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Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by Thomas Bullock

Source Note

JS, Discourse, [, Hancock Co., IL, 12 May 1844]. Featured version inscribed [ca. 12 May 1844]; handwriting of ; two pages; JS Collection, CHL. Includes docket and notations.
Bifolium measuring 12½ × 7¾ inches (32 × 20 cm). The bifolium’s pages are ruled with thirty-nine horizontal lines printed in blue ink, now faded. The discourse was inscribed on the recto and verso of the first leaf. The second leaf contains a few lines of text that carry over from the verso of the first leaf onto the recto of the second leaf. The document was folded for filing and docketed. There are stains—apparently from water—on the recto of the first leaf, and there is some separation along several of the folds.
The document was docketed by , who served as JS’s scribe from 1843 to 1844 and as clerk to the church historian and recorder from 1845 to 1865. Bullock later inscribed a graphite notation. The notation “A.J” was added by Andrew Jenson, who began working in the Church Historian’s Office (later Church Historical Department) in 1891 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941. The document was listed in an inventory that was produced by the Church Historian’s Office circa 1904. By 1973 this discourse had been included in the JS Collection at the Church Historical Department (now CHL). The document’s early docket and notations, its listing in a circa 1904 inventory, and its later inclusion in the JS Collection indicate continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 456, 458; Woodruff, Journal, 22 Jan. 1865.

    Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (Summer 1971): 439–473.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  2. [2]

    Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

    Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

  3. [3]

    “Letters to and from the Prophet,” ca. 1904, [4], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

    Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.

  4. [4]

    See the full bibliographic entry for JS Collection, 1827–1844, in the CHL catalog.

Historical Introduction

On 12 May 1844, JS preached a discourse in , Illinois, in which he defended himself against his critics and spoke on the salvation and resurrection of the dead. By this time, tensions had been growing for months between JS and his opponents in Nauvoo. On 18 April 1844, a council excommunicated , JS’s former counselor in the , along with his wife, ; his brother ; and . JS’s opponents subsequently organized a rival church with William Law as its president. Although various individuals had visited JS’s opponents attempting to effect a reconciliation, on 6 May the unanimously concluded to no longer “feel after” the Laws (William, Jane, and Wilson), Foster, and and but instead to deliver “them over to the buffetings of .” Following this decision, JS received notice on 7 May that his enemies had purchased a printing press. On 11 May, reported that and Francis M. Higbee were in , Illinois, speaking against JS. The next day, some three hundred people attended a meeting of William Law’s church held in Nauvoo.
On the morning of 12 May, JS delivered a discourse from an outdoor rostrum near the construction site. In this sermon, JS defended himself against his detractors, who accused him of being a fallen prophet. Besides addressing his opponents’ accusations, JS taught the doctrine of salvation for the dead through proxy —such as —emphasizing the need for the dead to receive all the same ordinances necessary to save the living. JS also explained certain aspects of the resurrection.
noted that he “learned a great deal” from JS’s sermon, and wrote that he “never felt more delighted with his [JS’s] Discourse than at this time” and stated that “it put me in Mind of Herod when they said at his Oration it is the Voice of A God and not of A Man.”
Three extant versions of the discourse exist. , who provided the most extensive account of the discourse, was present when JS spoke and presumably took notes at that time. However, the quality of his handwriting and the small number of abbreviations in the surviving text suggest that Bullock’s account is a fair copy rather than the original, hastily inscribed notes he would have taken down as JS spoke. A number of insertions were later made to Bullock’s account. A few of these were added before the discourse was recorded in the sermon book, but the majority were most likely made when the sermon was prepared for inclusion in the manuscript history in the 1850s. These later insertions are not included in Bullock’s account as featured here. Additionally, Samuel W. Richards and each wrote accounts of the sermon—likely from notes they took at the time JS spoke. All three extant accounts of JS’s discourse are featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 18 Apr. 1844; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 18 Apr. 1844; Law, Record of Doings, 19 Apr. 1844, in Cook, William Law, 50–51; Richards, Journal, 18 Apr. 1844; Clayton, Journal, 18 Apr. 1844; Fielding, Journal, 1843–1859, 27.

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

    Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

    Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

    Fielding, Joseph. Journals, 1837–1859. CHL. MS 1567.

