William Clayton Diary[1]

P.M. Joseph preached on Revelations chap. 5. he called on me to open the meeting. He also preached on the same subject in the evening. During the day president Joseph made the following remarks on doctrine. "I was once praying very ernestly to know the time of the coming of the son of man when I heard a voice repeat the following 'Joseph my son, if thou livest untill thou art 85 years old thou shalt see the face of the son of man, therefore let this suffice and trouble me no more on this matter.' I was left thus without being able to decide wether this coming referred to the beginning of the Millenium, or to some previous appearing, or wether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the son of man will not be any sooner than that time." [2] In correcting two points in Er Hydes discourse he observed as follows, "The meaning of that passage where it reads 'when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is' is this, When the savior appears we shall see that he is a man like unto ourselves, and that same sociality which exists amongst us here will exist among us there only it will be coupled with eternal glory which we do not enjoy now. Also the appearing of the father and the son in John c 14 v 23 is a personal appearing and the idea that they will dwell in a mans heart is a sectarian doctrine and is false" [3]

In answer to a question which I [William Clayton] proposed to him as follows, 'Is not the reckoning of gods time, angels time, prophets time & mans time according to the planet on which they reside['] he answered yes "But there is no angel ministers to this earth only what either does belong or has belonged to this earth and the angels do not reside on a planet like our earth but they dwell with God and the planet where he dwells is like crystal, and like a sea of glass before the throne. This is the great Urim & Thummim whereon all things are manifest both things past, present & future and are continually before the Lord. The Urim & Thummim is a small representation of this globe. The earth when it is purified will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim & Thummim whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom or all kingdoms of a lower order will be manifest to those who dwell on it. and this earth will be with Christ Then the white stone mentioned in Rev. c 2 v 17 is the Urim & Thummim whereby all things pertaining to an higher order of kingdoms even all kingdoms will be made known and a white stone is given to each of those who come into this celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. [4]

"Whatever principle of intelligence we obtain in this life will rise with us in the ressurection: and if a person gains more knowledge in this life through his diligence & obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come. [5] There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundation of this world upon which all blessings are predicated; and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. [6]

"The Holy Ghost is a personage, and a person cannot have the personage of the H. G. in his heart. A man receive the gifts of the H. G., and the H. G. may descend upon a man but not to tarry with him.["] [7]

He also related the following dream. "I dreamed that silver-headed old man came to see me and said he was invaded by a gang of robbers, who were plundering his neighbors and threatening distruction to all his subjects. He had heard that I always sought to defend the oppressed, and he had come to hear with his own ears what answer I would give him. I answered, if you will make out the papers and shew that you are not the agressor I will call out the Legion and defend you while I have a man to stand by me. The old man then turned to go away. When he got a little distance he turned suddenly round and said I must call out the Legion and go and he would have the papers ready when I arrived, and says he I have any amount of men which you can have under your command.

[Note: the above paragraph is crossed through with a penciled line and at the beginning in handwriting that is not William Clayton's, a comment simply says "repeated his of 10 March."] [8]

Er Hyde gave this interpretation "The old man represents the government of these United States who will be invaded by a foreign foe, probably England. The U. S. government will call on you to defend probably all this Western Territory, and will offer you any amount of men you may need for that purpose. [9]

Once when prest. Joseph was praying ernestly to know concerning the wars which are to preceed the coming of the son of man, he heard a voice proclaim that the first outbreak of general bloodshed would commence at South Carolina—see Revelation [10]

The sealing of the 144000 was the number of priests who should be anointed to administer in the daily sacrifice &c. [11] During Prest. Joseph's remarks he said their was a nice distinction between the vision which John saw as spoken of in Revelations & the vision which Daniel saw, the former relating only to things as they actually existed in heaven—the latter being a figure representing things on the earth. God never made use of the figure of a beast to represent the kingdom of heaven—when they were made use of it was to represent an apostate church.

Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards

1. P.M. attended meeting. Joseph read 5th Chapter of Johns revelation. referring particularly to the 6th verse. showing from that the actual existence of beasts in heaven probable those were beasts which had lived on another planet than ours—

God never made use of the figure of a beast to represent the kingdom of heaven.—Beasts 7 eyes Priesthood. [12]—this is the first time I have ever taken a text in Revelation.—and if the young elders would let such things alone it would be far better.—then corrected Elder Hyde as in private. [We here include the text of the corrections made to Orson Hyde]

after breakfast called on Sister Sophronia [13] 10 A. M. to meeting. Elder Hyde Preached 1 epistle John 1. chap 1st 3 verses—when he shall appear we shall be like him &c. he will appear on a white horse, as a warrior, & maybe we shall have some of the same spirit.—our god is a warrior.—John 14.23—it is our privilege to have the father & son dwelling in our hearts.

… dined at Sophrona's & soon as we arrived.—Elder Hyde I am going to offer some corrections to you. Elder H. replied—they shall be thankfully received.—When he shall appear we shall see him as he is. we shall see that he is a Man like ourselves.—And that same sociality which exists amongst us here will exist among us there only it will be coupled with eternal glory which glory we do not now enjoy. [14]

14 John 23.—the appearing of the father and of the Son in that verse is a personal appearance.—to say that the father and the Son dwell in a mans heart is an old Sectarian notion. and is not correct.

