12 I spent the day in the on the Buy laws of the Joordan
Irrigation Company & Journalizing
[FIGURE] A Lecture of W. Woodruff in the Seventies Hall
Upon History and Journallizing on the evening of Feb 12.
I met at the 70 Hall at 7 oclok to deliver a lecture according
to appointment the Hall was crouded to overflowing and
Hundreds Had to leave who could not get into the House the
following is a synopsis of my lecture
Brethren and Sisters I feel Happy in meeting with you
in this capacity. I think it more profitable for the saints to
meet together to hear lectures delivered upon the arts & scien-
ces and various principles than to spend so much time in
danceing and light amusement. The subject which I wish
to speak upon this Evening is Journalizieing & History this
subject Embraces a wide Field far greater than I shall
attempt to Explore this Evening. History is given under
two general Heads viz Sacred and profane and as spiritual
and temporal things are inseparably connected, so is sacred
& profane History many times is vary closely connected
together. We have but vary little History in the Early ages
of the world Either Sacred or Profane, and but vary few His-
torians or Journalists in any age of the world when
compared with other callings & avocations of life. I shall
not say much upon profane during this Evening I will
However refer to one or two prominent Historians.
compiled an Elaberate History of the ancient Medes, Persians
Asyrians, Babylonians, & Caldeans. He gives a History of their
government customs Literature & Laws but more Esspecially
of their wars. I would recommend this History for our
yound [young] men to read who wish to become acquainted with an-
cient History. I would also recommend the reading of
the great Historian it appears to me that no man can
read with indiference His account of the siege of Jerrusalem
by the Roman Army the destruction of their city & Temple their
captivity & dispersion among the Nations. Here in the
siege of over one million of Jews perished inby the sword
famine, pestilence, & fire. I would also refer to the History of Greece
& Rome & Modern Europe & America or the History of any
Nation and ask how have we obtained the History of those
Nations, Kingdom & Countrys. you may say that Historians
have handed those things down unto us, But How have Historians
obtained materials from which to compile therire History?
I answer From the scribes, reporters, & Journalists who wrote
day by day Events as they passed before there Eyes and this
class of men forms the foundation of all History and from
there Material, Historians who live hundreds of years after
Events transpire will compile History. But without material
Historians cannot make History or any thing Else.
I will call your attention to what is called sacred or Bibli-
cal History. wrote the first five Books viz JGenesis Exiodus
Leviticus, Numbers, & Dieuteronomy. But He gives but vary little
History of the Early ages of man. We have a revelation in the
doctrins & covenants page 79 which says that "three years before
the death of He called , , , ,
& all who were High Priests with
the residue of his posterity who were righteous into the valley
of and there bestowed upon them his
last Blessing and the Lord appeared unto them and they rose
"Up & blessed and called him the Prince the
Archangel and the Lord administered comfort unto Adam
and said unto him I have set thee to be at the Head a multitude of
Nations shall come of thee and thou art a prince over them
forever." "And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation
and Notwithstanding he was bowed down with age being full of
the predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity
unto the latest generation." [Doctrine and Covenants 107:55-56]THere was Adam and seven
of his sons all Aged Patriarchs who lived over nine
hundred years Except who lacked five years
of Being Nine hundred years of age. [Genesis 5:16] was 365 years of
age when he was . [Genesis 5:23] Here was that great & glorious
meeting of those old Patriarchs and all the History we have of it
those great Prophesies of Adam concerning what should
befal his posterity to the End of time is given to us in a few
lines whare is there a latter day Saints who would not be
glad to read the Journal & History of that great Event.
and the later & Prophets have left
to the world by there Journals and sacred records some
History of the dealings of God with them. But there records
were kept upon parchment & papyrus written in
, , and , mingled with
many in order to convey their ideas &
principles to future generations, some of which have
been translated into the English language by the order
of which now forms the Bible. But what
a small History the is of the dealings of God for
4000 years with the Nations of the Earth.
Christ Came in the to Esstablish the gospel
& upon the Earth. He organized the Church, chose
Twelve Apostles also Seventies & set the Church in order with
all the gifts graces and blessings. He administered the ordinances
of the gospel, wrought many miracles and finished the work He
was sent to do. But Jesus Christ with all the saints had to contend
with the world the flesh and the & Jew & Gentile and
the world overcome them and put them to death and the Church
of Christ disappeared with that generation. What is the History
of that generation? it is vary short. The four Evangelist
, , & , gives the History Biirth life and
death of the s. as near as we can learn Luke kept
the Journals & done most of the writing He recorded the . Then Paul wrote his Epistles to the various
churches. Then wrote one short Epistles. Then
wrote two short Epistles about as much as one of our
reporters would write in one short discourse. Then
wrote one short chapter. Then when
he was Banished to the under the reign
of Domician Cezar wrote his [Revelation 1:9] after He was
recalled under the reign of Nervya He wrote his three
Epistles. this maks 8 writers in the
and there testimony was vary limited, also their writings
as far as they have come to us, at least when we take into
consideration the great work which they performed
The ancient and who inhabited this con-
tinent were commanded of God to write their history upon
& which were hid up in the Earth to come forth
in our day to be translated by the Prophet through the power
of God for the benefit of the Saints. This forms the
and is the purest translation of ancient records that we
have any knowledge of upon Earth yet this record gives but
a limited Idea of the dealings of God with that People yet
what we have obtained was by strict commandment of God.
