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Discourse, 22 January 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff

Source Note

JS, Discourse, [
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 22 Jan. 1843]. Featured version copied [ca. 22 Jan. 1843] in Wilford Woodruff, Journal, vol. 5, 1 Jan. 1843–31 Dec. 1844, pp. [4]–[9]; handwriting of
Wilford Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

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; Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff.

Historical Introduction

On 22 January 1843, JS delivered a discourse at the
temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
site in
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Illinois, during the Sunday morning worship service. He spoke on the kingdom of God and John the Baptist, subjects he had addressed in remarks to a smaller audience in his home on 17 January.
1

Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843. JS’s journal notes that on 28 October 1842, “the brethren finished laying the temporary floor, and seats in the Temple.” The following May, a correspondent reported to the New York Herald that the temple was “going on rapidly” and that services were held “on the first floor every Sabbath,” during which JS frequently addressed the Saints. (JS, Journal, 28 Oct. 1842; “Late and Interesting from the Mormon Empire on the Upper Mississippi,” New York Herald [New York City], 30 May 1843, [2]; see also Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 40–41.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.

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

In his journal entry for 22 January,
William Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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noted that JS made at least some of his remarks in response to a pair of related questions raised at a recent lyceum meeting regarding whether the baptisms that John performed were for the remission of sins and whether God’s kingdom was established prior to the day of Pentecost.
2

Extant records do not indicate exactly when this lyceum meeting was held, but JS may have given his 17 January 1843 discourse in connection with it. During 1841 the lyceum met on Tuesdays. JS’s 17 January discourse was given on a Tuesday and addressed the same topics that JS chose to speak on in the 22 January meeting. (Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843; Historical Introduction to Discourse, ca. 2 Feb. 1841.)


Wilford Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

View Full Bio
inscribed content from both the 17 January and the 22 January discourses in his journal, but he recorded this 22 January discourse in fuller detail. In both discourses, JS maintained that the kingdom of God on earth was organized prior to the day of Pentecost, or the day when the Holy Ghost was bestowed on the New Testament saints. In addition, he declared that because the kingdom of God had been a cohesive entity since the days of Adam, the baptism of John constituted a necessary Christian rite for the remission of sins, distinct from but related to the subsequent bestowal of the Holy Ghost.
3

Whether Jesus Christ’s kingdom was established before or on the day of Pentecost was a heavily debated subject among nineteenth-century theologians. (See Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843.)


While JS referred to the kingdom of God in revelations and discourses as early as 1829, this discourse marks an attempt to define the kingdom of God.
4

Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:3, 13]; see also Historical Introduction to Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843.


In giving this sermon, JS may have had in mind a 1 January discourse of
Orson Hyde

8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...

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in which he referred to John the Baptist as he discussed God revealing his will to his servants.
5

JS, Journal, 1 Jan. 1843; Historical Introduction to Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843.


During his 22 January sermon, JS elaborated that John was a minister in the kingdom of God and that it was necessary to receive revelation to establish the kingdom.
Woodruff

1 Mar. 1807–2 Sept. 1898. Farmer, miller. Born at Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of Aphek Woodruff and Beulah Thompson. Moved to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Zera Pulsipher,...

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reported the discourse in his journal around 22 January 1843. The account’s level of detail suggests that Woodruff worked from a nonextant daybook or rough notes as he inscribed the sermon in his journal.
6

Woodruff frequently made notes in a daybook that he then used to compose journal entries at a later date.


Around that same date,
Clayton

17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...

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and
Franklin D. Richards

2 Apr. 1821–9 Dec. 1899. Carpenter, businessman, newspaper editor. Born at Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Phinehas Richards and Wealthy Dewey. Raised Congregationalist. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Phinehas ...

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recorded less-detailed accounts of the sermon. In their accounts, both Woodruff and Clayton made conscious efforts to preserve JS’s own voice, using “I” rather than “he.” Richards also tried to capture JS’s voice, introducing his account as “Joseph’s words 1843,” but he preserved only three statements from the discourse. Due to illness,
Willard Richards

24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...

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did not leave an account of the sermon in JS’s journal, noting merely that JS “preached at the
Temple

Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...

More Info
on the setting up of the Kingdom.”
7

Richards, Journal, 14–22 Jan. 1843; JS, Journal, 22 Jan. 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

His rough draft notes for JS’s history demonstrate that he had access to the account in Clayton’s journal. Accordingly, the 22 January 1843 entry in a draft of JS’s history reflects Clayton’s description of the sermon.
8

Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 22 Jan. 1843, 11; JS History, vol. D-1, 1457. In revising the history of this period during the 1850s, Leo Hawkins canceled the majority of the Clayton account and inserted in the addenda for volume D-1 a new summary of the sermon that drew upon the account in Woodruff’s journal. Hawkins likely made the insertion sometime between 1 July and 13 October 1854, when the Church Historian’s Office journal notes that he was working on the volume. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 1 July and 13 Oct. 1854; JS History, vol. D-1, addenda, 4–6; Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 441.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

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

The accounts of the sermon written by Woodruff, Clayton, and Franklin D. Richards are each featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843. JS’s journal notes that on 28 October 1842, “the brethren finished laying the temporary floor, and seats in the Temple.” The following May, a correspondent reported to the New York Herald that the temple was “going on rapidly” and that services were held “on the first floor every Sabbath,” during which JS frequently addressed the Saints. (JS, Journal, 28 Oct. 1842; “Late and Interesting from the Mormon Empire on the Upper Mississippi,” New York Herald [New York City], 30 May 1843, [2]; see also Clayton, History of the Nauvoo Temple, 40–41.)

