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Discourse, 27 June 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff–A

Source Note

JS, Discourse,
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 27 June 1839. Featured version copied [between 27 June and 8 Aug. 1839] in Wilford Woodruff, “Book of Revelations,” pp. [19]–[20]; 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,...

View Full Bio
; CHL..
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
, “Book of Revelations,” [ca. 23 Dec. 1837–1860]; 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,...

View Full Bio
and Asahel H. Woodruff; 107 pages; CHL. Includes shorthand, drawings, redactions, and use marks.
Blank book measuring 6 × 4 × ⅜ inches (15 × 10 × 1 cm). The text block originally consisted of fifty-six leaves, with two leaves of endpaper at the front and at the back of the volume. The book has a tight-back, quarter binding with cow leather. At some point, the first leaf of the text block and the two leaves of endpaper at the beginning of the volume were excised from the volume. Ink is visible on the stub of the first leaf of the text block, indicating that at least the recto of that leaf contained text. The wear on the stubs suggests that the pages were cut from the volume while it was still in use.
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 “Book of Revelations | W Woodruff” on the front cover of the volume.
The volume was initially owned by Asahel Woodruff, who began using it as a diary or genealogical record sometime around December 1837. He died in October 1838, and his brother
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
took possession of his “private letters, Journals, writing papers [and] Account Books” on 13 December 1838.
1

Woodruff, Journal, 13 Dec. 1838.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Presumably this volume was among Asahel’s papers. Wilford Woodruff began copying into the volume in summer 1839. The volume was perhaps transferred with Woodruff’s other papers and journals to the Church Historian’s Office (now CHL) by 1858,
2

“Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [25], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

but in 1860 Woodruff used the volume to record bids to provide grain for the soldiers stationed at Camp Floyd that year. The volume appears in a church inventory produced in 1878.
3

“Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office, 1878,” [14], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

At some point after 1878, the record was given to his wife Sarah Brown Woodruff and was then passed down through the family until it was donated to church historian and recorder Joseph Fielding Smith sometime in the mid-twentieth century.
4

Eunice W. Perry to Joseph Fielding Smith, no date, in Case File for Woodruff, “Book of Revelations,” CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. “Book of Revelations,” ca. 1837–1860. CHL.

Smith apparently retained the volume among his papers, and it likely became part of the First Presidency’s papers when Smith became church president in 1970, as happened with other historical records in his possession.
5

See, for example, Source Note for Revelation Book 1.


In 2010 the First Presidency transferred custody of Woodruff’s “Book of Revelations” to the CHL.
6

Brook P. Hales to Glenn N. Rowe, 28 June 2010, in Case File for Woodruff, “Book of Revelations,” CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Woodruff, Wilford. “Book of Revelations,” ca. 1837–1860. CHL.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Woodruff, Journal, 13 Dec. 1838.

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

  2. [2]

    “Historian’s Office Catalogue Book March 1858,” [25], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  3. [3]

    “Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office, 1878,” [14], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

  4. [4]

    Eunice W. Perry to Joseph Fielding Smith, no date, in Case File for Woodruff, “Book of Revelations,” CHL.

    Woodruff, Wilford. “Book of Revelations,” ca. 1837–1860. CHL.

  5. [5]

    See, for example, Source Note for Revelation Book 1.

  6. [6]

    Brook P. Hales to Glenn N. Rowe, 28 June 2010, in Case File for Woodruff, “Book of Revelations,” CHL.

    Woodruff, Wilford. “Book of Revelations,” ca. 1837–1860. CHL.

Historical Introduction

On 27 June 1839, JS delivered a discourse in a meeting of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...

View Glossary
held at
Commerce

Located near middle of western boundary of state, bordering Mississippi River. European Americans settled area, 1820s. From bank of river, several feet above high-water mark, ground described as nearly level for six or seven blocks before gradually sloping...

More Info
, Illinois. The
quorum

An organized group of individuals holding the same office in the Melchizedek priesthood or the Aaronic priesthood. According to the 1835 “Instruction on Priesthood,” the presidency of the church constituted a quorum. The Twelve Apostles also formed a quorum...

