King Follett Discourse - Definition and Overview

The King Follett Discourse is an address delivered by Joseph Smith, Jr. in April 7, 1844 two months before Smith's death. The discourse was presented to a congregation of about twenty thousand Latter-day Saints at the funeral service of Elder King Follett.

A verbatim account of the speech does not exist, but (at least) Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, Thomas Bullock, and William Clayton took notes of the address, some versions were recorded using a version of Pittman Shorthand and are considered by scholars as accurate (near-verbatim). A complete version reconstructed from those transcripts was published in the Church paper Times and Seasons of August 15, 1844.

The discourse is considered by Mormons to be one of the most important given by Smith on the nature of God and Exaltation. The sermon is not part of the Church's official scriptures or official statements.

Resources

• Times and Seasons, August 15, 1844
• Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843-44, pp. 342-61.
• Documentary History of the Church, Volume Six, pp. 302-317.

See also: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

External link

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

King Follett Discourse

• The reconstructed text of the address. Part 1 (http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1971.htm/ensign%20april%201971%20.htm/the%20king%20follett%20sermon.htm)
• Part 2 (http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1971.htm/ensign%20may%201971%20.htm/the%20king%20follett%20sermon.htm)