Journal of Discourses
Encyclopedia
The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The first editions of the Journal were published in England by George D. Watt
, the stenographer of Brigham Young
. Publication began in 1854, with the endorsement of the church's First Presidency
, and ended in 1886. The Journal is one of the richest sources of early Mormon
theology and thinking. It includes 1,438 sermons given by 55 church leaders, including most numerously Brigham Young
, John Taylor
, Orson Pratt
, Heber C. Kimball
, and George Q. Cannon
.
George D. Watt
recorded the first four volumes of sermons himself, and he continued to contribute through volume twelve, but at least eleven other stenographers were involved. Brigham Young
has by far the most sermons recorded in the Journal, with 390. It was said that:
The Journal was highly esteemed in its day. The preface to the 8th volume, written by Apostle George Q. Cannon
, stated:
The term "standard works
" is modernly used in LDS circles as shorthand for "canonical scripture" and applies only to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. However, this usage arose some time after the quotation given above, and LDS scholars do not believe it to be the sense in which Cannon uses it. In the normal academic sense of the term, the Journal is arguably still a "standard work."
However, reservations about the Journal can be found in official LDS publications as early as 1978. Below is the current, official position of the church on the issue:
Interpretations of some of the themes in the Journal have and are currently under debate between many anti-Mormons and Mormons
. Some of the issues under debate between these groups include blood atonement
, the Adam-God theory
, plural marriage
, and the exclusionary Negro doctrine
.
George D. Watt
George Darling Watt was the first convert to Mormonism baptized in the British Isles. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , Watt was a secretary to Brigham Young, the primary editor of the Journal of Discourses and the primary inventor of the Deseret Alphabet.Watt was...
, the stenographer of Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
. Publication began in 1854, with the endorsement of the church's First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
, and ended in 1886. The Journal is one of the richest sources of early Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
theology and thinking. It includes 1,438 sermons given by 55 church leaders, including most numerously Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, John Taylor
John Taylor (1808-1887)
John Taylor was the third president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1880 to 1887. He is the only president of the LDS Church to have been born outside of the United States....
, Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt
Orson Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles...
, Heber C. Kimball
Heber C. Kimball
Heber Chase Kimball was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement. He served as one of the original twelve apostles in the early Latter Day Saint church, and as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his...
, and George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
.
George D. Watt
George D. Watt
George Darling Watt was the first convert to Mormonism baptized in the British Isles. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , Watt was a secretary to Brigham Young, the primary editor of the Journal of Discourses and the primary inventor of the Deseret Alphabet.Watt was...
recorded the first four volumes of sermons himself, and he continued to contribute through volume twelve, but at least eleven other stenographers were involved. Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
has by far the most sermons recorded in the Journal, with 390. It was said that:
Brigham Young secured stenographic reports of his addresses. As he traveled among the people, reporters accompanied him. All that he said was recorded. Practically all of these discourses (from December 16, 1851 to August 19, 1877) were published in the Journal of Discourses, which was widely distributed. The public utterances of few great historical figures have been so faithfully and fully preserved.
The Journal was highly esteemed in its day. The preface to the 8th volume, written by Apostle George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
, stated:
"The Journal of Discourses deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church, and every rightminded Saint will certainly welcome with joy every Number as it comes forth from the press as an additional reflector of 'the light that shines from Zion's hill.'"
The term "standard works
Standard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
" is modernly used in LDS circles as shorthand for "canonical scripture" and applies only to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. However, this usage arose some time after the quotation given above, and LDS scholars do not believe it to be the sense in which Cannon uses it. In the normal academic sense of the term, the Journal is arguably still a "standard work."
However, reservations about the Journal can be found in official LDS publications as early as 1978. Below is the current, official position of the church on the issue:
"The Journal of Discourses is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a compilation of sermons and other materials from the early years of the Church, which were transcribed and then published. It includes practical advice as well as doctrinal discussion, some of which is speculative in nature and some of which is only of historical interest. ... Questions have been raised about the accuracy of some transcriptions. Modern technology and processes were not available for verifying the accuracy of transcriptions, and some significant mistakes have been documented. The Journal of Discourses includes interesting and insightful teachings by early Church leaders; however, by itself it is not an authoritative source of Church doctrine."
Interpretations of some of the themes in the Journal have and are currently under debate between many anti-Mormons and Mormons
Mormons
The Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, a religion started by Joseph Smith during the American Second Great Awakening. A vast majority of Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a minority are members of other independent churches....
. Some of the issues under debate between these groups include blood atonement
Blood atonement
In mormonism, blood atonement is a controversial doctrine that teaches that murder is so heinous that the atonement of Jesus does not apply. Thus, in order to atone for these sins, the perpetrators must have their blood shed upon the ground as a sacrificial offering...
, the Adam-God theory
Adam-God theory
The Adam–God doctrine was the most prominent of several theological ideas taught within mid-19th century Mormonism, and is part of the modern theology of Mormon fundamentalism. Introduced by Brigham Young in the 1850s, the doctrine teaches that Adam is both the common ancestor and the father of...
, plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
, and the exclusionary Negro doctrine
Blacks and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
From 1849 to 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a policy against ordaining black men of African descent to the priesthood. Whereas other churches usually have full-time salaried clergy of whom individual members are often the chief minister to several families, in the LDS...
.
External links
- Journal of Discourses : Scanned images of all pages in all 26 volumes (PDF format)
- The Journal of Discourses online : Complete text (HTMLHTMLHyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
format) (does not retain italics in text; some words have been improperly runtogether). - Encyclopedia of Mormonism entry
- Journal of Discourses : Library with helpful formatting, speaker pictures, a citation guide, and direct links to scanned images