But let us turn our thoughts a moment to our own day. I
need not tell you that this is the , Esstablished
by God Himself which is to take the place of all other kingdoms
upon Earth and we are the People Ordained of God to Esstab-
lish his kingdom upon the Earth, build up Zion and prepare
the way for the coming of Jeussus Christ. Now should we
not , Record, & History of the dealings
of God with [us] as they transpire day by day before our Eyes?
we should. This Church & Kingdom is organized in all
the fulness of the necessary for the
accomplishment of the in this great
and of the the
has been Esstablished in our day
with Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, ,
, , , , , Gifts, graces
Revelations and with all the ordinances Necessary for
the salvation of the children of ^men^. was the
the first Apostle, Prophet, Seer, & Revelator called in
these He brought forth the
and organized the Church of Christ as he was com-
manded by the Revelations of Jesus Christ. When
the were chosen & ordained The
Prophet Joseph gave them strict instruction to keep a record
of there procedings (see the History of the Church Feb 1835)
The following Extract) "Since the Twelve are now appointed
& chosen I wish to tell them a course which they may
pursue and be benefitted in one point of light of which
perhaps they are not now aware. At all times when
you assemble in the capacity of a council to transact
business let the oldest preside and let one or more be appo-
inted to keep a record of your proceedings, and on the
decision of Every important decission item let it be what it may
let such descision be noted own and they will ever afterwords
remain upon record as LAW, Covenant, & doctrin.
Questions thus decided might at the time appear unimportant
but should they be recorded and one of you lay hands upon
them afterwards you might finds them of infinate worth
not ownly to your Brethren but a feast to your own souls"
Many other remarks were made at the same time. The Prophet
Joseph always recommended the priesthood to keep a rec-
ord of all their Official acts, and among his last letters to
the Church before he was slain he urges upon the Church
to be particular in there records of the to be vary particular in there records of there
official acts, that what they bound on Earth should be bound
in heaven and what they loosed on Earth should be loosed
in heaven. and what you record on Earth shall be recorded
in Heaven. [Doctrine and Covenants 128:8] President has also carried out the
same Principle since He has been president of the Church, in all
of our ordinances, Endowments, sealings and official acts He
wishes us to be particular in recording the same. This Church
is organized with a presidency of 3 men the
also 63 Quorums of Seventies 4,410, Apostles & many thousands
of , Elders, Bishops, Priests, , & . all
should keep a Journal of the dealings of God with them and
there officials acts, and keep a true History of Events in this
great dispensation. I was inspired & moved upon to write a
Journal & keep a record of the affairs of this Church from the
time I first Joined this Church up to the Presient time. I seldom
Ever heard the Prophet , or Brigham Young or the Apostles
teach preach or Prophesy or perform any official act but
what I have recorded it imn my Journals unless some other
persons were recording the same, and I could not feel Easy
untill I had accomplished it. I have written more sacred
History of the teaching of the prophets & Apostles & official acts
of the Latter day Sants than would make several Testiments
as large as the one Handed down to us by the Ancient Apostles
I have kept a Journal of almost Evry day of my life since
I have been a member of this Church. By refering to my Journals
I could tell Each day what I have done, the company I have been
in, and what was transpiring around me, and any council and
Teaching From the Presidency or Twelve Except whare I know
there were reporters recording the same. I have urged this same
course upon the Twelve & the other Quorums of the Church to keep
a record of there meetings & the dealings of God with them and
for all men who bear the to keep a record of
their lives or Esspecially of there official Acts, in the Church
and . Some may say this is a great deal of
trouble But we should not call any thing trouble which brings
to pass good. I consider that portion of my life which has been
spent in & writing History to have been vary
profitably spent. For instance the Lord gives unto us the Holy
Priestood and we are sent on a mission to the Nations of
the Earth, we go & & bring many into the church
and the Power of the Holy Ghost rest upon us. We heal the
sick, cast out devils, command the Elements & they obey
us & the Lord gives unto us dreams visions & Revelations
and many Blessings should we not have respect Enough
to gGod to make a record of those Blessings which He pours
out upon us and Our official acts which we do in his
name upon the face of the Earth? I think we should.
For an Example we Embrace in our faith the belief that
the will return from the North Country
unto Zion in the suppose that those Israelites should
come to Zion in our day Led by the Holy Prophets of God
what would be one of the first questions we would ask
them? it would be, whare are your records? show is [us]
your History we want to read an account of the dealings
of the Lord with you since you were led away under
king of [2 Kings 18:9-11] But what would be
our disappointment if they should ^say^ O we have not
kept any record or account of the great & mighty works
of God among our tribes for many generations, we
have herd our Fathers say that thet Lord had done many
great & marvelous works in there day we have also had
great Blessings while on our Journey to Zion from the North
Country. The mountains o Ice flowed down before us and
there was a Highway cast up for us to walke in as there was
to Israel when they came out of into the land of
[Joshua 3:16-17] and the Nations Trembled at our presence but we did not keep
a record of these things we did not think any body would
be particularly interested in it but ourselves. should we not
be greatly disappointed at such information? we should &
so would it be with them when they come to Zion & Enquire
for the History of this church & kingdom if we were to tell
them that we had not kept any History of the rise & progress
of the Church. But instead of neglecting this branch of our
work let Evry man who can keep a Journal & record
Events as they pass before our Eyes day by day, this will make a valua-
ble legacy to our children as and well a great Benefit to future gener-
ations by giving them a true History of the rise & progress of
the Church & Kingdom of God upon the Earth in this last dispen-
sation instead of leaving it to our Enemies to write a fals History
of the true . Brethren and sisters we are making
History Every day let that History be good let us do the works of
righteousness that when our acts are recorded we shall be satisfied
with them Either in time or Eternity I ask these Blessings in the
Name of Jesus Christ Amen
I was followed by Judge who read two chapters of his new
translation from the bible he made some remarks upon his Early days
