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Church History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Collection Name | Wilford Woodruff journals and papers, 1828-1898 |
| Collection Description | Wilford Woodruff journal, 1841 January-1842 December |
| Collection Number | MS 1352 |
| Collection Page | 5-204 |
| Source Link | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Rights and Use | Copyright and Use Information |
| Transcript | View Full Transcript |
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O America it is because of these things that thou art weighed in the balance & found wanting. from this time forth perplexity shall rest upon the nation, confusion reign in thy government, wisdom righteousness & truth will depart from thy senators & rulers, Discord & folly shall shall sit in thy congress & senate, thy shame shall be known among the nations of the Earth thy pride shall be humbled in the dust & thy haughtiness laid low, the heads of thy rulers shall be cut off & lade in the Dust, it shall be a vexation to understand the report of the sorrow pain & wo that shall come upon thee by sword, fire, tempest, Earthqu akes, & pestilence, from the hand of God even these things shall come upon thee untill thy government is broken up & thou art destroyed as a nation from under Heaven: for thou hast not kept the command- ments of the Lord but hast Broken them, Betrayed the Constitution of the Land, Polluted thine inheritan ts, robed the innocent, shed the Blood of Saints & made many widows & orphans. Therefore from this hour these things shall come upon thee & shall not scease untill the whole is accomplished & fulfilled upon thine
Thus the Lord has given me the desire of my heart & Blessed me far beyound my expectations for I am now privleged of thaving more than fifteen hundred Saints in this interes ting field which I first opened one year ago the 5th of this present months, all of which have embraced the work since that Date many of which the Saints have gatherd to Zion from that region & the rest are anxious to go & ownly waiting for a door to be open for them. I have never seen so many saints receive the work of God in so short a time & so many ordained Elders, Priests, &c as on this occasion, & what adds much joy & conso lation to my mind while reflecting upon this subject is that (with vary few exceptions) the Officers & members universally have maintained their integrity kept the faith & are faithfully passing through many trials for Christ sake
Manchester England April 2nd 1841 This Day Elders Brigham Young, [Heber Chase Kimball|Heber C. Kimball]], Orson Hide, Parley P. Pratt Willard Richards, Willford Woodru ff John Taylor & G. A. Smith of the Quorum of the Twelve met together at the house of Br James Bewsher Coachman No 4 Gray Street near Oxford Road in this City in Council after having been seperated & dispersed in various countries for the last four years To meet once more in council after a long seperation and having passed through many sore and grieveous trials exposing our lives & our characters to the slander and violence of wicked & murderous men, caused our hearts to swell with gratitude to God for his providential care over us
September 8, 1841 ~ Wednesday 8th Wars & rumours of wars earthquakes tempest pestilence & great fires, connected with almost evry kind of wickedness distress & destruction is begining to be heard thrught almost evry land & nation
started on the jour ney untill 12 oclock at night when a tremendious storm & wind arose which made the lake as rough as it could be by the force of wind & such a scenery as quickly followed I nev er before witnessed in all my travels either by sea or land on water or earth. The Captain of the Chesepeak with other officers, hands & passeng ers mostly expected to go to the bottom to have Judged from outward appearances I should think here was twenty chances of being lost to one of being saved yet I did not once expect during the whole scenery to be lost for I expected & felt that the Lord would savae us from a watery grave by some means
Br Joseph then deliverd unto us an edifying address showing us what temperance faith, virtue, charity & truth was he also said if we did not accuse one another God would not accuse us & if we had no accuser we should enter heaven he would take us there as his back load if we would not accuse him he would not accuse us & if we would throw a cloak of charity over his sins he would over ours for charity coverd a multitude of sins & what many people called sin was not sin & he did many things to break down superstition
Br Joseph then deliverd unto us an edifying address showing us what temperance faith, virtue, charity & truth was he also said if we did not accuse one another God would not accuse us & if we had no accuser we should enter heaven he would take us there as his back load if we would not accuse him he would not accuse us & if we would throw a cloak of charity over his sins he would over ours for charity coverd a multitude of sins & what many people called sin was not sin & he did many things to break down superstition
I am now in the midst of hundreds that I have Baptized throughout America, the Islands of the Sea England &c that have been gatherd together to Nauvoo through the influ ence of the gospel.
November 21, 1841 ~ Sunday 21st Sunday I met in Council with the Twelve at Elder B. Youngs then attended the general Assembly near the Temple he^a^rd a discours by Elder Taylor followed by President Hyram Smith I then met the Twelve at B. Youngs untill 4 oclok at which time we repaired to the Baptismal Font in the Temple for the purpose of Baptizing for the dead, for the remision of sins & for healing it was truly an interesting scene it was the first FONT erected for this glorious purpose in this last dispensation, it was dedicated By President Joseph Smith & the The Twelve for Baptizing for the Dead &c & this was the first time the font had been prepared for the reception of candidates on the Sabbath a large congregation assembled. Elders B Young H. C. Kimball & J Taylor went forward & Baptized about 40 persons. Elders W Richards, G. A. Smith & myself assisted in confirming them.
