175 years ago today - May 17, 1843. Wednesday.

[William Clayton]
At 10 President Joseph preached on 2nd Peter Chap[ter] 1. He shewed that knowledge is power and the man who has the most knowledge has the greatest power. Also that salvation means a marts being placed beyond the powers of all his enemies. He said the more sure word of prophecy meant, a marts knowing that he was sealed up unto eternal life by revelation and the spirit of prophecy through the power of the Holy priesthood. He also showed that it was impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance. Paul had seen the third heavens and I more. Peter penned the most sublime language of any of the apostles.

Dined at Brother [Almon] Babbits. President Joseph said to Brother Johnson and I that J[oseph] B. Noble when he was first taught this doctrine set his heart on one and pressed J[oseph Smith] to seal the contract but he never could get opportunity. It seemed that the Lord was unwilling. Finally another came along and he then engaged that one and is a happy man. I learned from this anecdote never to press the prophet but wait with patience and God will bring all things right. ...

In the evening we went to hear a Methodist preacher lecture. After he got through President Joseph offered some corrections as follows. The 7th verse of C[hapter] 2 of Genesis ought to read God breathed into Adam his spirit or breath of life, but when the word "ruach" applies to Eve it should be translated lives. Speaking of eternal duration of matter he said There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter but is more fine or pure and can only be discerned by purer eyes. We cant see it but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter. The gentleman seemed pleased and said he should visit Nauvoo immediately.

[Some of this material ended up in D&C 131.]

[Source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]

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