  2. [2]

    Law, Record of Doings, 1 June 1844, in Cook, William Law, 54; JS, Journal, 28 Apr. 1844; Woodruff, Journal, 6 May 1844.

    Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

    Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.

  3. [3]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 26 Mar. and 6 May 1844; Law, Record of Doings, 29 Mar. and 15 Apr. 1844, in Cook, William Law, 48, 50. Despite this pronouncement, William Law recorded in his journal that Sidney Rigdon visited him on 13 May 1844 in another effort to make peace. (Law, Record of Doings, 13 May 1844, in Cook, William Law, 52–53.)

    Cook, Lyndon W. William Law: Biographical Essay, Nauvoo Diary, Correspondence, Interview. Orem, UT: Grandin Book, 1994.

  4. [4]

    JS, Journal, 7 and 11 May 1844. The Quincy Whig reported that Blakeslee and one of the Higbees had been in Quincy, where they contended that JS “was pretty much of a rough customer, especially in relation to the ‘spiritual wife’ doctrine. Their whole aim was principally against Smith and not against the church—of which they still claimed to be members. They painted Smith, as any thing but the Saint he claims to be—and as a man, to the last degree, corrupt in his morals and religion.” (“The Mormons,” Quincy [IL] Whig, 22 May 1844, [1].)

    Quincy Whig. Quincy, IL. 1838–1856.

  5. [5]

    “The New Church,” Warsaw (IL) Signal, 15 May 1844, [2].

    Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.

  6. [6]

    JS, Journal, 12 May 1844; Historian’s Office, Journal, 12 May 1844.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

  7. [7]

    See JS, Journal, 28 Apr. 1844; and “The New Church,” Warsaw (IL) Signal, 15 May 1844, [2].

    Warsaw Signal. Warsaw, IL. 1841–1853.

  8. [8]

    Historian’s Office, Journal, 12 May 1844.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

  9. [9]

    Fielding, Journal, 1843–1859, 30–31; see also Acts 12:21–22.

    Fielding, Joseph. Journals, 1837–1859. CHL. MS 1567.

  10. [10]

    Historian’s Office, Journal, 12 May 1844.

    Historian’s Office. Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1.

  11. [11]

    Compare Bullock’s polished notes for JS’s 12 May 1844 discourse with the rough notes he took during JS’s 7 April 1844 discourse. (See Discourse, 7 Apr. 1844.)

  12. [12]

    See Historian’s Office, “Sermons by Joseph Smit[h] and Others,” 30–34; JS History, vol. F-1, 16–21; and Historical Introduction to JS History, 1838–1856, vol. F-1 [1 May 1844–8 Aug. 1844]. A notation on Bullock’s account states that it was copied into the Nauvoo sermon book, which was located in the back of the Nauvoo City Council minute book. Below this first notation is another, stating that Bullock’s account was also copied into the manuscript history but had not yet been revised by Brigham Young, then president of the church.

    Historian’s Office. Sermon Book / Historian’s Office. “Sermons by Joseph Smit[h] and Others,” ca. 1854–ca. 1856. Verso of Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, CHL.

  13. [13]

    In Richards’s notebook, minutes for the April 1845 conference precede his 12 May 1844 entry, suggesting that his account was copied into his notebook sometime after April 1845. Laub began writing in his journal on 1 January 1845, meaning that his account was entered after that date. (Richards, Notebook, [65]; Laub, Reminiscences and Journal, 1.)

    Richards, Samuel W. Notebook, ca. 1844–1845. Samuel W. Richards, Papers, 1839–1909. CHL.

    Laub, George. Reminiscences and Journal, 1845–1857. CHL. MS 9628.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by Thomas Bullock *Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by Samuel W. Richards *Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by George Laub Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by Samuel W. Richards, Copy History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [2]

