The King Follet Discourse by Joseph Smith the Prophet

Creator: Smith, Joseph

Bound typescript, The King Follett Discourse. Joseph Smith gave this notable address at the funeral of Elder King Follett to about 20,000 saints shortly before his death. Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, Thomas Bullock, and William Clayton recorded the sermon, and it was published in the Times and Seasons on August 1, 1844. In it, Smith introduces and explains several key doctrines with relation to God, the Plan of Salvation, and the Scriptures. By "having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach him, and how to ask to as to receive an answer." Then he discusses the first few verses of the Bible as written in Hebrew, and explains them. He then discusses the eternal nature of the Intelligence of Man, and relates the importance of "seeking after our dead" and how monumental that endeavor is. He teaches that we have no reason to mourn the dead, for we shall see them again. He also teaches about Baptism; that the baptism of water is nothing without the accompanying baptism of fire and the Spirit. He finishes with his testimony.