View Glossary
members had met the previous two days, first in
Montrose

Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River. Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War. Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834. Fort abandoned; remaining settlement...

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, Iowa Territory, and then in Commerce, debating the meaning of various scriptures and discussing whether former apostle
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, ...

View Full Bio
should be readmitted into the quorum.
1

Woodruff, Journal, 25–26 June 1839. In October 1838, Hyde left the church and signed an affidavit describing the Saints’ military operations against vigilantes in Daviess County, Missouri.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

JS was absent at the time of the 25 June meeting, visiting his brothers in other areas of
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
.
2

JS traveled to Plymouth, Illinois, to visit William Smith and then went to Macomb, Illinois, to see Don Carlos and Samuel Smith. (JS, Journal, 15–26 June 1839; see also Editorial Note preceding journal entry for 15–17 June 1839.)


He returned to Commerce on 26 June, but it is not known whether he attended the quorum meeting that day. The 27 June meeting, which JS presided at, was the first of several
council

A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...

View Glossary
meetings in June and early July in which JS instructed the apostles as they prepared for their mission abroad.
3

See Allen et al., Men with a Mission, 59–60.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Allen, James B., Ronald K. Esplin, and David J. Whittaker. Men with a Mission, 1837–1841: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the British Isles. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992.

During the 27 June meeting,
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, ...

View Full Bio
confessed his sins and was restored to full fellowship in the
church

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
and in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
4

Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839; JS, Journal, 27 June 1839.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Following Hyde’s reinstatement, JS instructed the apostles on the nature of ministering angels and the devil. Apostle
Heber C. Kimball

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...

View Full Bio
later described JS’s instructions around this time as “unfolding keys of knowledge to detect
Satan

A fallen angel, or son of God, known by many names, including Lucifer, the devil, the father of lies, the prince of darkness, perdition, and the adversary. In the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and JS’s Bible revisions, Satan was described as a tempter of men...

View Glossary
” when he appears as a ministering angel. Kimball noted that the instructions would “preserve us in the favor of God.”
5

Kimball, “History,” 106.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Kimball, Heber C. “History of Heber Chase Kimball by His Own Dictation,” ca. 1842–1856. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box 2.

JS’s and
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
’s account of an 1832 vision identified Satan as a fallen angel,
6

Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:25–27]. Likewise, in the influential Theological Dictionary, which summarizes Protestant theology, minister Charles Buck described the devil as “a fallen angel” and the leader of fallen angels. Although both Buck and JS discussed the expulsion of angels from heaven as a result of sin, only JS characterized this expulsion in terms of a premortal council. (“Angel,” and “Devil,” in Buck, Theological Dictionary, 17, 116.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Buck, Charles. A Theological Dictionary, Containing Definitions of All Religious Terms; a Comprehensive View of Every Article in the System of Divinity. . . . New American ed., edited by George Bush. Philadelphia: James Kay Jr., 1830.

and JS revelations had warned the Saints about the devil and other evil spirits.
7

See Revelation, ca. 8 Mar. 1831–A [D&C 46:7]; and Revelation, 9 May 1831 [D&C 50:2]; see also JS History, vol. A-1, 93.


In this 27 June discourse, JS provided tangible means of distinguishing between Satan and angels sent by God. Apostle
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
, who attended the meeting, noted in his journal that JS presented this instruction “to the Twelve for there benefit in there experience & travels in the flesh.”
8

Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

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
took notes on the discourse and then copied them into his “Book of Revelations” notebook, which he took with him when he left
Illinois

Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...

More Info
on 8 August to start his mission abroad. While in
England

Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...

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, Woodruff lent his notebook to fellow missionary
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...

View Full Bio
, who copied this discourse into another notebook, which he called a “Pocket Companion.”
9

Richards, “Pocket Companion,” 9–10.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Willard. “Willard Richards Pocket Companion Written in England,” ca. 1838–1840. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, box 2, fd. 6.