it will not do for men to sit down and see their women destroyed patiently, my text is 14 John In my Fathers house are many mansions &c In my Father’s Kingdom are many Kingdoms— in order that ye may be heirs of God and joint heirs with me— I do not believe the methodist doctrine of sending honest men, and noble minded men to hell, along with the murderer and adulterer— they may hurl all their hell and fiery billows upon me, for they will roll off me as fast as they come on— but I have an order of things to save the poor fellows at any rate, and get them saved for I will send men to preach to them in prison and save them if I can. there is &c for those who are alive, and baptism for the dead, all who died without the knowledge of the gospel I am going on in my progress for eternal life— it is not only necessary that you should be baptised for your dead, but you will have to go thro’ all the for them, same as you have to save yourself; there will be 144,000 and an innumerable host, that no man can number— Oh! go forward, go forward and make your calling and your election sure— and if any man preach any other gospel than that which I have preached, he shall be cursed, and some of you who now hear me, shall see it— in regard to the law of the — there should be a place where all nations shall come up from time to time to receive their , and the Lord has said, this shall be the place for the baptism for the dead— every man that has been baptized and belongs to the Kingdom, has a right to be baptized for those who are gone before, and, as soon as the Law is obeyed here the Lord has administrators there, to set them free— a man may act as proxy for his own relatives— the ordination was laid out before the foundation of the world— those who we have much friendship for, it must be first revealed to man from God lest he should run too far— as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive, all shall be raised from the dead— the Lamb of God hath brought to pass the resurrection so that all shall rise from the dead— God Almighty himself dwells in Eternal fire, flesh and blood cannot go there, all corruption is devoured by the fire— our God is a consuming fire— when our flesh is quickened by the Spirit, there will be no blood— some dwell in higher glory than others— those who have done wrong, always have that wrong knawing them— Immortality dwells in everlasting burning— I will from time to time reveal the subjects that are revealed to me— all the lies that are now hatched up are of the devil— & all the influence of the devil will be used against the kingdom of God— the Servants of God teach nothing but eternal life— by their works ye shall know them— a good man will speak good things,— I feel in the name of the Lord, to rebuke all such bad principles, liars &c and look out who you are going after— I exhort you to give heed to all the virtue and the teachings which I have given you; you cannot go any where, but where God can find you out; all must rise, all must enter eternity— in order for you to receive your children to yourself, you must have a promise, some ordinance some blessing— or else it may be an angel— they must rise just as they died— we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory, the same loveliness in the where they all enjoy alike— they differ in stature, in size— the same glorious spirit gives them the likeness of glory and bloom— the old man with his silvery hairs will glory in bloom & beauty— no man can describe it to you— no man can write it— when did I ever teach any thing wrong from this stand? when was I ever confounded? I want to triumph in Israel before I depart hence and am no more seen— I never told you I was perfect— but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught— must I then be thrown away as a thing of nought?— I enjoin for your consideration, add to your faith, virtue, love &c I testify that no man has power to reveal it, but myself, things in heaven, in earth and hell— and all shut your mouths for the future— I commend you all to God, that you may inherit all things— & may God add his blessing
Amen. [p. [2]]
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Discourse, 12 May 1844, as Reported by Thomas Bullock
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Footnotes

  1. [21]

    JS stated in a January 1843 discourse that “any man who will not fight for his wife & childrn is a coward & a bastard.” (Discourse, 29 Jan. 1843; see also Revelation, 6 Aug. 1833 [D&C 98:23–31, 35–37]; and Discourse, 30 June 1843.)

  2. [22]

    See John 14:2.

  3. [23]

    See Romans 8:17.

  4. [24]

    This is possibly a reference to the Methodist belief that individuals could fall from grace, commonly referred to as backsliding. JS had earlier referenced this idea in a March 1844 discourse. (Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 133, 137; Discourse, 10 Mar. 1844.)

    Coke, Thomas, and Francis Asbury. The Doctrines and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in America. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Henry Tuckniss, 1798.

  5. [25]

    See Revelation 21:8; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:103, 106].

  6. [26]

    See 1 Peter 3:19; 4:6.

  7. [27]

    See 1 Corinthians 15:29; and Letter to the Church, 7 Sept. 1842 [D&C 128:5]. In 1840 JS began publicly teaching that church members could be baptized on behalf of deceased relatives. Church members began performing baptisms by proxy in the Mississippi River as early as September 1840.

  8. [28]

    In a January 1844 discourse, JS taught the necessity of receiving all the ordinances of the gospel to enter the celestial kingdom. Later, on 8 April 1844, he further explained that “you who have any dead friends must go through all the ordinances for them the same as for yourselves.” (Discourse, 21 Jan. 1844; Discourse, 8 Apr. 1844.)

  9. [29]

    See Revelation 7:4; Revelation, 3 Nov. 1831 [D&C 133:18]; and Answers to Questions, between ca. 4 and ca. 20 Mar. 1832 [D&C 77:11].

