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Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards

Source Note

JS, Discourse, [
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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, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, or
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...

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, Hancock Co., IL], [between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839]. Featured version copied [between 13 Jan. 1840 and 20 Apr. 1841] in Willard Richards, “W. Richards Pocket Companion Written in England,” pp. 63–73; 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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; Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL.
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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, “W Richards Pocket companion written in England,” notebook, [between 13 Jan. 1840 and 20 Apr. 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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; 102 pages; Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL. Includes use marks, drawings, and archival markings.
Blank book measuring 6¼ × 4 × ⅜ inches (16 × 10 × 1 cm). The book contains seventy-six leaves in six gatherings. The first leaf of the first gathering is glued to the front board, and the last leaf of the last gathering is glued to the back board.
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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’s entries in the book are in brown ink. The volume contains stains and mold damage throughout. The volume’s limp case binding is supported by two strips of vellum tape along a hollow-back spine. After the book was bound, brown leather—possibly sheepskin—was pasted along the boards and spine of the book. Richards inscribed “Pocket Companion” in ink on the cover of the volume. He similarly wrote “W Richards Pocket companion written in England” on the recto of the second leaf. The majority of the volume’s content is a copy of 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,...

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’s “Book of Revelations,” which contains several JS revelations and discourses as well as a sermon by
Parley P. Pratt

12 Apr. 1807–13 May 1857. Farmer, editor, publisher, teacher, school administrator, legislator, explorer, author. Born at Burlington, Otsego Co., New York. Son of Jared Pratt and Charity Dickinson. Traveled west with brother William to acquire land, 1823....

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. Richards copied the content at some point after 13 January 1841, when Woodruff arrived 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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for a proselytizing mission with Richards and others. Richards next wrote nearly thirty pages of scriptural notes under the heading “The Subject of the Dispensation of the fullness of Times” and then copied additional instructions from JS, which he likely received from another missionary, possibly
John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

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. Afterward, Richards copied selections from JS’s Bible revisions for Genesis and Matthew, followed by a passage from a revelation not included in Woodruff’s “Book of Revelations.” Richards apparently completed making entries in the volume by 20 April 1841, when he boarded a ship to leave England. After Richards became church historian and recorder later in the 1840s, this volume and his other personal papers were included among the archival holdings of the church. An early inventory of church records includes a reference to “Drs. private books & Papers,” which likely included the “Pocket Companion.”
1

“Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

The volume contains archival and use marks throughout, suggesting that at some point material was copied from the “Pocket Companion,” likely by staff in the Church Historian’s Office in the mid-1850s. The use of the volume in the Church Historian’s Office suggests that the volume has been in continuous institutional custody.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    “Schedule of Church Records. Nauvoo 1846,” [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.

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

Historical Introduction

In the “Pocket Companion” notebook that
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
kept during his 1837–1841 mission 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...

More Info
, he included a discourse JS gave on the
priesthood

Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...

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and other doctrinal matters. Although Richards did not identify the discourse as JS’s, the majority of the entries in the pocket notebook are JS revelations or discourses that Richards copied without attributing them to JS. When this discourse was added to JS’s multivolume manuscript history by
Thomas Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

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in 1845, the discourse was ascribed to JS.
1

JS History, vol. C-1, addenda, 11; Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 441.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

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
did not date this discourse when he copied it into his notebook, but JS probably gave the discourse in summer 1839, likely between late June and early August, as members 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 ...

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and the Quorums of the
Seventy

A priesthood office with the responsibility to travel and preach and assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, similar to the seventy in the New Testament. In February and March 1835, the first members of the Seventy were selected and ordained. All of those...

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prepared to leave for their mission to Europe. During late June and early July, JS addressed the apostles and seventies on several “
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
of the Kingdom of God,” including the discernment of spirits, the spirit of prophecy and revelation, humility and cooperation, and the doctrines of election and salvation.
2

See Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839; Discourse, 27 June 1839; Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 2 July 1839; and Discourse, 2 July 1839.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

The discourse featured here explores similar themes and was probably given around the same time.
3

The featured discourse includes a discussion of how to discern between good and evil spirits. A discourse JS gave on 27 June was also on the topic of discerning spirits, and it is unclear whether JS revisited this subject in multiple discourses or whether the featured document is a different account of the 27 June discourse. (See Discourse, 27 June 1839.)


In JS’s history,
Bullock

23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...

View Full Bio
placed this discourse after a JS sermon dated 2 July and added a heading to this discourse, explaining that JS gave it around the time of the 2 July sermon.
4

JS History, vol. C-1, addenda, 11.


However, the discourse could have been given as late as 4 August, the last time the apostles and seventies met with JS before the first of the men left
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
for their mission to Europe.
5

JS, Journal, 4 Aug. 1839; Woodruff, Journal, 4 Aug. 1839.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Although the apostles and seventies had intended to leave in early July, they were delayed when most of them and their families contracted malaria.
6

See Historical Introduction to Discourse, 7 July 1839; and Historical Introduction to Discourse, 28 July 1839.


