Joseph Smith Sermons of 1836

Date: 12 January 1836 (Tuesday)

Location: Joseph Smith Home, Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Frederick G. Williams Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

Date: 14 January 1836 (Thursday)

Location: At a Wedding Held at Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Frederick G. Williams Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

I found a large company assembled, the house was filled to overflowing, we opened our interview by singing and prayer suited to the occasion after which I made some remarks in relation to the duties that are incumbent on husbands and wives, in particular the great importance there is in cultivating the pure principles of the institution, in all its bearings, and connexions with each other and Society in general

I then invited them to arise and join hands, and pronounced the ceremony according to the rules and regulations of the Church of the latter day Saints

after which I pronounced such blessings upon their heads as the Lord put into my heart the blessings of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, and dismissed by singing prayer.

Date: 15 January 1836 (Friday)

Location: In the Temple at Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Frederick G. Williams Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

I then made some observation respecting the order of the day, and the great responsibility we are under to transact all our buisness, [sic] in righteousness before God, inasmuch as our desisions will have a bearing upon all mankind and upon all generations to come

Sung the song Adam-ondi-ahman and open by prayer . . .

. . . The above rules hav[e] now passed through the several quorums, in their order, and passed by the unanimous vote of the whole, and are therefore received and established as a law to govern the house of the Lord in this place,-In the investigatin of this subject, I found that many who had deliberated upon this subject were darkened in their minds, which drew forth, some remarks from me, respecting the privileges of the authorities of the church, that they should, each speak in his turn, and in his place, and in his time and season, that their may be perfect order in all things, and that every man, before he, makes an objection to any, item, that is thrown before them for their concideration, should be sure that they can throw light upon the subject rather than spread darkness, and that his objections be founded in righteousness which may be done by applying ourselves closely to study the mind and will of the Lord, whose Spirit always makes manifest, and demonstrates to the understanding of all who are in possession, of his Spirit - . . .

Date: 16 January 1836 (Saturday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Jesse Hitchcock/Warren Parish Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

I observed that we had heard them patiently and in turn should expect to be heard patiently also; and first I remarked that it was necessary that the 12 should state whether they were determined to persevere in the work of the Lord, whether the presidency were able to satisfy them or not; vote called, and carried in the affirmative, unanimously; I then said to them that I had not lost confidence in them, and that they had no reason to suspect my confidence, and that I would be willing to be weighed in the scale of truth today in this matter, and risk it in the day of judgment; and as it respects the chastening contained in the letter in question, which I acknowledge might have been expressed in too harsh language; which was not intentional and I ask your forgiveness, inasmuch as I have hurt your feelings; but nevertheless, the letter that Elder Mclellin wrote back to Kirtland while the Twelve were at the east was harsh also, and I was willing to set the one against the other. I next proceeded to explain the subject of the duty of the Twelve; and their authority which is next to the present presidency, and that the arrangement of the assembly in this place, on the 15 inst in placing the High Councils of Kirtland next [to] the Presidency, was because the business to be transacted, was business relating to that body in particular which was to fill the several quorum's in Kirtland; not beca[u]se they were first in office, and that the arrangement was the most Judicious that could be made on the occasion also the 12, are not subject to any other than the first presidency, viz. myself S. Rigdon, and F G. Williams-I also stated to the Twelve that I do not countenanc[e] the harsh language of President Cowdery to them, neither in myself nor any other man, although I have sometimes spoken to harsh from the impulse of the moment, and inasmuch as I have wounded your feelings brethren I ask your forgiveness, for I love you and will hold you up with all my heart in all righteousness, before the Lord, and before all men, for be assured, brethren, I am willing to stem the torrent of all opposition, in storms in tempests in thunders and in lightning by sea and by land in the wilderness or among fals[e] brethren or mobs or wherever God in his providence may call us and I am determined that neither heights nor depths principalities nor powers things present or to come nor any other creature shall separate me from you; and I will now covenant with you before God that I will not listen too nor credit, any derogatory report against any of you nor condemn you upon any testimony beneath the heavens, short of that testimony which is infalible, untill I can see you face to face and know of a surity and I do place unlimited confidence in your word for I believe you to be men of truth, and I ask the same of you, when I tell you anything that you place equal confidence in my word for I will not tell you I know anything that I do not know - but I have already consumed more time than I intended when I commenced and I will now give way to my colleagues.

