170 years ago today - May 14, 1843 (Sunday)

[Joseph Smith Sermon] ... Addressing Benjamin says he ``nothing but the unpardonable sin can prevent him (me) from inheriting eternal glory for he is sealed up by the power of the priesthood unto eternal life having taken the step which is necessary for that purpose.''

He said that except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity while in this probation by the power and authority of the Holy priesthood they will cease to increase when they die (ie. they will not have any children in the resurrection), but those who are married by the power & authority of the priesthood in this life & continue without committing the sin against the Holy Ghost will continue to increase & have children in the celestial glory.

The unpardonable sin is to shed innocent blood or be accessory thereto. All other sins will be visited with judgement in the flesh and the spirit being delivered to the buffetings of satan untill the day of the Lord Jesus.'' I feel desirous to be united in an everlasting covenant to my wife and pray that it may soon be. Prest. J. said that the way he knew in whom to confide, God told him in whom he might place confidence. He also said that in the celestial glory was three heavens or degrees, and in order to obtain the highest a man must enter into this order of the priesthood and if he dont he cant obtain it. He may enter into the other but that is the end of his kingdom he cannot have increase.

[Source: William Clayton journal as quoted at the Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 14, 2013

    The date for this entry should be Tuesday the 16th (not Sunday the 14th). See The Journals of William Clayton, edited by George D. Smith, pp.101-102. This was Joseph Smith's instructions to Brother Benjamin F. Johnson at Johnson's home in Ramus, Illinois.

    Also, per note 23. on p.102:

    "On this visit, according to Benjamin Johnson, Joseph Smith stayed with Almera [Johnson] "as man and wife" and "occupied the same room and bed with my sister, that the previous month he had occupied with the daughter of the late Bishop [Edward] Partridge as his wife (HR, 222; letter to George S. Gibbs). Almera confirmed her marriage to Smith: "I lived with the prophet Joseph as his wife and he visited me at the home of my Brother Benjamin F. at Macedonia [Ramus]" (sworn statement cited by Joseph F. Smith, Jr., ..."

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  2. AnonymousMay 14, 2013

    Finally, the text in William Clayton's Journal that generated the explanatory comments of note 23. shown above, states:

    "President Joseph and I went to B[enjamin] F. Johnsons to sleep." This is followed immediately by the following text:

    Before we retired the President gave Brother Johnson and wife some instructions on the priesthood. He put his hand on my knee and says "your life is hid with Christ in God, and so is many others." (& cont.)

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