Mormon History, May 20, 1843

-- May 20, 1843
[Joseph Smith] Joseph writes an article for the Times and Seasons on the derivation of the word Mormon. "The word Mormon, means literally, more good." (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 5:399-400.) (1)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Saturday, May 20th 10 A.M. called at court room on case of Samuel Fuller. Court adjourned. In the office heard Bro[ther] Phelps read a deffinition of the Word Mormonâ€"More-Goodâ€"corrected and sent to press. (2)

-- May 20, 1843. Saturday.
[William Clayton Journal] Â…Rode on prairie with President Joseph, [Joseph H.] Jackson, Brother Oakley and others to look lands. P.M. rode out with Jackson to shew lands. President Smith tells me he has appointed Jackson to sell lands and relieve me of their burthen. He says Jackson appears a fine and noble fellow but is reduced in circumstances. The president feels disposed to employ him and give him a chance in the world. Jackson says he shall be baptized ere long. (3)

-- 1843: 21 May
[Patriarchal Blessings] Caroline Grouard. (Given by Hyrum Smith.)
"Caroline, I lay my hands upon your head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, & bless you according to the desires of your heart as it cometh unto you by way of promise with the blessings of the new and everlasting Covenant as an heir of promise, & with the Seal of the promise as in your forehead, the same that binds on Earth & binds in heaven, & I Seal you unto eternal life for a consolation & a comforter, for your name is written in the book of life, & if there is pride & transgression, there remaineth a Scourge, nevertheless, there is integrity in your heart, & a zeal for salvation, & faith, & it shall increase & be multiplied, going from faith to faith, & from grace to grace, until you are blessed with the blessings of the everlasting Covenant, & have entered into the rest that remained for the people of God, & your promise is the Comforter as is written in the testimony of John the divine, the Comforter in the hour to come, in the hour of perplexity, & in the hour of Trial
, & also in the hour of tribulation, & in the hour of deep & sore afflictions, then shall you know that your name is written in the Book of life, & that you are sealed with the Seal of promise, & that you are blessed with the promise of the blessings of your fathers, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, & shall have an inheritance in the lineage of your fathers, together with the blessings of your habitation, field & flocks, & a name to be perpetuated from generation to generation, all to be received in Common with your husband, both as to your inheritance, days, & years, together with the seal of the everlasting Covenant, which Seals on Earth & seals in Heaven, These blessings I seal upon your head, even so, Amen." (From typescript; P8 f10, RLDS Archives.) (4)

-- 21May43
[Joseph Smith Sermon] Keep Order in Congregation
True Righteousness
Calling and Election
3 Secrets of 2d Peter 1
Making Calling Election Sure
Knowledge is Salvation
Organization of Spirits - Body Gives Power
Must Make Election Sure or no Exaltation (5)

-- May 21, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 21st A large Congregation of Saint assembled at the temple & was addressed by President Joseph Smith upon the same suject that he spoke upon at Lima on the 14th in which was interesting in the hiest degree. (6)

[Joseph Smith] Sunday. Joseph preaches at the temple to a large crowd. He gives his famous sermon on 2 Peter, explaining three keys with which to understand chapter one. (See History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 5:401-3) (1)