Date: 21 January 1836 (Thursday)

Location: Joseph Smith Home, Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Warren Parrish Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

I went into the room where he was, and the first question he asked me, after passing a compliment, was to know how many members we have in our church, I replyed to him, that w hav[e] between 15 hundred and 2,000 in this branch.-He then asked me wherein we differ from other christian denomination[s] I replyed that we believe the bible, and they do not.-however he affirmed that he believed the bible, I told him then to be baptised,-he replied that he did not realize it to be his duty-But when [I] laid before him the principles of the gospel, viz. faith and repentance and baptism for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the reseption of the Holy Ghost he manifested much surprise-I then observed that the hour for school had arived, and I must attend The man seemed astonished at our doctrine but by no means hostile.

Date: 30 January 1836 (Saturday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Sylvester Smith Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

Attended school as usual, & waited upon several visiters & showed them the record of Abraham-Mr Seixas our hebrew teacher examined them with deep interest & pronounced them to be original beyound all doubt.

Date: 3 February 1836 (Wednesday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Sylvester Smith Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

Received many visiters & showed the records of Abraham-

Date: 6 February 1836 (Saturday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Kirtland Elders Quorum Minutes, RLDS Archives, Independence, Missouri, pp. 4-5

[Joseph Smith] returned and reprimanded us for our evil deeds which was the cause of our darkness. He prophesied saying this night the key is turned to the nations, and the angel John is about commencing his mission to prophesy before kings, and rulers, nations tongues and people.

Date: 11 February 1836 (Friday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Warren Parrish Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

Spent the afternoon in reading, and exibiting the Egy[p]tian records to those who called to see me.

Date: 12 February 1836 (Friday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Warren Parrish Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

I then arose and made some remarks upon the object of our meeting, which were as follows-first that many are desiring to be ordained to the ministry, who are not called and consequ[e]ntly the Lord is displeased-Secondly, many already have been ordained who ought [not] to hold official stations in the church because they dishonour themselves and the church and bring persecution swiftly upon us, in consequence of their zeal without k[n]owledge-I requested the quorum's to take some measures to regulate the same. I proposed some resolutions and remarked to the brethren that the subject was now before them and open for discussion . . . it was then proposed that I should indite resolutions which I did as follows

1st- Resolved that no one be ordained to any office in the church in this stake of Zion at Kirtland without the unanimous voice of the several bodies that constitute this quorum who are appointed to do church buisness [sic] in the name of said church- viz the presidency of the church & council [of] the 12. apostles of the Lamb and 12 high counsellors of Kirtland the 12, high counsellors of Zion, the Bishop of Kirtland & his counsellors the Bishop of Zion and his counsellors- the 7 presidents of the Seventies; untill otherwise ordered by the said quorums.-

2nd- And further resolved that no one be ordained in the branches of said church abroad unless they are recommended by the voice of the respective branches of the church to which they belong to a general conference appointed by the heads of the church, and from that conference receive their ordination.

Date: 16 February 1836 (Tuesday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Warren Parrish Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

Atten[d]ed School at the usual hour and resumed our translating [of Hebrew in the class of Josiah Seixas] and made rapid progress many called to day to see the House of the Lord, and to visit me and see the Egy[p]tian manuscripts- we have extremely cold weather and fine sleighing.

Date: 17 February 1836 (Wednesday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Warren Parrish Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

Attend the school and read and translated with my class as usual . . . This evening Elder Coe called to make some arangements about the Egyptian records and the mummies, he proposes to hire a room at J Johnsons Inn and exibit them there from day to day at certain hours, that some benefit may be derived from them - I complied with his request, and only observed that they must be managed with prudence and care especially the manuscripts.

Date: 23 February 1836 (Tuesday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Warren Parrish Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

This afternoon the sisters met again at the chapel [Kirtland Temple] to work on the ve[i]l toward the close of the day I met with the presidency & many of the brethren in the house of the Lord- I made some remarks from the pulpit upon the rise and progress of the Church of Christ of Latter day Saints and pronounced a blessing upon the Sisters for the liberality in giving their servises so cheerfully to make the veil for the Lord's house also upon the congregation and dismissed.

