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Discourse, 23 July 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards

Source Note

JS, Discourse, [, Hancock Co., IL, 23 July 1843]. Featured version copied [ca. 23 July 1843] in JS, Journal, 1842–1844, bk. 3, pp. [11]–[17]; handwriting of . For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, Journal, 1842–1844.

Historical Introduction

During the afternoon of 23 July 1843, JS preached a discourse in , Illinois, on various subjects and clarified statements he had made on previous occasions. The sermon continued themes from a discourse JS delivered on 9 July on the differences between the and other Christian faiths, with JS declaring on both occasions that church members should love others and that they should receive truth regardless of the source.
The 23 July 1843 discourse also clarified comments JS made a week earlier that he “would not p[r]ophecy any more” and that his brother “should be the prophet.” The morning after JS made those remarks, some Saints expressed concerns over this announcement, believing JS was resigning his position as church . On 23 July, JS explained his previous comment in two ways: First, he stated that he was speaking “Ironically,” assuming that the Saints would understand his meaning, and that he was not actually denying he was a prophet but that he intended to stop “procla[i]ming myself such.” Second, JS stated that he could “adva[n]ce f[ro]m prophet to pri[e]st & then to King.” Whereas Christians historically used these titles to refer to the threefold office of Jesus Christ, JS suggested in the 23 July discourse that human beings could attain these titles in a progressive fashion and that by allowing Hyrum Smith to assume the role of “prophet,” JS could become a “priest.” In the remainder of the discourse, JS connected this discussion with the ministry of John the Baptist, whom he referred to as a “king” and “lawgiver.”
recorded an extensive account of this discourse in JS’s journal. Richards likely recorded rough notes from the discourse in a small booklet or loose sheets, which he later copied—with minimal polishing—in JS’s journal. and recorded shorter accounts in their journals. The polished language in the accounts by Burgess and Richards suggests that both inscribed their versions after the fact based on notes or perhaps memory. All three accounts are featured here.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Discourse, 9 July 1843.

  2. [2]

    Willard Richards, Nauvoo, IL, to Brigham Young, New York City, NY, 18–19 July 1843, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; see also Discourse, 16 July 1843.

    Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

  3. [3]

    See Revelation 1:6. Prominent reformer John Calvin connected the titles, and the doctrine of the threefold office of Jesus Christ became important in Reformed and Lutheran theology. The phrase was also widely used in nineteenth-century American Protestant discourse. For instance, the popular hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” which was included in the church’s 1835 hymnal, states, “He lives my Prophet, Priest, and King.” Likewise, Presbyterian minister Ashbel Green explained that while certain Old Testament figures fulfilled two of the roles (“David was a king and a prophet”), only Christ fulfilled all three. (Dietrich Ritschl, “Office of Christ,” in Encyclopedia of Christianity, 3:820; Hymn 79, Collection of Sacred Hymns [1835], 107; Green, Lectures on the Shorter Catechism, 316; see also “The Council of Fifty in Nauvoo, Illinois.”)

    The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Edited by Erwin Fahlbusch, Jan Milič Lochman, John Mbiti, Jaroslav Pelikan, and Lukas Vischer. Translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley. 5 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans; Leiden, the Netherlands: Brill, 1999–2008.

    Green, Ashbel. Lectures on the Shorter Catechism of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America Addressed to Youth. Vol. 1. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1841.

  4. [4]

    For more information on Willard Richards’s note-taking methods, see Historical Introduction to Discourse, 4 July 1843.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Discourse, 23 July 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards
Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 3, 15 July 1843–29 February 1844 *Discourse, 23 July 1843, as Reported by Franklin D. Richards *Discourse, 23 July 1843, as Reported by James Burgess History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page [11]

Law and prophets were until John &c 15 16 luke. 16 v— Joseph prea[c]hed— introduction— It has gone ab[r]oad that I was no longer a prophet.— I said it Ironically. I supposd you would all understand. I was not that I would renounce the idea of being a prophet. but that I would renou[n]ce the idea of procla[i]ming myself such. and saying. that I bear the testimony of Jesus.
No greater love than that a man lay down his life for his finds [friends]. I discover 100s & 1000s ready to do it for me [p. [11]]
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Source Note

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Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 23 July 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards
ID #
1125
Total Pages
7
Print Volume Location
JSP, D12:492–495
Handwriting on This Page
  • Willard Richards

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    See Revelation 19:10.

  2. [2]

    See John 15:13.

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