Discourse, 5 January 1841, as Reported by William Clayton
Source Note
JS, Discourse, , Hancock Co., IL, 5 Jan. 1841. Featured version from report copied [1880] in L. John Nuttall, Notebook, pp. 4–8; handwriting of L. John Nuttall; L. John Nuttall, Papers, BYU. For more complete source information, see the source note for Discourse, Dec. 1840, as Reported by William Clayton.
Take a ring, it is without beginning or end; cut it for a beginning place, and at the same time you will have an ending place.
A , every principle proceeding from God is eternal, and any principle which is not eternal is of the Devil. The sun has no beginning or end, the rays which proceed from himself have no bounds, consequently are eternal. So it is with God. If the soul of man had a beginning it will surely have an end. In the translation; “without form and void” it should read “empty and desolate” The word “created” should be formed or organized. [p. 6]
For some years, JS had taught the concept that all matter was eternal in nature. A May 1833 revelation stated that “the Elements are eternal,” and John Smith recorded in his 30 August 1840 journal entry that JS “continued his discourse on Eternal Judgement and the Eternal Duration of matter.” (Revelation, 6 May 1833 [D&C 93:33]; John Smith, Journal, 1840–1841, 30 Aug. 1840.)
Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1, fd. 1.