Discourse, 7 April 1844, as Reported by William Clayton

effectual prayer of righteo[u]s man availet[h] mach [much]— will speak in order to hold out. Before ente[ring] fully into the investigati[o]n wish to pave the way— make a few prelim[in]aries— bring the subject from th[e] beginning in order that you may understand the subject when I come to it. Do not calculate to please your ears with superfluity of words oratory much learning, but edify you by the simple truths of heaven— first place wish to go back to the beginning of creation, then the starting point in order to fully aquianted [acquainted] with purposes decrees &c of the great Elohem that sits in the h. for us to take up beginn[in]g at the creati[o]n necessary to understand something of God himself in the beginning. If we start right easy to go right all the time— start wrong hard matter to get right. few beings in the world who understand the character of God and do not comprehend their own character— They cannot com[prehend] from the beginning no the end not the[i]r own relation and is but little above the beast. If a man comprehends nothing more than to eat sleep arise and not any more and what the designs of Jehova[h] what better than the beast it does the same thing— eats drink— sleep & comprehends present and knows as much as we unless we are able to com by the inspirati[o]n of A[lmighty] God. Go back to begin[nin]g to lift you[r] minds into a more exalted standing than the human mind is wont— want to ask this this congregati[o]n every man, wom[an], &c what kind of a being is God— ask yourselves I repeat the question what kind of a being is God. Any man or woman that kno[ws] any of you seen him? heard him? communed with him? Here a subject that will peradventure occupy you[r] attenti[o]n while you live— The apostle says this is eternal life “to know &c” that is eternal life if any man enquire what kind of being is God. cast his mind to know— if the declarati[o]n of the ap[ostle] be true he will realize that he has not eternal life. There can be eternal life on no other prinicple— 1st of object to find the character of the only wise & true God [p. 12]