Joseph said the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any Book on earth & the key stone of our religion & a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than any other Book
After retiring to rest at night I was called upon by Brother Meeks to go with him to lay hands upon his wife who was possessed with a devil I went with him to his house & found his wife foaming in great agony I lade hands upon her & rebuked the devil & he came out of her & she soon fell asleep
December 7, 1841 ~ Tuesday Dec 7th I spent most of my time in the Store but in the evening I attended meeting & herd a discourse deliverd by Lyman Wight who declaired some most stirling truths concerning the building of the Temple & the Nauvoo House if the Saints did not do it they would be rejected as a Church with their dead saith the Lord we should again be driven &c he spoke in truth & the Spirit of God
December 19, 1841 ~ Sunday Dec 19th Sunday I met with the Twelve in the morning & held a Council, & in the evening I met at Joseph's the seer & herd a discours deliverd by Elder Kimball who opened by prayer read a chapter in the Book [of] mormon & spake as he was led by the Spirit of God, he spake of the parable of Jeremiah of the clay in the hands of the potter: That when it marrdd in the hand of the potter it was laid aside to go into the next batch & was a vessel of dishonour but all clay that formed well in the hands of the potter & was pliable was a vessel of honour & thus it was with the human family & ever will be. All that are pliable in the hands of God & are obedient to the commands of God are vessels of honour & God will receive them Joseph the Seer said the above was a true explai- nation of the parable
Joseph the Seer arose & read a chapter in the New Testiment containing the parable of the vine & its branches & explained it much to our edif- ication & said "if we kept the commandments of God we should bring forth fruit & be the friends of God & know what our Lord did, "Some say Joseph is a fallen Prophet because he does not bring forth more of the word of the Lord" "why does he not do it "are we able to receive it No (says he) not one in this room, He then chastized us for our wickedness & unbelief knowing that whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth & scourgeth evry son & daughter whom He receiveth & if we do not receive chastizement then are we bastards & not sons.
On Revelation He said "A man would command his son to dig potatoes, saddle his horse but before he had done either tell him to do sumthing els, this is all considerd right "But as soon as the Lord gives a command ment & revokes that decree & commands sumthing els then the prophet is considerd fallen &c" Because we will not receive chastizment at the hand of the Prophet & Apostles the Lord chast- izeth us with sickness & death. Let not any man Publish his own righteousness for others can do that for him." sooner let him confess his sins & then he will be forgiven & he will bring forth more fruit
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 princi- ple. Upon the same principle do I contend that Baptism 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 this kingdom of God those who seek to enter in any other way will seek in vain, for God will not receive them neither will the angels acknowledge their works as accepted, for they have not taken upon themselves those ordinances & signs which God ordained for man to receive in order to receive a celestial glory, & God has 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 Holy Ghost
What is the sign of the healing of the sick? the laying on of hands, 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 marked 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 priesthood which must be observed in order to obtaine the blessings
The sign of Peter was, to repent & be baptized for the remission of sins, with the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost & in no other way is the gift of the Holy Ghost obtained. Their is a difference between the Holy Ghost & the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was baptized which was the convincing power of God unto him of the truth of the gospel, but he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost untill after he was baptized, & had he not taken this sign or [or]dinances upon him the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God would have left him, untill he obeyed these ordin- ances & received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands according to the order of God he could not have healed the sick or command an evil spirit to come out of a man & it obey him for the spirit might say to him as he did to the sons of Seava & Peter I know & Christ I know but who are ye
It matereth not whether we live long or short after we come to a knowlede of these princi- ples & obey them. I know that all men will be damned if they do not come in the way which God has appointed
As concerning the resurrection I will merly say that all men will come from the grave as they lie down, whether old or young their will not be added unto ther stature one cubit neither taken from it. All being raised by the power of God having the Spirit of God in their bodies & not blood Children will be enthroned in the presence of God & the Lamb with bodies of the same stature that were on earth. Having been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb they will there enjoy a fulness of that light Glory & intelligence which is receiv- ed in the Celestial kingdom of God. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their
As concerning the resurrection I will merly say that all men will come from the grave as they lie down, whether old or young their will not be added unto ther stature one cubit neither taken from it. All being raised by the power of God having the Spirit of God in their bodies & not blood Children will be enthroned in the presence of God & the Lamb with bodies of the same stature that were on earth. Having been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb they will there enjoy a fulness of that light Glory & intelligence which is receiv- ed in the Celestial kingdom of God. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their
Joseph the Seer who made some edifying remarks concerning baptism for the dead. He said the Bible supported the doctrin, "why are ye baptized for the dead if the dead rise not &c" if their is one word of the Lord that supports the doctrin it is enough to mak[e] it a true doctrin. Again if we can baptize a man in the Name of the Father of the Son & of the Holy Ghost for the remission of sins it is just as much our privilege to act as an agent & be baptized for the remission of sins for & in behalf of our dead kindred who have not herd the gospel or fulness of it.