Date: 28 February 1836 (Sunday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Warren Parrish Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

This morning two gentlemen late from Scotland called to see me, to make inquiry about the work of the Lord in these last days, they treated me with respect, and the interview was pleasing to me, and I presume interesting to them, they attended our meeting, with me, and expressed a satisfaction in what they heard

They spoke of the oriental reformer and his prop[h]esies- after meeting, I returned home and spent the after part of the day and evening in reading and translating the Hebrew.

Date: 27 March 1836 (Sunday)

Location: Kirtland, Ohio, USA

Source: Jesse Hitchcock Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

I then made a short address and called upon the several quorums, and all the congregation of saints to acknowledge the Presidency as Prophets and Seers, and uphold them by their prayers, the all covenanted to do so by rising; I then called upon the quorums and congregation of saints to acknowledge the 12 Apostles who were present as Prophets and Seers and special witnesses to all the nations of the earth, holding the keys of the kingdom, to unlock it or cause it to be done among them; and uphold them by their prayers, which they assented to by rising . . . I next called upon the quorums and congregation of saints to acknowledge the Presidents of the seventys who act as their represent[at]ives as Apostles and special witnesses to the nations to assist the 12 in opening the gospel kingdom, among all people and to uphold them by their prayer's which they did by rising . . .

[after reading the dedicatory prayer] . . . I then bore testimony of the administering of angels. -

Date: 30 March 1836 (Wednesday)

Location: Kirtland Temple, Kirtland, Ohio USA

Source: Jesse Hitchcock Record in Joseph Smith Journal, LDS Archives

I ascended the pulpit and remarked to the congregation that we had passed through many trials and afflictions since the organization of this church and that this is a year of Jubilee to us and a time of rejoicing, and that it was expedient for us to prepare bread and wine sufficient to make our hearts glad, as we should not probably leave this house until morning; to this end we should call on the brethren to make a contribution, the stewards passed round and took up a liberal contribution and messengers were dispatched for bread and wine, tubs [of] water and towels were prepared and I called the house to order . . . I observed that we had fasted all day, and lest we faint; as the Saviour did so shall we do on this occasion, we shall bless the bread and give it to the 12 and they to the multitude, after which we shall bless the wine and do likewise; while waiting I made the following remarks, that the time that we were required to tarry in Kirtland to be endued would be fulfilled in a few days, and then the Elders would go forth and each must stand for himself, that it was not necessary for them to be sent out two by two as in former times; but to go in all meekness in sobriety and preach Jesus Christ & him crucified not to contend with others on the account of their faith or systems of religion but pursue a steady course, this I delivered by way of commandment, and all that observe them not will pull down persecution upon their heads, while those who do shall always be filled with the Holy Ghost, this I pronounced as a prophesy sealed with a Hosanna & amen. Also that the seventies are not called to serve tables or preside over churches to settle difficulties, but to preach the gospel and build them up, and set others who do not belong to these quorums to preside over them who are high priests-the twelve also are not to serve tables, but to bear the keys of the kingdom to all nations, and unlock them and call upon the seventies to follow after them and assist them. The 12 are at liberty to go wheresoever they will and if one shall say, I wish to go to such a place let all the rest say Amen.

The seventies are at liberty to go to Zion if they please or go wheresoever they will and preach the gospel and let the redemption of Zion be our object, and strive to affect it by sending up all the strength of the Lords house whereever we find them, and I want to enter into the following covenant, that if any more of our brethren are slain or driven from their lands in Missouri by the mob that we will give ourselves no rest until we are avenged of our enimies to the uttermost, this covenant was sealed unanimously by a hosanna and Amen. - I then observed to the quorums that I had now completed the organization of the church and we had passed through all the necessary ceremonies, that I had given them all the instruction they needed and that they now were at liberty after obtaining their lisences to go forth and build up the kingdom of God, and that it was expedient for me and presidency to retire, having spent the night previous in waiting upon the Lord in his temple, and having to attend another dedication on the morrow, or conclude the one commenced on the last sabbath for the benifit of those of my brethren and sisters who could not get into the house on the former occasion but that it was expedient for the brethren to tarry all night and worship before the Lord in his house I left the meeting in the charge of the 12.

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