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, 11 June 1843–B

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
, Hancock Co., IL, 11 June 1843]. Featured version copied [ca. 11 June 1843] in Levi Richards, Journal, 14 May–11 June 1843, p. [16]; handwriting of
Levi Richards

14 Apr. 1799–18 June 1876. Teacher, mechanic, inventor, physician. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 31 Dec. 1836, in Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio...

View Full Bio
; Levi Richards, Papers, CHL.
This discourse is contained in a small book, measuring 6¼ × 4 inches (16 × 10 cm), with eight leaves. All sixteen pages are inscribed in brown ink, with redactions in graphite.
The journal, along with other documents, was apparently kept by
Richards

14 Apr. 1799–18 June 1876. Teacher, mechanic, inventor, physician. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 31 Dec. 1836, in Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio...

View Full Bio
and passed down among his descendants. These papers were donated to the Church Historian’s Office (now CHL) sometime during the tenure of Andrew Jenson, who began working in the office in 1891 and served as assistant church historian from 1897 to 1941.
1

Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52; see also the full bibliographic entry for Levi Richards, Papers, 1837–1867, in the CHL catalog.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Jenson, Autobiography, 192, 389; Cannon, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891; Jenson, Journal, 9 Feb. 1891 and 19 Oct. 1897; Bitton and Arrington, Mormons and Their Historians, 47–52; see also the full bibliographic entry for Levi Richards, Papers, 1837–1867, in the CHL catalog.

    Jenson, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Jenson: Assistant Historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . . . Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1938.

    Cannon, George Q. Journals, 1855–1864, 1872–1901. CHL. CR 850 1.

    Jenson, Andrew. Journals, 1864–1941. Andrew Jenson, Autobiography and Journals, 1864–1941. CHL.

    Bitton, David, and Leonard J. Arrington. Mormons and Their Historians. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1988.

Historical Introduction

On 11 June 1843, JS gave a brief discourse 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, recounting his 1820 vision of Deity. JS had preached that morning at the unfinished
temple

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
on the
gathering

As directed by early revelations, church members “gathered” in communities. A revelation dated September 1830, for instance, instructed elders “to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect” who would “be gathered in unto one place, upon the face of this land...

View Glossary
of the Saints to Nauvoo and on the importance of performing temple ceremonies.
1

See Discourse, 11 June 1843–A.


In the evening, JS spoke at another meeting, following
George J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
. According to
Levi Richards

14 Apr. 1799–18 June 1876. Teacher, mechanic, inventor, physician. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 31 Dec. 1836, in Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio...

View Full Bio
, who was present at the meeting, Adams preached “upon the book of Mormon” and “proved from the 24th, 28th & 29th of Isaiah that the everlasting covena[n]t” that had been “set up by Christ & the apostles had been broken.”
2

Levi Richards, Journal, 11 June 1843.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Levi. Journals, 1840–1853. Levi Richards, Papers, 1837–1867. CHL. MS 1284, box 1.

JS continued Adams’s theme, rehearsing his memories of his foundational theophany, as he had on previous occasions. Consistent with the account JS dictated in 1838, he described his youthful confusion regarding the diversity of religious denominations and his youthful prayer to learn “which of all the sects were right.” JS related that in answer to his prayer, the Lord told him to join none of the existing churches. He also noted the opposition he had experienced after his call as a prophet.
3

For JS's other accounts of his 1820 vision, see History, ca. Summer 1832; JS, Journal, 9–11 Nov. 1835; JS History, vol. A-1, 1–3; JS History, [ca. 1841], draft, 1–4; and “Church History,” 1 Mar. 1842.


Richards subsequently wrote in his journal an account of the discourse, which is featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Discourse, 11 June 1843–A.

  2. [2]

    Levi Richards, Journal, 11 June 1843.

    Richards, Levi. Journals, 1840–1853. Levi Richards, Papers, 1837–1867. CHL. MS 1284, box 1.

  3. [3]

    For JS's other accounts of his 1820 vision, see History, ca. Summer 1832; JS, Journal, 9–11 Nov. 1835; JS History, vol. A-1, 1–3; JS History, [ca. 1841], draft, 1–4; and “Church History,” 1 Mar. 1842.

Page [16]

Pres.

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...

View Glossary
J. Smith bore testimony to the same—
1

That is, the subject of George J. Adams’s discourse, the breaking of the “everlasting covena[n]t.” (Levi Richards, Journal, 11 June 1843.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Richards, Levi. Journals, 1840–1853. Levi Richards, Papers, 1837–1867. CHL. MS 1284, box 1.

saying that when he was a youth he began to think about these these things but could not find out which of all the sects were right— he went into the grove & enquired of the Lord which of all the sects were right— he received for answer that none of them were right, that they were all wrong, & that the Everlasting convenat was broken—
2

See Isaiah 24:5.


he said he understood the fulness of the Gospel from beginning to end—
3

In 1842, JS recounted that in his 1820 vision, God promised him “that the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known” to him. (“Church History,” 1 Mar. 1842.)


& could Teach it & also the order of 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...

View Glossary
in all its ramifications— Earth & hell had opposed him & tryed to destroy him but they had not done it— & they <​never would​>. [p. [16]]
View entire transcript

|

Cite this page

Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [16]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 11 June 1843–B
ID #
12348
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D12:388–390
Handwriting on This Page
  • Levi Richards

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    That is, the subject of George J. Adams’s discourse, the breaking of the “everlasting covena[n]t.” (Levi Richards, Journal, 11 June 1843.)

    Richards, Levi. Journals, 1840–1853. Levi Richards, Papers, 1837–1867. CHL. MS 1284, box 1.

  2. [2]

    See Isaiah 24:5.

  3. [3]

    In 1842, JS recounted that in his 1820 vision, God promised him “that the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known” to him. (“Church History,” 1 Mar. 1842.)

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