President Joseph Smith spoke upon the occasion with much feelings & inter est among his remarks he said it is a vary solumn & awful time I never felt more solumn it calles to mind the death of my oldest brother who died in New York & my Youngest brother Carloss Smith who died in Nauvoo. It has been hard for me to live on earth & see those young men upon whome we have lean- ed upon as a support & comfort taken from us in the midst of their youth, yes it has been hard to be reconciled to these things I have sometimes felt that I should have felt more reconciled to have been called myself if it could have been the will of God, yet I know we ought to be still & know it is of God & be reconciled all is right it will be but a short time before we shall all in like manner be called. It may be the case with me as well as you. Some has supposed that Br Joseph could not die but this is a mistake it is true their has been times when I have had the promise of my life to accomplish such & such things, but having accomplish those things I have not at present any lease of my life & am as liable to die as other men
If you wish to go whare God is you must be like God or possess the principles which God possesses for if we are not drawing towards God in principle we are going from him & drawing towa rds the devil, yes I am standing in the midst of all kinds of people. Search your hearts & see if you are like God. I have searched mine & feel to repent of all my sins.
As far as we degenerate from God we desend to the devil & looses knowledge & without knowle- dge we cannot be saved & while our hearts are filled with evil & we are studying evil their is no room in our hearts for good or studying good, is not God good, yea then you be good, if he is faithful then you be faithful. Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, & seek for evry good thing the Church must be cleansed & I proclaim against all iniquity. A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge for it he does not get knowledge he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world as evil spirits will have more knowlede & consequent ly more power than many men who are
Vengance is mine I will repay saith The Lord. May 15th 1842 Sunday True information has Just reached us that the Noted Governor Boggs of Missouri who By his orders expeled ten thousand Latter Day Saints,, has just been assassinated in his own house & fallen in his own blood three ball wer short through his head two through his brains & one through his mouth, tongue & throat. Thus this Ungodly wretch has fallen in the midst of his iniquity & the vengance of God has overtaken him at last & he has met his Just deserts though by an unknown hand this information is proclaimed through all the papers & by dispatched messengers & hand bills through the land. Thus Boggs hath died as a fool dieth & gone to his place to receive the reward of his works *
He also prophesied in the Name of the Lord concern- ing the merchants in the City that if they with the rich did not open their hearts & contribute to the poor that they would be cursed by the hand of God & be cut off from the land of the living.
Respecting females laying on hands, he further remarkd there could be no devil in it if God gave his sanction by healing that there could be no more sin in any female laying hands on the sick than in wetting the face with water that it is no sin for any body to do it that has faith, or if the sick has faith to be healed by the administration.
if you live up to your privilege, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates - - females if they are pure & innocent can come into the presence of God, for what is more pleasing to God than innocence, you must be innocent or you can not come up before God, if we would come before God let us be pure ourselves.
"Though I speak with the tongues of men &c"; & said dont be limited in your views with regard to your neighbors virtues, but be limited towards your own virtues, & not think your selves more righte- ous than others, you must enlarge your souls to- wards others, if you would do like Jesus, & carry your fellow creatures to Abrahams bosom.
As you increase in innocence & virtue as you increase in goodness let your hearts expand, let them be enlarged towards others you must be long suffering & bear with the faults & errors of mankind How precious are the souls of men! The female part of community are apt to be contracted in their views. You must not be contracted,
Let this Society teach now to act towards husbands to treat them with mildness & affect- ion. When men is borne down with trouble when he is perplexed, if he can meet a smile, an argument, if he can meet with mildness it will calm down his soul & soothe his feel- ings, when the mind is going to despair it needs a solace.
When you go home never give a cross word, but let kindness charity & love, crown your works hence forward. dont envy sinners, have mercy on them, God will destroy them Let your labors be mostly confined to those around you in your own circle; as far as knowledge is concerned, it may extend to all the world, but your administrations should be confined to the circle of your immediate accquaintance, & more especially to the members of the Society.
If any have a matter to reveal, let it be in your own tongue, do not indul ge too much in the gift of tongues, or the devil will take advantage of the innocent. You may speak in tongues for your own comfort but I lay this down for a rule that if any thing is taught by the gift of tongues, it is not to be received for doctrine.
When you go home never give a cross word, but let kindness charity & love, crown your works hence forward. dont envy sinners, have mercy on them, God will destroy them Let your labors be mostly confined to those around you in your own circle; as far as knowledge is concerned, it may extend to all the world, but your administrations should be confined to the circle of your immediate accquaintance, & more especially to the members of the Society.
