Manuscript History of the Church [1]

Sunday, 26.—The public {meeting of the Saints was at my house this evening, and after Patriarch Hyrum Smith and Elder Brigham Young had spoken on the principles of faith, and the gifts of the Spirit, I read the 13th chapter of First Corinthians, also a part of the 14th chapter, [2] and remarked that the gift of tongues [3] was necessary in the Church; but that if Satan could not speak in tongues, he could not tempt a Dutchman, or any other nation, but the English, for he can tempt the Englishman, for he has tempted me, and I am an Englishman; but the gift of tongues by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Church, is for the benefit of the servants of God to preach to unbelievers, as on the day of Pentecost. [4] When devout men from every nation shall assemble to hear the things of God, let the Elders preach to them in their own mother tongue, whether it is German, French, Spanish or "Irish," or any other, and let those interpret who understand the language spoken, in their own mother tongue, and this is what the Apostle meant in First Corinthians xiv: 27.} [5]

Wilford Woodruff Diary

Joseph the Seer Called upon me & others of the Twelve to attend meeting at his house. We did so in the evening & herd many good principles presented by presidents Joseph & Hyrum Smith such as the following: Speak not in tongues to your own nation but to those of annother tongue. Then if one of another tongue interpets it will be a sign to the unbeliever, & then it would condemn those who heard if they rejected it for the Lord does not work in vain. [6] Joseph spoke upon the 14 ch. 1 cor. Prophesies will cease [7] &c ie. A person will cease or stop prophesying & not continue all the while &c untill we come to perfection or a fulness. Then part work will be done away.

—26 December 1841

Notes

[1] See History of the Church, 4: 485-86, and Teachings, p. 195. The original source for the following report is the "Book of the Law of the Lord," p. 39. Neither this account nor the account of this sermon in the Wilford Woodruff Diary were included in the first edition of Words.

[2] 1 Corinthians 13, 14:1-33.

[3] See text of 27 June 1839 discourse at note 4; text of Before 8 August 1839 (1) at note 39; and, text of 28 April 1842 discourse at note 20.

[4] This is a caution about, not an abandonment of, seeking the blessing of the gift of tongues as was sought for in the Kirtland Temple (D&C 109:36).

[5] The words enclosed in braces are from the "Book of the Law of the Lord."

[6] Isaiah 45:10; 1 Corinthians 14:21-25.

[7] 1 Corinthians 13:8-10.