Journal of Discourses

Willard Richards in the Journal of Discourses

His one sermon in the series, and what it covers.

Second counsellor to Brigham Young and church historian. He was in Carthage Jail when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed, and was almost unhurt.

One sermon by Willard Richards appears in the Journal of Discourses, in volume 6 (1859).

In his own words

The table below says what his one sermon covers. This is what it sounded like.

Great and all-wise God, our heavenly Father, who dwellest amid the cherubim and art clothed with light as with a garment, in the name of Jesus thy Son and by virtue of the holy and eternal Priesthood with which thou hast endowed us, we come before thee upon this occasion, invoking thy rich gifts and blessings to rest down upon us. Pour out, we pray thee, of thy Spirit upon each and every soul now waiting before thee, that our hearts may be united as one, and that we may approach thee in a manner acceptable in thy sight. May every emotion of our souls arise in unison unto thee in humble praise and adoration for all thy mercies unto the creatures of thy creation.

Willard Richards, Dedication Prayer, Journal of Discourses, Volume 6

What the sermon covers

Indexed subjects, in order of how often they appear: Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Temple Ordinances, Seventies Quorum, Missionary Work, Priesthood, Handcart Migration, High Priests Quorum, Sacrament, Utah Territory, Elders Quorum, Revelation, Holy Ghost.

Where it sits

Volume 6 (1859) holds 66 sermons by 20 speakers, of which 1 is his. Brigham Young carries that volume with 15.

The Journal is overwhelmingly the work of a dozen men. The speakers who appear once or twice are the reason the series is worth indexing in full: they are printed at the same length and with the same care as the presidencies, and almost nowhere else.

Every sermon, in order

The complete list as the Journal prints it. Titles are the printed titles, which routinely name four or five unrelated subjects in one line — each one links to the discourse itself at journalofdiscourses.com.