Woodruff also copied the discourse into his 1839 journal. In the journal account, which Woodruff apparently made sometime after he wrote his “Book of Revelations” account, Woodruff expanded on and reorganized the content in the earlier account. Because the account in Woodruff’s “Book of Revelations” is the earliest extant version, it is featured here; significant differences between Woodruff’s notebook and journal accounts are noted in annotation.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Woodruff, Journal, 25–26 June 1839. In October 1838, Hyde left the church and signed an affidavit describing the Saints’ military operations against vigilantes in Daviess County, Missouri.

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

  2. [2]

    JS traveled to Plymouth, Illinois, to visit William Smith and then went to Macomb, Illinois, to see Don Carlos and Samuel Smith. (JS, Journal, 15–26 June 1839; see also Editorial Note preceding journal entry for 15–17 June 1839.)

  3. [3]

    See Allen et al., Men with a Mission, 59–60.

    Allen, James B., Ronald K. Esplin, and David J. Whittaker. Men with a Mission, 1837–1841: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the British Isles. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992.

  4. [4]

    Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839; JS, Journal, 27 June 1839.

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

  5. [5]

    Kimball, “History,” 106.

    Kimball, Heber C. “History of Heber Chase Kimball by His Own Dictation,” ca. 1842–1856. Heber C. Kimball, Papers, 1837–1866. CHL. MS 627, box 2.

  6. [6]

    Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:25–27]. Likewise, in the influential Theological Dictionary, which summarizes Protestant theology, minister Charles Buck described the devil as “a fallen angel” and the leader of fallen angels. Although both Buck and JS discussed the expulsion of angels from heaven as a result of sin, only JS characterized this expulsion in terms of a premortal council. (“Angel,” and “Devil,” in Buck, Theological Dictionary, 17, 116.)

    Buck, Charles. A Theological Dictionary, Containing Definitions of All Religious Terms; a Comprehensive View of Every Article in the System of Divinity. . . . New American ed., edited by George Bush. Philadelphia: James Kay Jr., 1830.

  7. [7]

    See Revelation, ca. 8 Mar. 1831–A [D&C 46:7]; and Revelation, 9 May 1831 [D&C 50:2]; see also JS History, vol. A-1, 93.

  8. [8]

    Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.

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

  9. [9]

    Richards, “Pocket Companion,” 9–10.

    Richards, Willard. “Willard Richards Pocket Companion Written in England,” ca. 1838–1840. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, box 2, fd. 6.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Discourse, 27 June 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff–A
Discourse, 27 June 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff–B Discourse, 27 June 1839, as Reported by Willard Richards

Page [19]

[Drawing of a key.] As there are many
1

Instead of “as there are many,” Woodruff’s journal version has “among the vast number of the.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

keys

Authority or knowledge of God given to humankind. In the earliest records, the term keys primarily referred to JS’s authority to unlock the “mysteries of the kingdom.” Early revelations declared that both JS and Oliver Cowdery held the keys to bring forth...

View Glossary
to the kingdom of God
2

Woodruff’s journal version adds “Joseph presented.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

the following one
3

Woodruff’s journal version adds “to the Twelve for there benefit in there experience & travels in the flesh which is as follows.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

will detect
Satan

A fallen angel, or son of God, known by many names, including Lucifer, the devil, the father of lies, the prince of darkness, perdition, and the adversary. In the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and JS’s Bible revisions, Satan was described as a tempter of men...

View Glossary
4

Instead of “Satan,” Woodruff’s journal version has “the devel.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

when he transforms himself nigh unto an angel of light
5

See 2 Corinthians 11:14; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 79 [2 Nephi 9:9].


When Satan appears [p. [19]]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 27 June 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff–A
ID #
9112
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:508–510
Handwriting on This Page
  • Wilford Woodruff

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Instead of “as there are many,” Woodruff’s journal version has “among the vast number of the.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.)

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

  2. [2]

    Woodruff’s journal version adds “Joseph presented.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.)

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

  3. [3]

    Woodruff’s journal version adds “to the Twelve for there benefit in there experience & travels in the flesh which is as follows.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.)

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

  4. [4]

    Instead of “Satan,” Woodruff’s journal version has “the devel.” (Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839.)

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

  5. [5]

    See 2 Corinthians 11:14; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 79 [2 Nephi 9:9].

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