Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–C, as Reported by Willard Richards
Source Note
JS, Discourse, [, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, or , 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, 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, copied an account of the discourse into his “Pocket Companion” notebook. 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 , Richards was proselytizing in . After the apostles and seventies began arriving in England in December 1839 to proselytize, Richards likely copied one of their accounts of the discourse. He copied this discourse after two other undated discourses in his “Pocket Companion” notebook, likely between January 1840 and April 1841.
The discourse expounds upon the roles of the two Comforters and the steps necessary to gain salvation and eternal life. ’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. The topics in the discourse are similar to those in a discourse that JS gave in late June or early July 1839 and that recorded. It is unclear whether JS discussed these topics in multiple discourses or whether the Richards and Woodruff accounts are of the same discourse.
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]
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.