[1] Joseph remarked that all was well between him and the heavens that he had no enmity against any one. and as the prayer of Jesus or his pattern so prayed Joseph. Father forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me. [2] for I freely forgive all men.—if we would secure & cultivate the love of others we must love others, even our enemies—as well as friends "why is it this babler gains so many followers. & retains them"? because I possess the principle of love, All I can offer the world a good heart & a good hand. Mormons can testify whether I am willing to lay down my life for a Mormon; If it has been demonstrated that I have been willing to die for a Mormon I am bold to declare before heaven that I am just as ready to die for a presbyterian. a baptist or any other denomination.—It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul, civil and religious liberty—were diffused into my soul by my grandfathers. while they dandled me on their knees—and shall I want [for] friends? no!

"Wherein do you differ from other in your religious views?" In reality & essence we do not differ so far in our religious views but that we could all drink into one principle of love One the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to recieve thruth let it come from where it may.—we belive in the great Eloheim. who sits enthroned in yonder heavens.—so do the presbyterians. If as a skillful mechanic In taking a welding heat I use a borax & allum &c. an succeed in welding you all together shall I not have attained a good object.

if I esteem mankind to be in error shall I bear them down? No! I will will lift them up. & in his own way if I cannot persuade him my way is better! & I will ask no man to believe as I do. Do you believe in Jesus Chrst &c? So do I. Christians should cultivate the friendship with others & will do it.

"Do you believe in the baptism of infants"? says the presbyterians. —No. —"Why." because it is no where written in the book. communion is not Baptism. Baptism is for remission of sins. children have no sins. [3]—He Jesus blessed them [4]—do what you have seen me do [5]—all made alive in christ. [6]

faith & repentance.—we are agreed.—baptism. yes by immersion. the Hebrew is the root.—to bury immerse?—Do you believe this no. I believe in being convert converted. [7]—I believe in this tenaciously

Holy Ghost by laying on of hands Evidance. Peter on days of Pentecost. [8] might as well be baptize a bag of sand as a man if not done in view of the getting of the Holy Ghost.—baptism by water is but 1/2 a baptism—& is good for nothing with the other, the Holy Ghost. I am free to day—messenger has returned with offers of peace from the governor [9]

except a man be born again. of water & of the spirit can in no wise enter into the Kingdom. [10]

Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel. [11]

James Burgess Notebook

Remarks on is there to be no more Prophets. John the Revelator says that the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophicy. [12] Now if any man has the testimony of Jesus has he not the spirit of prophecy and if he has the spirit of prophicy I ask is he not a prophet and if a prophet will he can receive revalation And any man that does not receive revelation for himself must be damned for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophicy for Christ says ask and you shall receive. [13] And if he happens to receive anything I ask will it not be a revelation. And if any man has not the testimony of Jesus or the spirit of God he is none of his Christ's [14] namely And if not his he must be damn'd What are we to understand by a Prophet It is his character to predict things that are in the future. I ask what right has any man or set of men or preist or set of preists to say if a man will not do so and so he shall be damn'd. Is he not takeing upon himself or assumeing the character of a Prophet consequently he must either be a true or false Prophet.

In answer to a question asked by a Sectarian preist namely. How is that you Mormons hold that God is an omnipresent being when at the same time he is a personage of Tabernacle.

After God had created the Heavens and the Earth. He came down and on the sixth day said let us make man in our own image. [15] In whose image. In the image of Gods [16] created they them. Male and female: innocent harmless and spotless bearing the same character and the same image as the Gods. And when man fell he did not lose his image but his character still retaining the image of his maker Christ who is the image of man is also the express image of his Fathers person so says Paul. [17] For in him Christ dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Why because He was the brightness of his glory; and the express image of his person. [18] Ques. What person Gods person. Hebrews 1st chap 3 verse And through the atonement of Christ and the resurrection and obediance in the Gospel we shall again be conformed to the image of his Son Jesus Christ, then we shall have attained to the image glory and character of God. What part of God is omnipresent read the 37 chap of Ezekel. It is the Spirit of god which proceeds from him consequently God is in the four winds of Heaven and when man receives inteligence is it not by the spirit of God [19] J S Prophet

Levi Richards Diary

Sun 9t. July A. M. attended Meeting at the Temple stand—heard Pres Joseph Smith preach shewing the difference between the Latter Day Saints & the Mormons. Sectarians. A conciliatory address to Strangers & all—

—9 July 1843

Notes

[1] See History of the Church, 5:498-500, and Teachings, pp. 312-14. The original source for the entries in History of the Church and Teachings is the Joseph Smith Diary, by Willard Richards. The reports of James Burgess and Levi Richards are here published for the first time.

[2] Matthew 6:12, 14-15.

[3] Moroni 8:11-12 (4-26). See also JST Genesis 17:6 (3-7).

[4] Matthew 19:13-16. See also 3 Nephi 17:21-25.

[5] 3 Nephi 27:21 (Cf. 3 Nephi 17:21-25).

[6] Moroni 8:12, 19, 22.

[7] Matthew 18:3; Luke 22:32; Isaiah 6:10 (cf. Matthew 13:15).

[8] Acts 2:37-39.

[9] The messenger was Mason Brayman.

[10] John 3:5.

[11] Galatians 1:8 (6-8).

[12] Revelation 19:10.

[13] Matthew 7:7. See also Matthew 21:21-22.

[14] Revelation 19:10.

[15] Genesis 1:26-27.

[16] Abraham 4:26, 27.

[17] Hebrews 1:3 (1-3).

[18] Colossians 2:9 (8-10).

[19] Ezekiel 37:9, 14 (1-14).