Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Published in Clayton, Revelations
Source Note
JS, Discourse, [, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, or , Hancock Co., IL], [between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839]. Version published [ca. 1857] in [William Clayton], Revelations, no date, 3–7. The copy used for transcription is held at CHL.
God from eternity and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end or years. The have to be brought from heaven whenever the gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven it is by Adam’s authority.
Danl. 7 speaks of the ancient of days; he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael, he will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He (Adam) is the Father of the human family and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action. The Son of Man stands before him and there is given him glory and dominion—Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family.
The spirit of man is not a created being, it existed from eternity and will exist to eternity; anything created cannot be eternal; air, earth, water, all these had their existence in an elementary state from eternity. Our Savior speaks of children and says their angels always stand before my Father.
The Father called all spirits before him at the creation of man and organized them; he (Adam) is the head and was told to multiply. The keys were given to him; he will have to give an account of his stewardship and they to him. The is everlasting. The Savior, Moses and Elias gave the keys to Peter, James and John on the mount when they were transfigured before him. The priesthood is everlasting, without beginning of days or end of years, without father, mother &c. If there is no change of there is no change of priesthood, whenever the ordinances of the gospel are administered, there is the priesthood. How have we come at the keys of the priesthood in the last days? They came down in regular succession. Peter, James and John had it given to them and they gave it up. Christ is the great High Priest; Adam next. Paul speaks of the church coming to an innumerable company of angels, to Cod the Judge of all; the spirits of just men made perfect; to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, &c., Heb. xii, 23. I saw Adam in the valley of . He called together his children and blessed them with a . The Lord appeared in their midst, and he (Adam) blessed them all and foretold what should [p. 4]