The Papers
Browse the PapersDocumentsJournalsAdministrative RecordsRevelations and TranslationsHistoriesLegal RecordsFinancial RecordsOther Contemporary Papers
Reference
PeoplePlacesEventsGlossaryLegal GlossaryFinancial GlossaryCalendar of DocumentsWorks CitedFeatured TopicsLesson PlansRelated Publications
Media
VideosPhotographsIllustrationsChartsMapsPodcasts
News
Current NewsArchiveNewsletterSubscribeJSP Conferences
About
About the ProjectJoseph Smith and His PapersFAQAwardsEndorsementsReviewsEditorial MethodNote on TranscriptionsNote on Images of People and PlacesReferencing the ProjectCiting This WebsiteProject TeamContact Us
Published Volumes
  1. Home > 
  2. The Papers > 

Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Published in Times and Seasons

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
, IL, 3 Oct. 1841. Version published in “Minutes of a Conference of the Church,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1841, 2:577–578. For more complete source information, see the source note for Letter to Isaac Galland, 22 Mar. 1839.

Historical Introduction

See Historical Introduction to Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Willard Richards

Page 578

This doctrine appears glorious, inasmuch as it exhibits the greatness of divine compassion and benevolence in the extent of the plan of human salvation. This glorious truth is well calculated to enlarge the understanding, and to sustain the soul under troubles, difficulties, and distresses.
For illustration the speaker presented, by supposition, the case of too men, brothers, equally intelligent, learned, virtuous and lovely, walking in uprightness and in all good conscience, so far as they had been able to discern duty from the muddy stream of tradition, or from the blotted page of the book of nature. One dies, and is buried, having never heard the gospel of reconciliation; to the other the message of salvation is sent, he hears and embraces it, and is made the heir of eternal life. Shall the one become a partaker of glory, and the other be consigned to hopeless perdition?
10

See John 17:12; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:43].


Is there no chance for his escape? Sectarianism answers, “none! none!! none!!!” Such an idea is worse than atheism. The truth shall break down and dash in pieces all such bigoted Pharisaism;
11

The biblical Pharisees opposed the teachings of Jesus Christ. (See Matthew chap. 23; Mark 7:1–6; and Luke 11:37–54.)


the sects shall be sifted, the honest in heart brought out and their priests left in the midst of their corruption. The speaker then answered the objections urged against the
Latter Day Saints

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
for not admitting the validity of sectarian baptism, and for withholding fellowship from sectarian churches[.] It was like putting new wine into old bottles and putting old wine into new bottles.
12

See Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; and Luke 5:37.


What, new revelations in the old churches! New revelatiens knock out the bottom of their bottomless pit.
13

See Revelation 17:8.


New wine into old bottles!—the bottles burst and the wine runs out. What, Sadducees in the new church! Old wine in new leathern bottles will leak through the pores and escape; so the Saddacee saints mock at authority,
14

See Matthew 27:41–43; and Mark 11:27–33; 12:18–27.


kick out of the traces, and run to the mountains of perdition, leaving the long echo of their braying behind them.
The speaker then contrasted the charity of the sects, in denouncing all who disagree with them in opinion, and in joining in persecuting t[h]e saints, with the faith of the saints, who believe that even such may be saved in this world and in the world to come, (murderers and apostates excepted.)
This doctrine, he said, presented in a clear light, the wisdom and mercy of God, in preparing an
ordinance

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
for the salvation of the dead, being
baptised

An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...

View Glossary
by proxy, their names recorded in heaven, and they judged according to the deeds done in the body. This doctrine was the burden of the scriptures. Those saints who neglect it, in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation.
The
dispensation

A gift of divine knowledge, power, and authority from God to humankind; often associated with a prophet and his time period. A revelation published in 1835 identified JS and Oliver Cowdery as the recipients of keys to administer a final dispensation of the...

View Glossary
of the fulness of times
15

See Ephesians 1:10; and Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:41].


will bring to light the things that have been revealed in all former dispensations, also other things that have not been before revealed. He shall send Elijah the prophe[t] &c., and restore all things in Christ.
16

See Malachi 4:5; see also Visions, 3 Apr. 1836 [D&C 110:13–16].


The speaker then announced, “There shall be no more baptisms for the dead, until the ordinance can be attended to in the font of the
Lord’s House;

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
and the church shall not hold another general
conference

A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...

View Glossary
, until they can meet in said
house

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
. For thus saith the Lord!”
17

This passage appears to paraphrase the January 1841 revelation that called for a baptismal font to be built in the temple so the Latter-day Saints could properly perform baptisms for the dead. (See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:29–32].)


[p. 578]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 578

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Published in Times and Seasons
ID #
692
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • Printed text

Footnotes

  1. [10]

    See John 17:12; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:43].

  2. [11]

    The biblical Pharisees opposed the teachings of Jesus Christ. (See Matthew chap. 23; Mark 7:1–6; and Luke 11:37–54.)

  3. [12]

    See Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; and Luke 5:37.

  4. [13]

    See Revelation 17:8.

  5. [14]

    See Matthew 27:41–43; and Mark 11:27–33; 12:18–27.

  6. [15]

    See Ephesians 1:10; and Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:41].

  7. [16]

    See Malachi 4:5; see also Visions, 3 Apr. 1836 [D&C 110:13–16].

  8. [17]

    This passage appears to paraphrase the January 1841 revelation that called for a baptismal font to be built in the temple so the Latter-day Saints could properly perform baptisms for the dead. (See Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:29–32].)

© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UseUpdated 2021-04-13Privacy NoticeUpdated 2021-04-06