remarkable of these prophetic blessings was the one pronounced upon Heber C. Kimball. Joseph prophesied that Kimball would be called to open the gospel to the nations of the earth — specifically to England — and that the Lord would preserve his life and make him an instrument of great good among the people of that land. This prophecy was fulfilled within two years: in June 1837, Heber C. Kimball was called to lead the first mission to England, and his ministry there resulted in thousands of conversions and the gathering of a great body of British Saints to America.

Joseph also blessed and prophesied over the other members of the Twelve, including Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Hyde, William E. McLellin, David W. Patten, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, John F. Boynton, John E. Page, and Thomas B. Marsh. For each, Joseph's blessing under the Spirit spoke to their individual character, their future labors, and the trials or glory that awaited them. Some of these prophecies — such as Orson Hyde's mission to Jerusalem, David W. Patten's martyrdom, and the apostasy of certain members — were fulfilled in the years that followed.

The November 1835 blessing of the Twelve is remarkable as an instance of specific, individual prophetic foreknowledge: Joseph Smith, under the Spirit, looked at each man before him and foretold the course of his life and ministry with a specificity that went far beyond general encouragement. The journal's careful recording of each blessing preserved a body of prophecy whose fulfillment — both in the faithfulness of those who remained true and in the tragedies of those who fell away — testified to the prophetic power that rested upon Joseph Smith.

This event also demonstrates the pattern of the Restoration: the Lord, through His prophet, prepared and forearmed each future leader of the Church for the specific trials and labors that awaited him, giving spiritual guidance before the temporal challenges arrived.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

Thursday, November 12, 1835. This day I have been assisted by Oliver Cowdery in arranging and recording the blessings of the Twelve Apostles, which were given under the hands of the Presidency, as follows:— [The journal then proceeds to list the individual blessings for each of the Twelve Apostles, beginning with Thomas B. Marsh, followed by David W. Patten, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, William E. McLellin, Parley P. Pratt, Luke Johnson, William Smith, Orson Pratt, John F. Boynton, and Lyman E. Johnson.] ... Friday, November 13, 1835. This day we have been engaged in recording the blessings of the Twelve. ... Saturday, November 14, 1835. This day we have been engaged in recording the blessings of the Twelve.