(Sunday Morning). Temple Stand.
Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards
10 1/2---Joseph arrived and after pressing his way through the crowd and getting on the stand said there were some people who thought it a terrible thing that any body should exercise a little power. & said he thought it a pity that any body should give occasion to have power exercised. and requested the people to get out of their alleys, and if they did not keep them clear he might some time run up and down & might hit some of them. & called on Bro Morey to constable to keep the alleys after singing Joseph read 1st chap 2d Epistle of Peter, Wm Law prayed. singing again.
when I shall have the opportunity of speaking in a house I know not. I find my lungs failing---it has always been my fortune almost to speak in the open air to large assemblies.
I have not an idea there has been a great many very good men since Adam There was one good man Jesus.---Many think a prophet must be a great deal better than any body else.---suppose I would condescend. yes I will call it condescend, to be a great deal better than any of you. I would be raised up to the highest heaven, and who should I have to accompany me. I love that man better who swears a stream as long as my arm, and administering to the poor & dividing his substance, than the long smoothed faced hypocrites
I dont want you to think I am very righteous, for I am not very righteous. God judgeth men according to the light he gives them.
we have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto you do well to take heed. as unto a light that shineth in a dark place
we were eyewitnesses of his majesty and heard the voice of his excellent glory ---& what could be more sure? transfigured on the mount &c what could be more sure? divines have been quarreling for ages about the meaning of this.
rough stone rolling down hill.
3 grand secrets lying in this chapter which no man can dig out. which unlocks the whole chapter. What is written are only hints of things which existed in the prophets mind. which are not written concerning eternal glory.
I am going to take up this subject by virtue of the knowledge of God in me. which I have received from heaven.
the opinions of men, so far as I am [DEL: possessed :DEL] concerned, are to me as the crackling of the thorns under the pot, or the whistling of the wind.
Columbus and the eggs. ---Ladder and rainbow. like precious faith with us---add to your faith virtue &c. another point after having all these qualifications he lays this injunction. but rather make your calling & election sure---after adding all this virtue knowledge &. make your caling & sure. ---what is the secret. the starting point.---according as his divine power which hath given unto all things that pertain to life & godliness.
how did he obtain all things? through the knowledge of him who hath called him.---there could not any be given pertaining to life [DEL: knowledge :DEL] & godliness without knowledge wo wo wo to christendom.---the divine spirits; &c if this be true.
salvation is for a man to be saved from all his enemies.---until a man can triumph over death. he is not saved. knowledge will do this.
organization of Spirits in the eternal world.---spirits in the eternal world are like spirits in this world. when those spirits have come into this [and] risin & received glorified bodies. they will have an ascendency over spirits who have no bodies. or kept not their first estate like the devil. Devils punishment, should not have a habitation like other men. Devils retaliation come into this world bind up mens bodies. & occupy himself. authorities come alone and eject him from a stolen habitation
design of the great God in sending us into this world and organizing us to prepare us for the Eternal world.---I shall keep in my own bosom. we have no claim in our eternal comfort in relation to Eternal things unless our actions & contracts & all things tend to this end. ---
after all this make your calling and election sure. if this injunction would lay largely on those to whom it was spoken. how much more then to them of the 19. century.---
1 Key Knowledge is the power of Salvation
2 Key Make his calling and Election Sure
3. it is one thing to be on the mount & hear the excellent voice &c &c. and another to hear the voice declare to you you have a part & lot in the kingdom.---
Howard and Martha Coray Notebook
A Sermon by the Prophet Joseph Smith. On Election.
Every man goes to his own place 2 Peter 1. Ch---Judas by transgression fell that he might go to his own place. there is one glory of the sun another of the moon & another of the stars as one Star differetheth &c. so also is the reserection of the dead. Brethren I am not a very Pieus man. I do not wish to be a great deal better than any body else. If a Prophet was so much better that any body else was he would inherit a glory far beyond what any one else would inherit and behold he would be alone, for who would be his company in heaven. [DEL: for :DEL] If I should condesend to be so righteous as the brethren would wish me to be, lo I should be taken from your midst and be translated as was Elijah. Righteousness is not that which men esteem holiness. That which the world call righteousness I have not any regard for. To be righteous is to be just and merciful. If a man fails in kindness justice and mercy he will be damed for many will say in that day Lord, have we not prophecie
in thyname and in thy name done many wonderful works but he will say unto them ye workers of iniquity &c we were eye witnesses of his Majesty we have also a more sure word of Prophecy. Now brethren who can explain this no man be [but] he that has obtained these things in the same way that Peter did. Yet it is so plain & so simple & easy to be understood that when I have shown you the interpretation thereof you will think you have always Known it yourselves---These are but hints at those things that were revealed to Peter, and verily brethren there are things in the bosom of the Father, that have been hid from the foundation of the world, that are not Known neither can be except by direct Revelation The Apostle says, unto them who have obtained like precious faith with us the apostles through the righteousness of God & our Savior Jesus Christ, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory & virtue add faith virtue &c. &c. to godliness brotherly kindness---Charity-