  10. [30]

    See Hebrews 12:22–23; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:66–67].

  11. [31]

    See 2 Peter 1:10. In several other discourses, JS referenced the necessity of making one’s calling and election sure. (See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 2 July 1839; Discourse, 14 May 1843; Discourse, 21 May 1843; Discourse, 13 Aug. 1843–A; and Discourse, 10 Mar. 1844.)

  12. [32]

    See Galatians 1:8–9.

  13. [33]

    In 1841 JS dictated a revelation specifying that certain ordinances, including baptisms for the dead, should be performed in a temple. That same year, the Latter-day Saints built a baptismal font in the basement of the unfinished Nauvoo temple, in which they performed baptisms for the dead. In his 8 April 1844 discourse, JS again emphasized that the Lord “has an est[ablished] law in relation to the matter. there must be a particular spot for the sal[vation] of our dead. I verily believ[e] this will be the place.” (Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:28–36]; Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 19–21; Discourse, 8 Apr. 1844.)

    Clayton, William. History of the Nauvoo Temple, ca. 1845. CHL. MS 3365.

  14. [34]

    In an 1842 letter, JS taught that the ordinance of baptism for the dead was “ordained and prepared before the foundation of the world for the salvation of the dead who should die without a knowledge of the Gospel.” (Letter to the Church, 7 Sept. 1842 [D&C 128:5, 8]; see also Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:33, 41].)

  15. [35]

    See 1 Corinthians 15:22.

  16. [36]

    See Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 247–248 [Alma 11:42–44].

  17. [37]

    See Isaiah 33:14; and Instruction, 2 Apr. 1843 [D&C 130:7].

  18. [38]

    See 1 Corinthians 15:50.

  19. [39]

    See Hebrews 12:29.

  20. [40]

    See Romans 8:11; and 1 Peter 3:18.

  21. [41]

    See Instruction, 2 Apr. 1843 [D&C 130:22].

  22. [42]

    In June 1843, JS taught that “misery in a world of spi[ri]ts is to know th[e]y came short of the glory othe[r]s enjoy— th[e]y are their own accusers.” (Discourse, 11 June 1843–A; see also Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 79, 82, 156, 228, 520 [2 Nephi 9:14, 46; Mosiah 2:38; Alma 5:18; Mormon 9:3–5].)

  23. [43]

    See Isaiah 33:14; and Discourse, 7 Apr. 1844.

  24. [44]

    See Book of Mormon, 1840 ed., 64, 539 [2 Nephi 2:18; Ether 8:25]; Revelation, 6 May 1833 [D&C 93:25]; and Old Testament Revision 1, p. 6 [Moses 4:4]. JS’s enemies leveled various accusations against him. Robert D. Foster, for instance, reportedly accused JS of being a murderer, counterfeiter, and adulterer. (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 18 Apr. 1844.)

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.

  25. [45]

    See Matthew 7:15–20.

  26. [46]

    JS privately discussed this subject with William Clayton in May 1843 and publicly preached about it during the April 1844 conference. (Clayton, Journal, 18 May 1843; Discourse, 7 Apr. 1844.)

    Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.

  27. [47]

    In an 1842 discourse, JS explained that “he was but a man” and that those coming to Nauvoo “must not expect him to be perfect; if they expected perfection from him, he should expect it from them, but if they would bear with his infirmities and the infirmities of the brethren, he would likewise bear with their infirmities.” (Discourse, 29 Oct. 1842.)

  28. [48]

    An 1831 revelation, which acted as a preface to the Book of Commandments, a compilation of JS’s revelations, invited people to “search these commandments for they are true & faithfull & the Prophecies & promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.” (Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 1:37].)

  29. [49]

    See 2 Peter 1:5–8.

  30. [50]

    See Philippians 2:10.

  31. [51]

    See Psalm 31:18. In a 7 April 1844 discourse, JS said, “My first object is to find out the character of the true God & if I sho[ul]d. be the man to com[prehend]: the God & I com: them to your heart let every man & woman henceforth shut their mouths & never say anything ag[ain]st. the man of God & If I do not do it I have no right to rev[elatio]n. insp[iratio]n..” (Discourse, 7 Apr. 1844.)

  32. [52]

    See Revelation 21:7.

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