    New York Herald. New York City. 1835–1924.

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

  2. [2]

    Extant records do not indicate exactly when this lyceum meeting was held, but JS may have given his 17 January 1843 discourse in connection with it. During 1841 the lyceum met on Tuesdays. JS’s 17 January discourse was given on a Tuesday and addressed the same topics that JS chose to speak on in the 22 January meeting. (Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843; Historical Introduction to Discourse, ca. 2 Feb. 1841.)

  3. [3]

    Whether Jesus Christ’s kingdom was established before or on the day of Pentecost was a heavily debated subject among nineteenth-century theologians. (See Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843.)

  4. [4]

    Revelation, Apr. 1829–A [D&C 6:3, 13]; see also Historical Introduction to Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843.

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 1 Jan. 1843; Historical Introduction to Discourse, 17 Jan. 1843.

  6. [6]

    Woodruff frequently made notes in a daybook that he then used to compose journal entries at a later date.

  7. [7]

    Richards, Journal, 14–22 Jan. 1843; JS, Journal, 22 Jan. 1843.

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

  8. [8]

    Historian’s Office, JS History, Draft Notes, 22 Jan. 1843, 11; JS History, vol. D-1, 1457. In revising the history of this period during the 1850s, Leo Hawkins canceled the majority of the Clayton account and inserted in the addenda for volume D-1 a new summary of the sermon that drew upon the account in Woodruff’s journal. Hawkins likely made the insertion sometime between 1 July and 13 October 1854, when the Church Historian’s Office journal notes that he was working on the volume. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 1 July and 13 Oct. 1854; JS History, vol. D-1, addenda, 4–6; Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 441.)

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

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

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 22 January 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff *Discourse, 22 January 1843, as Reported by William Clayton *Discourse, 22 January 1843, as Reported by Franklin D. Richards History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843] History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [8]

prevail against it
23

See Matthew 16:18.


what rock, Revelation Again he says except ye are born of the water & the spirit ye cannot inter into the kingdom of God,
24

See John 3:5.


And though the heavens & earth should pass away my words shall not pass away
25

See Matthew 24:35.


If a man is born of the water & the spirit he can get into the kingdom of God
26

See John 3:5.


it is evident the kingdom of God was on the earth & John prepared subject for kingdom by preaching the gospel to them & Baptising them & he prepared the way to before the Savior or came as a forerunner & prepared subject for the preaching of Christ,
27

See Matthew 11:10–11.


& &c Christ preached through Jerrosalem on the same ground whare John had preached & when the Apostles were raised up they worked in Jerrusalem & Jesus commanded them to tarry there untill they were endowed with power from on high
28

See Luke 24:49; and Acts 1:4.


had thay not work to do in Jerrusalem, they did work & prepared a people for the pentecost The kingdom of God was with them before the day of pentecost as well as afterwords & it was all also with John & he preached the same gospel & Baptism that Jesus & the Apostles preachng after him The endowment was to prepare the desiples for their mission into the world.
29

See Matthew 28:19–20; Luke 24:47–49; and Acts 1:5–8. By 1833 JS and other church members often referred to the endowment in connection with the temple. According to an 1833 revelation, the building of the House of the Lord would “prepare mine Apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time.” JS reiterated the point in an 1835 discourse. (Revelation, 1 June 1833 [D&C 95:4]; Discourse, 12 Nov. 1835.)


Whenever man can find out the will of God & find an Administrator legally authorized from God there is the kingdom of God but whare those are not, the kingdom of God is not All the
ordinances

A religious rite. JS taught that ordinances were covenants between man and God, in which believers could affirm faith, gain spiritual knowledge, and seek blessings. Some ordinances were considered requisite for salvation. The manner in which ordinances were...

View Glossary
systems, & Administrations on the earth is of no use to the Children of men unless [p. [8]]
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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 22 January 1843, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff
ID #
974
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
JSP, D11:357–362
Handwriting on This Page
  • Wilford Woodruff

Footnotes

  1. [23]

    See Matthew 16:18.

  2. [24]

    See John 3:5.

  3. [25]

    See Matthew 24:35.

  4. [26]

    See John 3:5.

  5. [27]

    See Matthew 11:10–11.

  6. [28]

    See Luke 24:49; and Acts 1:4.

  7. [29]

    See Matthew 28:19–20; Luke 24:47–49; and Acts 1:5–8. By 1833 JS and other church members often referred to the endowment in connection with the temple. According to an 1833 revelation, the building of the House of the Lord would “prepare mine Apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time.” JS reiterated the point in an 1835 discourse. (Revelation, 1 June 1833 [D&C 95:4]; Discourse, 12 Nov. 1835.)

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