The following teachings are attributed to Joseph Smith Jr. were shortened and altered before they were included in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. After praying on this section, it was decided that the actual journal entries William Clayton that this section was taken from would be used.Portions from Section 131 as found in Latter-day Saint scripture have been placed in italics.
May 16, 1843
1 Went to see President Joseph Smith Jr. who ordered me to prepare for Carthage.
2 I returned home, got ready, and started about eleven o’clock in the new carriage with President Joseph Smith Jr., George Miller, Eliza Partridge, Lydia Partridge, and J.M. Smith.
3 We stayed at W. G. Perkins; President Joseph Smith Jr. and I went to B.F. Johnsons to sleep.
4 ¶ Before we retired, President Joseph Smith Jr. gave brother Johnson and his wife some instructions on the priesthood.
5 He put his hand on my knee and said: “Your life is hid with Christ in God, and so are many others.”
6 Addressing Benjamin he said: “Nothing but the unpardonable sin can prevent him,” speaking of me, “from inheriting eternal glory,
7 “For he is sealed up by the power of the priesthood unto eternal life; having taken the step which is necessary for that purpose.”
8 ¶ President Joseph Smith Jr. said: “Except a husband and wife [or husband and husband, wife and wife, etc] enter into an everlasting covenant, and be married for eternity while in this probation, by the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood, they will cease to increase when they die.”
9 (In other words, they will not have any children in the resurrection.)
10 “But, those who are married by the power and authority of the priesthood in this life, and continue without committing the sin against the Holy Ghost, will continue to increase and have children in the celestial glory.”
11 “The unpardonable sin,” that will break the Sealing of the Holy Spirit of Promise, “is to shed innocent blood or be accessory thereto.”
12 “All other sins will be visited with judgement in the flesh and the spirit being delivered to the buffetings of Satan until the day of the Lord Jesus.”
13 ¶ I feel desirous to be united in an everlasting covenant to my wife and pray that it may soon be.
14 ¶ President Joseph Smith Jr. said that the way he knew in whom to confide, God told him in whom he might place confidence.
15 ¶ He also said that in the celestial glory was three heavens or degrees, and in order to obtain the highest a man must enter into this order of the priesthood, and if he doesn’t he can’t obtain it;
16 He may enter into the other but that is the end of his kingdom he cannot have increase.
May 17, 1843 Entry One
17 ¶ At 10 President Joseph Smith Jr. preached on 2 Peter 1.
18 He taught that knowledge is power and the man who has the most knowledge has the greatest power.
19 Also, that salvation means a man has been placed beyond the powers of all his enemies.
20 He said the more sure word of prophecy meant a man’s knowing that he was sealed up unto eternal life by revelation and the spirit of prophecy through the power of the Holy Priesthood.
21 He also taught that it was impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.
22 ¶ “Paul had seen the third heavens and I more.”
23 ¶ “Peter penned the most sublime language of any of the apostles.”
May 17, 1843 Entry Two
24 ¶ Dined at Brother Babbit’s; President Joseph Smith Jr. said to Brother Johnson and I that J.B. Nobles, when he was first taught this doctrine, set his heart on one and pressed Joseph to seal the contract, but he never could get opportunity.
25 It seemed that the Lord was unwilling.
26 Finally another came along and he then engaged that one and is a happy man.
27 I learned from this anecdote never to press the prophet, but wait with patience and God will bring all things right.
28 ¶ I feel to pray that God will let me live so that I may come to the full knowledge of truth and salvation, and be prepared for the enjoyment of a fullness of the third heavens.
29 ¶ In the evening we went to hear a Methodist preacher lecture.
30 After he got through President Joseph Smith Jr. offered some corrections as follows.
31 ¶ “The 7th verse of Chapter 2 of Genesis ought to read ‘God breathed into Adam his spirit or breath of life.’”
32 “But, when the word ‘ruach’ applies to Eve it should be translated ‘lives.’”
33 ¶ Speaking of eternal duration of matter, he said: “There is no such thing as immaterial matter.”
34 “All spirit is matter but is more fine or pure and can only be discerned by purer eyes.”
35 “We can’t see it, but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter.”
36 ¶ The gentleman seemed pleased and said he should visit Nauvoo immediately.