Because so many
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
were ill, few meetings were held in July. Sunday meetings resumed on 28 July, with JS and some of the apostles speaking the next week, on 4 August. On 8 August, two of the apostles departed for Europe.
7

Woodruff, Journal, 8 Aug. 1839.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

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
’s copy of this discourse states that the priesthood authority Peter, James, and John gave to JS was the same that had been given to the ancient patriarchs beginning with Adam and that this authority was eternal. The discourse also expounds on the prophecies in Daniel chapter 7, the role of Adam, the gatherings that had and would yet take place in
Adam-ondi-Ahman

The term Adam-ondi-Ahman was introduced into Latter-day Saint vocabulary by a revelation that stated that God had “established the foundations of Adam-ondi-Ahman.” A revelation of ca. April 1835 explicitly applied the term to a place, “the valley of Adam-...

View Glossary
, and other signs prophesied to occur before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
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
was not present when JS gave the discourse; he was proselytizing 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...

More Info
and apparently copied the discourse from one of the apostles or seventies who arrived in Britain starting in December 1839 and who brought an account of the discourse with them.
8

See Richards, Journal, 16 Jan. and 9 Apr. 1840; “From England,” Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:110–111; and “From England,” Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:119–121. Apostles John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff arrived in England in January 1840; several other apostles arrived in April. Richards could have copied the discourse notes of one of these apostles anytime between their 1840 arrivals and his 1841 return to the United States.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

He copied this discourse into his “Pocket Companion” between January 1840 and April 1841, at around the same time he copied two other discourses: one on the parable of the sower in Matthew, chapter 13, and the other on John, chapter 14, and the steps necessary to gain salvation and eternal life.
9

See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–B; and Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–C.


As with the discourse featured here, the other two discourses were likely given between late June and early August, and Richards probably copied the discourses from the same source. Although the source Richards copied from is unknown, he may have copied from notes that apostle
John Taylor

1 Nov. 1808–25 July 1887. Preacher, editor, publisher, politician. Born at Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, England. Son of James Taylor and Agnes Taylor, members of Church of England. Around age sixteen, joined Methodist church and was local preacher. Migrated ...

View Full Bio
made. Two parenthetical remarks included in Richards’s copy of the featured discourse end with the initials “J. T.”—presumably indicating the notes were interpolations made in the text by Taylor, who arrived in England in January 1840.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS History, vol. C-1, addenda, 11; Jessee, “Writing of Joseph Smith’s History,” 441.

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

  2. [2]

    See Woodruff, Journal, 27 June 1839; Discourse, 27 June 1839; Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 2 July 1839; and Discourse, 2 July 1839.

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

  3. [3]

    The featured discourse includes a discussion of how to discern between good and evil spirits. A discourse JS gave on 27 June was also on the topic of discerning spirits, and it is unclear whether JS revisited this subject in multiple discourses or whether the featured document is a different account of the 27 June discourse. (See Discourse, 27 June 1839.)

  4. [4]

    JS History, vol. C-1, addenda, 11.

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 4 Aug. 1839; Woodruff, Journal, 4 Aug. 1839.

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

  6. [6]

    See Historical Introduction to Discourse, 7 July 1839; and Historical Introduction to Discourse, 28 July 1839.

  7. [7]

    Woodruff, Journal, 8 Aug. 1839.

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

  8. [8]

    See Richards, Journal, 16 Jan. and 9 Apr. 1840; “From England,” Times and Seasons, May 1840, 1:110–111; and “From England,” Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:119–121. Apostles John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff arrived in England in January 1840; several other apostles arrived in April. Richards could have copied the discourse notes of one of these apostles anytime between their 1840 arrivals and his 1841 return to the United States.

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

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

  9. [9]

    See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–B; and Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–C.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 Addenda “History of Joseph Smith” Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Published in Clayton, Revelations Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by William Clayton

Page 68

High, from the Ancient of Days— the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom—
35

See Daniel 7:21–22.


this not only makes us ministers here but in Eternity. Salvation cannot come without Revelation, it is in vain for any one to minister without it.
No man is a minister of Jesus Christ. without being a Prophet. No man can be the minister of Jesus Christ, except he has the testimony of Jesus & this is the Spirit of Prophesy.
36

See Revelation 19:10.


Whenever Sa[l]vation has been administered it has been by Testimony, Men of the present time testify of Heaven & of Hell, & have never Seen either & I will say that no man knows these things without this. Men profess to prophecy. I will prophecy that the signs of the coming of the Son of man are already commencd, one pestilence will dessolate after another. we shall soon have war & bloodshed.
37

See New Testament Revision 1, p. 56[a] [Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:36]; and Revelation, 25 Dec. 1832 [D&C 87].


The Moon will be turned into blood,
38

See Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20; and Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:14].


I testify of these things. & that the coming of the Son of Man is nigh [p. 68]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards
ID #
478
Total Pages
11
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:540–548
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [35]

    See Daniel 7:21–22.

  2. [36]

    See Revelation 19:10.

  3. [37]

    See New Testament Revision 1, p. 56[a] [Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:36]; and Revelation, 25 Dec. 1832 [D&C 87].

  4. [38]

    See Joel 2:31; Acts 2:20; and Revelation, Sept. 1830–A [D&C 29:14].

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