McIntire Minute Book[1]

Subject 1st on the Gospel By father Cole [2] he Said that Some thought that He Difered from president Smith Concerning the time of the Giving of the Holy Ghost—as teach that all men receive the Holy Ghost before Baptizem [3]—Joseph said we Do not take Notice of things as they Read them—or they might know things as they Read them—he quotes rather 2d Repent & be Baptized &c—& ye Shall Receive the Gift of the Holly Ghost—Now said he (taking up his Cap & presenting to Prd Law) [4] in Giveing you this Gift is not giving myself. However there is a prist-Hood with the Holy Ghost & Key—the Holy Ghost over shadows you & witness unto you of the authority & the Gifts of the Holly Ghost—he said was the provence of the Father to preside as the Chief or President—Jesus as the Mediator & Holy Ghost as the testator or witness [5]—the Son Had a Tabernicle & so had the father [6] But the Holly Ghost is a personage of spirit without tabernicle the Great God has a name By wich He will be Called which is Ahman [7]—also in asking have Referance to a personage Like Adam for God made Adam Just in his own Image Now this a key for you to know how to ask & obtain. [8]

Next was Robinson [9] in the Gospel he spoke of Adam pertaking of the forbiden fruit & so on—Joseph said a person ought always take his subject along—for instance Jesus in all his Doctrines & pariables set it forth Like a tree or Mustard Stock Comencing at the foundation or Root thence up to the first Branch & out along it then back to the body of the tree or subject & thence to the Next Branch & so—on Now as to Adam the Lord said in the Day thous Shalt Eat there of thou shalt shurely Die Now the Day the Lord has Refferance too is spoken of by Petter a thousand of our years is with the Lord as one Day [10] &c at the time the Lord said this to Adam there was No mode of Counting time By Man, as man Now Counts time. [11]

William Clayton Private Book

By Joseph.

Everlasting covenant was made between three personages before the organization of this earth and relates to their dispensation of things to men on the earth. These personages according to Abraham's record [12] are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the Witness or Testator. [13]

—9 March 1841

Notes

[1] This report of the Prophet's remarks at the Nauvoo Lyceum is here published for the first time.

[2] Austin Cowles was appointed counselor to William Marks in the Nauvoo Stake Presidency on 29 March 1841. Opposed to the Prophet's practice of plural marriage, Cowles sided with William Law and other dissenters.

[3] Acts 2:37-38; Acts 10:44-48 (1-48); D&C 20:37.

[4] William Law, counselor in the First Presidency.

[5] In the first edition of Words, the undated but nearly identical statement "By Joseph" recorded in the William Clayton Private Book was included only in this footnote. It is now included in the main body of the text as a variant of this sermon for this date.

[6] See 5 January 1841, note 9.

[7] See discourse dated "Before 8 August 1839 (1)," note 8.

[8] This is a very significant early public reference by the Prophet to the concept of approaching the Lord by the use of key words and through the priesthood. See 5 October 1840 discourse, note 19.

[9] Undoubtedly Ebenezer Robinson (1816-91). He was baptized in 1835 and was editor and publisher of the Times and Seasons.

[10] Genesis 2:17 (Moses 3:17; Abraham 3:4 [4-9]; 5:12, 13; Facsimile 2, figures 1 and 4); 2 Peter 3:8.

[11] Abraham 5:13 (cf. Revelation 10:5-6).

[12] The Book of Abraham does not contain such wording. Apparently, the Prophet Joseph Smith was referring to a part of his translation of that record he never prepared for publication.

[13] While the William Clayton Private Book report of this saying of the Prophet Joseph Smith is not dated, this excerpt compares well with the McIntire report. Consequently, in this edition of Words, it has been removed from footnote 5 and included in the main body of this compilation.