Journal of Discourses

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The Journal of Discourses

Summary: The Journal of Discourses was an LDS periodical during the Utah period. The FairMormon Answers wiki has a fully searchable full-text version of the Journal of Discourses, as well as answers to some common criticisms and questions.


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Was the Journal of Discourses one of the "standard works" of the Church?

Summary: Some who are critical of the Church often use the Journal of Discourses to show both nonmembers and LDS what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supposedly "really believes" to be official doctrine on subjects that have been considered to be either controversial or touchy by members of the Church. A popular example often used in the anti-Mormon community is the Adam-God theory. Critics insist that LDS once regarded the Journal of Discourses as a "standard work" or similar to scripture.


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Journal of Discourses: Primary source material

The Journal of Discourses consists of 26 volumes of discourses, lessons, and essays largely from early leaders of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as the "Mormon Church.")

The following subpages contain the full electronic text of the Journal of Discourses. Original spelling (including spelling errors) have been retained. Corrections to original spelling errors are inserted in [square brackets] after the misspelled word.

Volume 1

Summary: Published: 1854. October 1851-19 April 1854. Speakers: Brigham Young, Franklin D. Richards, George Albert Smith, Heber C. Kimball, Hon. Z. Snow, Jedediah M. Grant, John Taylor, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt

Volume 2

Summary: Published: 1855. 30 June 1843-5 August 1855. Speakers: Alfred Cordon, Brigham Young, Daniel H. Wells, Edward Hunter, Ezra T. Benson, George Albert Smith, George B. Wallace, Heber C. Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant, John Young, Joseph Smith, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 3

Summary: Published: 1856. 18 April 1852-22 June 1856. Speakers: Amasa M. Lyman, Brigham Young , Ezra T. Benson, George Albert Smith, Heber C. Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant, Orson Pratt, Parley P. Pratt

Volume 4

Summary: Published: 1857. 29 June 1856-16 August 1857. Speakers: Brigham Young, Charles C. Rich, Daniel H. Wells, Franklin D. Richards, George Albert Smith, Heber C. Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 5

Summary: Published: 1858. 7 September 1856-1 November 1857. Speakers: Amasa M. Lyman, Brigham Young, Charles C. Rich, Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George Albert Smith, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, John Young, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 6

Summary: Published: 1859. 2 June 1839-31 July 1859. Speakers: Amasa M. Lyman, Brigham Young, Daniel Spencer, Elias Smith, Erastus Snow, Ezra T. Benson, George Albert Smith, Heber C. Kimball, Isaac Morley, Jedediah M. Grant, John Taylor, John Young, Joseph Smith, Joseph Young, Lorenzo D. Young, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards

Volume 7

Summary: Published: 1860. 4 July 1853-7 April 1860. Speakers: Amasa M. Lyman, Brigham Young, Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, George Albert Smith, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 8

Summary: Published: 1861. 6 January 1860-10 February 1861. Speakers: Brigham Young , Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, Ezra T. Benson, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 9

Summary: Published: 1862. 13 July 1855-14 September 1862. Speakers: Brigham Young, Daniel H. Wells, George Albert Smith, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Joseph Young, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Pratt, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 10

Summary: Published: 1865. 4 September 1859-18 December 1864. Speakers: Amasa M. Lyman, Brigham Young, Charles C. Rich, Daniel H. Wells, Ezra T. Benson, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Orson Hyde, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 11

Summary: Published: 1867. 13 November 1864-8 April 1867. Speakers: Amasa M. Lyman, Brigham Young, Daniel H. Wells, Ezra T. Benson, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Orson Hyde, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 12

Summary: Published: 1869. 7 April 1867-6 April 1869. Speakers: Brigham Young, Brigham Young Jr., Charles C. Rich, Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 13

Summary: Published: 1871. 11 July 1868-20 November 1870. Speakers: Brigham Young, Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 14

Summary: Published: 1872. 8 August 1869-8 April 1872. Speakers: Brigham Young, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 15

Summary: Published: 1873. 18 December 1870-23 March 1873. Speakers: Brigham Young, Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 16

Summary: Published: 1874. 6 April 1873-1 February 1874. Speakers: Brigham Young, Daniel H. Wells, David McKenzie, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 17

Summary: Published: 1875. 4 January 1874-8 April 1875. Speakers: Albert Carrington, Brigham Young, Charles C. Rich, Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, George Albert Smith, George Q. Cannon, John Taylor, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, William C. Dunbar

Volume 18

Summary: Published: 1877. 23 June 1874-13 May 1877. Speakers: Brigham Young, Daniel H. Wells, George Q. Cannon, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 19

Summary: Published: 1878. 21 July 1867-30 June 1878. Speakers: Brigham Young, Charles C. Rich, Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, George Q. Cannon, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, L.W. Hardy, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 20

Summary: Published: 1880. 6 April 1878-30 November 1879. Speakers: Angus M. Cannon, Aurelius Miner, Brigham Young, C.W. Penrose, C.W. Stayner, Eratus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George G. Bywater, George Q. Cannon, John Morgan, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt

Volume 21

Summary: Published: 1881. 21 September 1878-2 January 1881. Speakers: Charles W. Penrose, Erastus Snow, George F. Gibbs, George Q. Cannon, Henry W. Naisbitt, John Morgan, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 22

Summary: Published: 1882. 7 October 1879-29 January 1882. Speakers: Charles W. Penrose, Erastus Snow, Francis M. Lyman, George G. Bywater, George Q. Cannon, Henry W. Naisbitt, John H. Smith, John Nicholson, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 23

Summary: Published: 1883. 6 September 1880-11 February 1883. Speakers: Charles W. Penrose, Daniel H. Wells, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George G. Bywater, George Q. Cannon, Henry W. Naisbitt, John Morgan, John Taylor, Joseph E. Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Moses Thatcher, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 24

Summary: Published: 1884.

Volume 25

Summary: Published: 1884. 11 May 1878-16 November 1884. Speakers: B.H. Roberts, Brigham Young, Charles W. Penrose, Erastus Snow, Francis M. Lyman, Franklin D. Richards, George F. Gibbs, George Q. Cannon, George Teasdale, John Morgan, John Q. Cannon, John Taylor, Joseph F. Smith, Moses Thatcher, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff

Volume 26

Summary: Published: 1886. 20 October 1881-13 April 1886. Speakers: Charles W. Penrose, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George G. Bywater, George Q. Cannon, George Reynolds, George Teasdale, Henry Smith, Henry W. Naisbitt, John H. Smith, John Taylor, Junius F. Wells, Lorenzo Snow, Moses Thatcher, Orson F. Whitney