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Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Willard Richards

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....

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, Hancock Co., IL, 3 Oct. 1841; handwriting of
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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; five pages; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, CHL.
Two bifolia, each measuring 7⅞ × 5¾ inches (20 × 15 cm). The discourse is written in very faint graphite, making significant portions of the text illegible.
The discourse is part of a larger collection of general church minutes created or collected by scribes affiliated with the Church Historian’s Office. It is uncertain exactly when this discourse was included in the general church minutes. However,
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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worked on JS’s history as early as 1842. Likely around that time, he added his records of JS’s sermons and writings to a compilation of documents about JS and the church. The featured document has likely remained in institutional custody since its creation.

Historical Introduction

On the morning of 3 October 1841, at a session of a general
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...

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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...

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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, JS gave a discourse on the doctrine of
baptism

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...

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for the dead, whereby church members were baptized vicariously for their deceased relatives.
1

For more on the October general conference, see Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; for more on the doctrine of baptism for the dead, see Minutes, 3–5 Oct. 1840.


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
attended this meeting and wrote down fragmentary notes from JS’s sermon in an apparent attempt to capture the church
president

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

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’s words as he spoke. The text featured here is one of two extant versions of JS’s 3 October 1841 discourse; the other is a printed, more polished version found in the 15 October 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons. The printed version, along with additional historical context and annotation, is found in Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 October 1841.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    For more on the October general conference, see Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; for more on the doctrine of baptism for the dead, see Minutes, 3–5 Oct. 1840.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Willard Richards
Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Published in Times and Seasons History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith” “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 1

Saviors shall come up on Mt Zion
1

See Obadiah 1:21.


&.— what is it. &&— To preach only? No. In every dispensation something else to do beside pr◊◊ do all— neglect the
Baptism

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
for the dead.—
2

See Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840; and Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:29–32].


Cant that man enter into the fullness of his rest? [illegible] cannot be saviors of man upon any any other principle than by re’ving revelation of all the things To trace our family by geneoloy [genealogy] & Rev— 1st principles of the Gospel no more to the B[aptism] for the Dead. then the dimist [dimmest] Star is to the Glo[r]y of Yonder Son. All the kindred from the days of Adam dow[n] upon that princple, Universalism is nothing.
3

This may be a reference to Christian Universalism, which taught that regardless of action, all human souls would ultimately be saved and reconciled with God because of His divine love and mercy. (See Skinner, Series of Sermons, 209; Hatch, Democratization of American Christianity, 41; and Holifield, Theology in America, chap. 10.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Skinner, Otis A. A Series of Sermons in Defence of the Doctrine of Universal Salvation. Boston: Abel Tompkins, 1842.

Hatch, Nathan O. The Democratization of American Christianity. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.

Holifield, E. Brooks. Theology in America: Christian Thought from the Age of the Puritans to the Civil War. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003.

Jesus contemplated &.— Jesus went as minstering angel Spirits—
4

See 1 Peter 3:19.


according to what men do fame in the flesh & live &c— Jesus could not have eneterd & if he had not done this work. Paul— not be made perferct.— Jesus ministry spirit & & angel— Spirits of Just men made perfect
5

See Hebrews 12:23; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:69].


& command a co of angels— spirits & bodies translated— spirits— minister to spirits— angels to angels— translated bodies cannot enter into rest—
6

An instruction on priesthood given in October 1840 discussed the doctrine of translation. (See Instruction on Priesthood, ca. 5 Oct. 1840.)


till instructed <​by them who had the
Key

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...

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​> John you shall instruct or prophecy.— prophets rose at the Resurrection—
7

See Matthew 27:52–53; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 187–188, 503 [Mosiah 15:21–22; 3 Nephi 23:9–12].


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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Willard Richards
ID #
2695
Total Pages
5
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:300–302
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Obadiah 1:21.

  2. [2]

    See Minutes and Discourse, 3–5 Oct. 1840; and Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841 [D&C 124:29–32].

  3. [3]

    This may be a reference to Christian Universalism, which taught that regardless of action, all human souls would ultimately be saved and reconciled with God because of His divine love and mercy. (See Skinner, Series of Sermons, 209; Hatch, Democratization of American Christianity, 41; and Holifield, Theology in America, chap. 10.)

    Skinner, Otis A. A Series of Sermons in Defence of the Doctrine of Universal Salvation. Boston: Abel Tompkins, 1842.

    Hatch, Nathan O. The Democratization of American Christianity. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.

    Holifield, E. Brooks. Theology in America: Christian Thought from the Age of the Puritans to the Civil War. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003.

  4. [4]

    See 1 Peter 3:19.

  5. [5]

    See Hebrews 12:23; and Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:69].

  6. [6]

    An instruction on priesthood given in October 1840 discussed the doctrine of translation. (See Instruction on Priesthood, ca. 5 Oct. 1840.)

  7. [7]

    See Matthew 27:52–53; and Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 187–188, 503 [Mosiah 15:21–22; 3 Nephi 23:9–12].

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