Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–C, 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. 75–79; 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. For more complete source information, see the source note for Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards.
Historical Introduction
In summer 1839, likely between late June and early August, JS delivered a discourse on John, chapter 14. Between 1840 and 1841,
apostle
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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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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copied an account of the discourse into his “Pocket Companion” notebook.
1
For a discussion of the dating of this discourse, see Historical Introduction to Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A.
Richards did not ascribe this discourse to JS, but the majority of the entries in the pocket notebook are JS revelations and discourses that Richards copied without including attribution. At the time JS delivered the discourse to members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 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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, Richards 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...
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. After the apostles and seventies began arriving in England in December 1839 to proselytize, Richards likely copied one of their accounts of the discourse.
2
Richards may have copied an account written by John Taylor. (See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A.)
He copied this discourse after two other undated discourses in his “Pocket Companion” notebook, likely between January 1840 and April 1841.
3
See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A; and Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–B.

The discourse expounds upon the roles of the two Comforters and the steps necessary to gain salvation and eternal life.
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 copy captures key points in JS’s discourse rather than the full text, and the wording of some portions of the account suggests that JS asked questions and then provided answers for the audience.
4
See also Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–B.
The topics in the discourse are similar to those in a discourse that JS gave in late June or early July 1839 and that
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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recorded. It is unclear whether JS discussed these topics in multiple discourses or whether the Richards and Woodruff accounts are of the same discourse.
5
See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 2 July 1839.

Footnotes
1. 1
  For a discussion of the dating of this discourse, see Historical Introduction to Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A.
2. 2
  Richards may have copied an account written by John Taylor. (See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A.)
3. 3
  See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A; and Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–B.
4. 4
  See also Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–B.
5. 5
  See Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 2 July 1839.

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How wilt thou manifest thyself to us & not to the world? evidently knowing that it would be so that he would manifest himself.

There was no cholera, no mobs before this came. I told them that rejoiced in Mobs that they Should have them, they have since come in torrents.

they did not receive the testimony of the Servants of God. If a man love me he will keep my words. & my father will love him. & we both me & my father will take our abode with him. There are certain characters that walked with God. saw him, conversed about heaven &c But the comforter that I will send. (not the other Comforter) shall teach you all things.— Who?— He that loveth me &c— This shall bring all things to remembrance whatsoever things I have said unto you. he shall teach you until ye come to me & my father. God is not a respecter of persons. we all [p. 78]

How wilt thou manifest thyself to us & not to the world? evidently knowing that it would be so that he would manifest himself.

There was no cholera, no mobs before this came. I told them that rejoiced in Mobs that they Should have them, they have since come in torrents.

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Document Information
Editorial Title
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–C, as Reported by Willard Richards
ID #
10003
Total Pages
5
Print Volume Location
JSP, D6:550–553
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 13
  The 1830s witnessed a rise in the frequency and intensity of riots and mob violence in the United States, a trend that continued through the Civil War. Vigilantes endeavored to expel groups such as abolitionists, free blacks, gamblers, and Latter-day Saints from communities. In 1833, vigilantes in Jackson County, Missouri, enumerated Latter-day Saint offenses and called for the Saints’ expulsion. In October 1833, opponents of the church in Ohio issued warrants “warning out” several Latter-day Saints residing in Kirtland, ostensibly for their impoverished condition but likely because of their unpopular religion. In 1836, Latter-day Saints were forced to leave Clay County, Missouri, where they had taken refuge after leaving Jackson County. In October 1838, Missouri governor Lilburn W. Boggs called for the expulsion of Latter-day Saints, backing efforts of Missouri vigilantes to drive the Latter-day Saints from the state. (Grimsted, “Rioting in Its Jacksonian Setting,” 361–368; Feldberg, Turbulent Era, 5–6; Historical Introduction to Letter from William W. Phelps, 6–7 Nov. 1833; “To His Excellency, Daniel Dunklin,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Dec. 1833, 114; Historical Introduction to Warrant, 21 Oct. 1833; Historical Introduction to Letter to John Thornton et al., 25 July 1836.)
  
  Grimsted, David. “Rioting in Its Jacksonian Setting.” American Historical Review 77, no. 2 (Apr. 1972): 361–397.
  Feldberg, Michael. The Turbulent Era: Riot and Disorder in Jacksonian America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980.
  The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
2. 14
  See Vision, 16 Feb. 1832 [D&C 76:101]; and Minutes and Prayer of Dedication, 27 Mar. 1836 [D&C 109:41].
3. 15
  See John 14:23.
4. 16
  See Genesis 5:24; and Old Testament Revision 1, p. 13 [Moses 6:39].
5. 17
  See John 14:26.
6. 18
  See Acts 10:34.

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

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