--ye shall neitherbe barren or unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. He that lacketh these things is blind ---wherefore the rather brethren after all this give diligence to make your calling & Election Sure Knowledge is necessary to life and Godliness. wo unto you priests & divines, who preach that knowledge is not necessary unto life & Salvation. Take away Apostles &c. take away knowledge and you will find yourselves worthy of the damnation of hell. Knowledge is Revelation hear all ye brethren, this grand Key; Knowledge is the power of God unto Salvation.
What is salvation. Salvation is for a man to be Saved from all his enemies even our last enemy which is death [DEL: and :DEL] for David Saith, "and the Lord Said unto my Lord 'Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.[']"
The design of God before the foundation of the world was that we should take tabernacles that through faithfulness we should overcome & thereby obtain a resrection from the dead, in this wise obtain glory honor power and dominion for this thing is needful, inasmuch as the Spirits in the Eternal world, glory in bringing other Spirits in Subjection unto them, Striving continually for the mastery, He who rules in the heavens when he has a certain work to do calls the Spirits before him to organize them. they present themselves and offer their Services---
When Lucifer was hurled from Heaven the decree was that he Should not obtain a tabernacle not those that were with him, but go abroad upon the earth exposed to the anger of the elements naked & bare, but oftimes he lays hold upon men binds up their Spirits enters their habitations laughs at the decree of God and rejoices in that he hath a house to dwell in, by & by he is expelled by Authority and goes abroad mourning naked upon the earth like a man without a house exposed to the tempest & the storm---
There are some things in my own bosom that must remain there. If Paul could say I Knew a man who ascended to the third heaven & saw things unlawful for man to utter, I more. There are only certain things that can be done by the Spirits and that which is done by us that is not done with a view to eternity is not binding in eternity. Oh Peter if they who were of like precious faith with thee were injoined to make their Calling & Election sure, how much more all we There are two Keys, one key knowledge. the other make you Calling & election sure, for if you do these things you shall never fall for so an entrance shall be administered unto you abundently into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. We made known unto you the power & coming of our Lord & S. J. Christ were Eye witnesses of his Majesty when he received from God the Father honor & glory when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
thisvoice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto give heed until the day Star arise in your hearts [DEL: this is :DEL] It is one thing to receive knowledge by the voice of God, (this is my beloved Son &c.) & another to Know that you yourself will be saved, to have a positive promise of your own Salvation is making your Calling and Election sure. viz the voice of Jesus saying my beloved thou shalt have eternal life. Brethren never cease strugling until you get this evidence. [DEL: & :DEL] Take heed both before and after obtaining the more sure word of Prophecy.
Franklin D. Richards "Scriptural Items"
Joseph said may 21st Sabbath Salvation is for a man to be saved from all his enemies The 1st chap of 2d Peter is hints of things which are nowhere written. There are things which pertain to the Glory of God & heirship of God with Christ which are not [DEL: where :DEL] written in the Bible spirits of the eternal world are diverse from each other as here in their dispositions Aspiring Ambitious &c As man is liable to enemies there as well as here it is necessary for him to be placed beyond their power in order to be saved. This is done by our taking bodies (keeping our first estate) and having the Power of the Resurrection pass upon us whereby we are enabled to gain the ascendancy over the disembodied spirits
The mortification of satan consists in his not being permitted to take a body. He sometimes gets possession of a body but when the proven authorities turn him out of Doors he finds it was not his but a stolen one
Our covenants here are of no force one with another except made in view view of eternity.
James Burgess Notebook
First Chapter second Epistle of Peter. The first four verses are the preface to the whole subject. There are three grand Keys to unlock the whole subject. First what is the knowledge of God, Second what is it to make our calling and election sure. Third and last is how to make our calling and election sure. Ans, it is to obtain a promise from God for myself that I shall have Eternal life. that is the more sure word of prophycy. Peter was writeing to those of like precious faith with them the Apostles First to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise that is the testimony of Jesus Second how is he to get that Holy Spirit; Ans except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God; second except a man be born of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Ques. What is it for a man to obtain salvation Ans, It is to triumph over every foe or ascend far above all enemies for the last enimey to conquor is death and untill that is done you have not obtained
salvation J. Smith Prophet. Nauvoo.
Wilford Woodruff Diary
A large Congregation of Saint assembled at the temple & was addressed by President Joseph Smith upon the same subject that he spoke upon at Lima on the 14th in which was interesting in the hiest degree.
Levi Richards Diary
A.M. attended Meeting at the Temple P. Joseph Smith preached from 1 Chap. 2d Peter "we have a more sure word of prophesy &C" spoke about two hours. (7)


Footnotes:
1 - Conklin, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
2 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843
3 - George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995
4 - Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009
5 - The Parallel Joseph, http://www.boap.org/LDS/Parallel/
6 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993
7 - The Words of Joseph Smith by Joseph Smith by Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook


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