[William Clayton Journal] On the morning of the 12th of July, 1843, Joseph and Hyrum Smith came into the office in the upper story of the `brick store,' on the bank of the Mississippi River. They were talking on the subject of plural marriage. Hyrum said to Joseph, ``If you will write the revelation on celestial marriage, I will take it to Emma, and I believe I can convince her of its truth, and you will hereafter have peace.'' Joseph smiled and remarked, ``You do not know Emma as well as I do.'' Hyrum repeated his opinion and further remarked, ``The doctrine is so plain, I can convince any reasonable man or woman of its truth, purity or heavenly origin,'' or words to their effect. Joseph then said, ``Well, I will write the revelation and we will see.'' He then requested me to get paper and prepare to write. Hyrum very urgently requested Joseph to write the revelation by means of the Urim and Thummim, but Joseph, in reply, said he did not need to, for he knew the revelation p
erfectly from beginning to end.
Joseph and Hyrum then sat down and Joseph commenced to dictate the revelation on celestial marriage, and I wrote it, sentence by sentence, as he dictated. After the whole was written, Joseph asked me to read it through, slowly and carefully, which I did, and he pronounced it correct. He then remarked that there was much more that he could write, on the same subject, but what was written was sufficient for the present.
Hyrum then took the revelation to read to Emma. Joseph remained with me in the office until Hyrum returned. When he came back, Joseph asked him how he had succeeded. Hyrum replied that he had never received a more severe talking to in his life, that Emma was very bitter and full of resentment and anger.
Joseph quietly remarked, ``I told you you did not know Emma as well as I did'' Joseph then put the revelation in his pocket, and they both left the office. The revelation was read to several of the authorities during the day. Towards evening Bishop Newel K. Whitney asked Joseph if he had any objections to his taking a copy of the revelation; Joseph replied that he had not, and handed it to him. It was carefully copied the following day by Joseph C. Kingsbury. Two or three days after the revelation was written Joseph related to me and several others that Emma has so teased, and urgently entreated him for the privilege of destroying it, that he became so weary of her teasing, and to get rid of her annoyance, he told her she might destroy it and she had done so, but he had consented to her wish in this matter to pacify her, realizing that he knew the revelation perfectly, and could rewrite it at any time if necessary.
The copy made by Joseph C. Kingsbury is a true and correct copy of the original in every respect. The copy was carefully preserved by Bishop Whitney, and but few knew of its existence until the temporary location of the Camps of Israel at Winter Quarters, on the Missouri River, in 1846.
After the revelation on celestial marriage was written, Joseph continued his instructions, privately, on the doctrine, to myself and others, and during the last year of his life we were scarcely ever together, alone, but he was talking on the subject, and explaining that doctrine and principles connected with it. He appeared to enjoy great liberty and freedom in his teachings, and also to find great relief in having a few to whom he could unbosom his feelings on that great and glorious subject.
From him I learned that the doctrine of plural and celestial marriage is the most holy and important doctrine ever revealed to man on the earth, and that without obedience to that principle no man can ever attain to the fulness of exaltation in celestial glory. (1)
-- Jul 13, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 13th We passed Vevey at 8 oclock. We had a plesant view of President Harrison's Tomb as we passed along. We Reached Cincinnati at half past 5 oclock. Spent the night at Br Timothy Bakers at Elm street Between fifth & sixth st. Elder Smith was quite sick through the night. I dreamed that Br Joseph was taken with another writ to be tried in Illinois. Elder B Young also dreamed that we were called home. The distance from the mouth of the Ohio to Cincinnati is 538 miles. (2)
Joseph Smith writes in his diary: "I was in conversation with Emma most of the day." The previous day Joseph's brother Hyrum had presented Emma with the revelation on plural marriage. Emma "said she did not believe a word of it and appeared very rebellious." On This Day William Clayton records: " This A.M. Joseph sent for me and when I arrived he called me up into his private room with E[mma] and there stated an agreement they had mutually entered into. They both stated their feelings on many subjects and wept considerable. O may the Lord soften her heart that she may be willing to keep and abide by his Holy Law-" Three days later Joseph's diary records that he "preached . . . concerning a mans foes being they of his own house" (3)
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith spent most of the day in conversation with Emma Smith, his wife. (4)
[Joseph Smith Diary] Thursday, July 13th Shadrach Roundy returned from Springfield. Reported the Gov[ernor] gone to Rock River and left affidavits to the care of Gen[eral] Adams (/all performed in/ less than 4 days). In conversation with Emma most of the day.
Roundy said it was reported that Gen[eral] Wilson of M[iss]o[uri] had started from the interior of Ill[inois] for Washington City. (5)
Footnotes:
1 - Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries
2 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
5 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843
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