Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Willard Richards

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Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Willard Richards
Source Note

JS, Discourse,
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Hancock Co., IL, 3 Oct. 1841; 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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; five pages; Historian’s Office, General Church Minutes, CHL.

Two bifolia, each measuring 7⅞ × 5¾ inches (20 × 15 cm). The discourse is written in very faint graphite, making significant portions of the text illegible.

The discourse is part of a larger collection of general church minutes created or collected by scribes affiliated with the Church Historian’s Office. It is uncertain exactly when this discourse was included in the general church minutes. However,
Willard Richards
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worked on JS’s history as early as 1842. Likely around that time, he added his records of JS’s sermons and writings to a compilation of documents about JS and the church. The featured document has likely remained in institutional custody since its creation.
Historical Introduction
On the morning of 3 October 1841, at a session of a general
church
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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conference
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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in
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Illinois, JS gave a discourse on the doctrine of
baptism
An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...
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for the dead, whereby church members were baptized vicariously for their deceased relatives.
1
For more on the October general conference, see Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; for more on the doctrine of baptism for the dead, see Minutes, 3–5 Oct. 1840.

Willard Richards
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attended this meeting and wrote down fragmentary notes from JS’s sermon in an apparent attempt to capture the church
president
The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...
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’s words as he spoke. The text featured here is one of two extant versions of JS’s 3 October 1841 discourse; the other is a printed, more polished version found in the 15 October 1841 issue of the Times and Seasons. The printed version, along with additional historical context and annotation, is found in Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 October 1841.
Footnotes
[1]
For more on the October general conference, see Minutes and Discourse, 1–5 Oct. 1841; for more on the doctrine of baptism for the dead, see Minutes, 3–5 Oct. 1840.
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Willard Richards Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Published in Times and Seasons History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] “History of Joseph Smith” “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 2
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Jesus went with his body & Spirit—

Dispensation of fulness &c— all dispensations— things before since the world.—

go to Books [illegible] Almighty god rend the vails Said Doctrine incredible— why any more incredible that God should save the Dead after the [illegible]? men never is to ad living or Dead to service the Gospel.— in or out of the world. unpardonable sin— sin this world or the world

Spirits after the dissolution of the body— God is bound to fall of that Soul.—
Seal
To confirm or solemnize. In the early 1830s, revelations often adopted biblical usage of the term seal; for example, “sealed up the testimony” referred to proselytizing and testifying of the gospel as a warning of the approaching end time. JS explained in...
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on Earth &c— seal of
Baptism
An ordinance in which an individual is immersed in water for the remission of sins. The Book of Mormon explained that those with necessary authority were to baptize individuals who had repented of their sins. Baptized individuals also received the gift of...
View Glossary
for my father.— sealed in heaven.—
8
See Matthew 16:19.
Books opened—
9
See Revelation 20:12.
of I get my father name Entered. seal him though. &c— 2. Sons born alike— one dies character alike— tomorrow Gospel come.—
10
This may be a reference to JS’s brother Alvin, who died before JS recorded having received knowledge about the kingdoms of glory. (See Visions, 21 Jan. 1836 [D&C 137:5].)
M. Brunstons Negros Generation where did Sectarians get their Doctrine.— from heathen refuse— brayed common sense out of the world.— Mahomet, Juyomet, Toroyes Doctrines.—
11
In a March 1838 document entitled “Motto of the Church of Christ of Latterday Saints,” JS and others similarly wrote, “Wo to tyrants, Mobs, Aristocracy, Anarchy and Toryism.” The use of Tory or Toryism in the motto referred to sympathizing with a group’s enemies and may have the same connotation here. (See Motto, ca. 16 or 17 Mar. 1838; and “Tory,” and “Toryism,” in American Dictionary.)
Comprehensive Works Cited
An American Dictionary of the English Language; Exhibiting the Origin, Orthography, Pronunciation, and Definitions of Words. Edited by Noah Webster. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1845.
Old Joe— [illegible] of this thesis— Blasphemy— voice of God from heavens.— creeds of men.— why so tenacous are the mormons? old wine, mend bottles &. New Rev in old churches— old Sadness Presbytrian— into a new church—
12
See Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; and Luke 5:37.
drawn ga◊◊ for charity— man gone to flames of hell [p. 2]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Discourse, 3 October 1841, as Reported by Willard Richards
ID #
2695
Total Pages
5
Print Volume Location
JSP, D8:300–302
Handwriting on This Page
Willard Richards
Footnotes
[8]
See Matthew 16:19.
[9]
See Revelation 20:12.
[10]
This may be a reference to JS’s brother Alvin, who died before JS recorded having received knowledge about the kingdoms of glory. (See Visions, 21 Jan. 1836 [D&C 137:5].)
[11]
In a March 1838 document entitled “Motto of the Church of Christ of Latterday Saints,” JS and others similarly wrote, “Wo to tyrants, Mobs, Aristocracy, Anarchy and Toryism.” The use of Tory or Toryism in the motto referred to sympathizing with a group’s enemies and may have the same connotation here. (See Motto, ca. 16 or 17 Mar. 1838; and “Tory,” and “Toryism,” in American Dictionary.)
An American Dictionary of the English Language; Exhibiting the Origin, Orthography, Pronunciation, and Definitions of Words. Edited by Noah Webster. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1845.
[12]
See Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; and Luke 5:37.