There are no angels who administer to this earth but who belong or have belonged to this earth. The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth. but they reside in the presence of God—but on a Globe like a sea of glass & fire. "Sea of glass before the throne, &c." [15] where all things are manifest past present & to come.—The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummin. This earth in its sanctified & immortal state will be a Urim & Thummin for all things below it in the scale of creation, but not above it. [16]—related the Dream written on page 3d Book B [17] Interpretation By O. Hyde— [The dream referred to is located at the beginning of the second volume of Joseph Smith's Diary under the date 11 March 1843 and is as follows:]

A dream, then related. Night before last I dreamed that an old man come to me and said there was a mob force coming upon him, and he was likely to loose his life, that I was Lieut General [18] and had the command of a large force, and I was also a patriot and disposed to protect the innocent & unoffending. & wanted I should assist him. I told him I wanted some written documents to show the facts that they are the aggressors, & I would raise a force sufficient for his protection, that I would call out the Legion,—He turned to go from me, but turned again and said to me. "I have any amount of men at my command and will put them under your command." [Then follows the] Interpretation by O. Hyde—

old man.—Government of these United States, who will be invaded by a foreign foe. probably England. U. S. Government will call on Gen Smith to defend probably all this western territory and offer him any amount of men he shall desire & put them under his command. [19]

I prophecy in the Name of the Lord God that the commencement of bloodshed as preparatory to the coming of the son of man. will commence in South Carolina,—(it probably may come through the slave trade.)—this the voice declared to me. while I was praying earnestly on the subject 25 December 1832. [20]—

I earnestly desired to know concerning the coming of the Son of Man & prayed, when a voice Said to me, Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art 85 years old thou shalt see the face of the son of man. therefore let this suffice & trouble me no more on this matter [21]—

—2 April 1843 (1)

Notes

[1] See History of the Church, 5:323-25. Not in Teachings. The William Clayton Diary (as structured and amplified in the Joseph Smith Diary) is the source for all the published versions of these instructions. William Clayton did not segregate the morning and evening instructions as clearly as it is done in the Joseph Smith Diary. We did not break up William Clayton's account into separate entries, because to do so would alter the integrity of the text. Moreover, it is likely that Joseph Smith gave the same instructions in the afternoon and evening. Since Willard Richards was not on this trip to Ramus, undoubtedly either the Prophet or William Clayton had to direct Willard in separating the diary entry into different times of the day. That William Clayton was the original scribe is confirmed by Benjamin F. Johnson in a letter to Anthon H. Lund dated 12 May 1903: "On April 2d and May 16th 1843 the Prophet was at my house with Wm Clayton as scribe at which time was written in answer to questions asked all of sections 130 to 131 Doc & Cov" (Johnson to Lund, under date given, Church Archives).

[2] William Clayton's Diary is the source for D&C 130:14-17. Compare note 21, this discourse.

[3] William Clayton's Diary, as amended in the Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards, is the source for D&C 130:1-2. The combination of both diaries serves as the source for D&C 130:3.

[4] William Clayton's Diary is the source for D&C 130:4-11.

[5] William Clayton's Diary as amended by the Joseph Smith Diary, is the source for D&C 130:18-19.

[6] William Clayton's Diary is the source for D&C 130:20-21. Cf. 5 January 1841, note 10.

[7] See note 5 of the 2 April 1843 (2) discourse.

[8] On the evening of 9 March 1843 the Prophet had the above dream. It is recorded in Joseph Smith's Diary under the date 11 March 1843. Apparently Clayton recorded it in his diary the morning after the dream, that is, on 10 March 1843.

[9] This dream of Joseph Smith and the interpretation by Orson Hyde are here published for the first time. See text of this discourse at note 19.

[10] William Clayton's Diary, as amended by the Joseph Smith Diary, is the source for D&C 130:12-13. Note that the date 25 December 1832 is given in the Joseph Smith Diary but is not given in the Clayton Diary (cf. D&C 87).

[11] Revelation 7:4 (1-17); 14:1-5.

[12] JST Revelation 5:6 changes the number of eyes to twelve. The number twelve is said to represent "the twelve servants of God, sent forth into all the earth."

[13] Sophronia Smith Stoddard McLeary (1803-76) was Joseph Smith's sister.

[14] 1 John 3:2. This is the source used for D&C 130:1-2.

[15] Revelation 4:6; 15:2. See also D&C 77:1. The William Clayton and Joseph Smith Diaries are the sources for D&C 130:3-7.

[16] See note 4, this discourse.

[17] That is, the entry for 11 March 1843 in the Prophet's Diary. See note 8, this discourse.

[18] Joseph Smith was at this time lieutenant general of the Nauvoo Legion.

[19] See text of this discourse at note 9.

[20] The Joseph Smith Diary is the source used for D&C 130:12-13. See note 10, this discourse.

[21] The original source for this entry, the William Clayton Diary, is more complete for this statement and is the source for D&C 130:14-15.