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Discourse, 20 March 1842, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff

Source Note

JS, Discourse, [, Hancock Co., IL, 20 Mar. 1842]. Featured version copied [ca. 20 Mar. 1842] in Wilford Woodruff, Journal, vol. 4, 1 Jan. 1841–31 Dec. 1842, pp. [134]–[138]; handwriting of ; Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Discourse, 7 Nov. 1841, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff.

Historical Introduction

On Sunday, 20 March 1842, JS preached a discourse in , Illinois, on infant mortality and before what described as a “vast assembly” who met “at an early hour.” JS had intended to speak exclusively on baptism when he learned that Marian Lyon, the two-year-old daughter of and , had died the previous day. Woodruff wrote that the body of Marian Lyon was “presented in the assembly.” This was not the first occasion on which JS had cause to reflect on the death of a child. Infant mortality rates were high throughout the nineteenth century, and JS and his wife had lost six children, including a stillborn child the month before this discourse.
wrote that JS began, as he often did, by reading a chapter from the Bible. On this occasion he read Revelation 14. The chapter recounts John the Revelator’s vision of the Lamb on Mount Sion and the 144,000 who were “redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Woodruff then recorded what he called “a brief synopsis of some of the items presented.” JS presented infant mortality as a warning to his audience not to delay repentance. He also spoke on baptism and other ordinances as “signs” that were necessary to receive God’s blessings. JS concluded by discussing resurrection, including that of little children.
wrote that JS’s remarks on death and resurrection “were in the highest degree interesting” and that his instruction on baptism “was truly glorious to the believer in Jesus Christ.” In the afternoon, JS baptized sixty to eighty individuals in the before the congregation adjourned to a grove, where JS and bestowed the upon many of those he had baptized.
may have inscribed his “brief synopsis” using notes taken during the discourse. Woodruff’s occasional use of quotation marks indicates his attempt to capture some of JS’s actual words. Woodruff’s journal report was used as the primary text for the sermon when it was printed in the 15 April 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons. Asterisks in Woodruff’s journal mark a passage that was not included in the published account, indicating a textual relationship between the versions. In addition, the Times and Seasons article includes a notation ascribing the report to Woodruff. Significant differences between the featured text and the Times and Seasons version are noted.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Woodruff, Journal, 20 Mar. 1842; Wilford Woodruff, “Sabbath Scene in Nauvoo,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1842, 3:751; Easton, “Inscriptions Found on Tombstones and Monuments in Early Latter-day Saint Burial Grounds,” 7. Woodruff incorrectly identified the child as a boy.

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

    Easton, Susan Ward, comp. “Inscriptions Found on Tombstones and Monuments in Early Latter-day Saint Burial Grounds: Nauvoo, Illinois (Joseph Smith Homestead, Pioneer Saints Cemetery on Parley Street); Mt. Pisgah, Iowa; West Bank of the Niobrara River, Nebraska; Winter Quarters, Nebraska.” Unpublished paper. [Provo, UT], [ca. 1980]. Copy at FHL.

  2. [2]

    Pedigree Chart; JS Family Bible.

    JS Family Bible / Joseph Smith Family Bible, ca. 1831–1866. Private possession. Copy of genealogical information in Joseph Smith Sr. Family Reunions Files, 1972–2003. CHL.

  3. [3]

    See Revelation 14:1–4.

  4. [4]

    Woodruff, Journal, 20 Mar. 1842; JS, Journal, 20 Mar. 1842.

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

  5. [5]

    Wilford Woodruff, “Sabbath Scene in Nauvoo,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1842, 3:751–753.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 20 March 1842, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff Discourse, 20 March, as Published in Times and Seasons Times and Seasons, 15 April 1842 History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [136]

for it is a decree of the Lord that evry tree fruit or herb bearing seed, should bring forth after its kind & cannot come forth after any other law or principle. upon the same principle do I contend that is a sign, ordained of God for the believer in Christ to take upon himself in order to enter into the kingdom of God, “for except you are born of the water & the spirit you cannot enter into the kingdom of God,[”] Saith the Savior, as It is a sign of command which God hath set for man to enter into the this Kingdom of God those who seek to enter in any other will way will seek in vain, for God will not receive those neither will the angels acknowledge their works as accepted, for they have not taken upon themselves those & signs which God ordained for man to receive in order to receive a , & God had decreed that all that <​who​> will not obey his voice shall not escape the damnation of hell, what is the damnation of hell, to go with that society who have not obeyed his commands Baptism is a sign to God to Angels to heaven that we do the will of God & their is no other way beneath the heavens whareby God hath ordained for man to come to God & any other cource is in vain. God hath decreed & ordained that man should repent of all his sins & Be Baptized for the remission of his sins then he can come to God in the name of Jesus Christ in faith then we have the promise of the
What is the sign of the healing of the sick? the , is the sign or way marked out by James & the custom of the ancient saints as ordered by the Lord & we should not obtain the blessing by persuing any other course except the way which God has markd out.
What if we should attempt to get the Holy Ghost through any other means except the sign or way which God hath appointed, should we obtain it certainly not all other means would fail The Lord says do so & so & I will bless so & so their is certain key words & signs belonging to the which much be observed in order to obtaine the Blessings [p. [136]]
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Source Note

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Page [136]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 20 March 1842, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff
ID #
797
Total Pages
5
Print Volume Location
JSP, D9:290–294
Handwriting on This Page
  • Wilford Woodruff

Footnotes

  1. [9]

    See Genesis 1:11–12; and Book of Abraham Excerpt and Facsimile 2, 15 Mar. 1842.

  2. [10]

    See John 3:5.

  3. [11]

    TEXT: “of God” is circled.

  4. [12]

    The Times and Seasons version renders the passage between the two preceding commas as follows: “for they have not obeyed the ordinances, nor attended to the signs which God ordained for the salvation of man, to prepare him for; and give him a title to a celestial glory.” (Wilford Woodruff, “Sabbath Scene in Nauvoo,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1842, 3:752.)

  5. [13]

    See Matthew 23:33.

  6. [14]

    The Times and Seasons version renders the passage from “whareby” to the end of the sentence as follows: “whereby God hath ordained for man to come to him, to be saved, and enter into the kingdom of God, except faith in Jesus Christ; repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, and any other course is in vain; then you have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Wilford Woodruff, “Sabbath Scene in Nauvoo,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1842, 3:752.)

  7. [15]

    See James 5:14; and Mark 16:17–18.

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