Calling and Election Sure:
Commentary by Joseph Smith in his Nauvoo-Era Discourses
as found in
the original reports
This compilation was made by Matthew T. Evans, 2002. All of the text and formatting are taken from the following source, which faithfully reproduces the original reports:
Ehat, Andrew F., and Lyndon W. Cook., eds.
1991. The Words
of Joseph Smith: The contemporary accounts of the Nauvoo discourses of the
Prophet Joseph. Orem, UT: Grandin
Book Company.
27 June 1839 (Thursday).
Willard Richards Pocket
Companion
The Doctrine of
Election
St Paul exhorts us to make our Calling & Election shure. This is that sealing power spoken of by Paul in other places (See Eph. I.13.14. In whom ye also trusted, that after ye heard the work of truth; the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the priase of his glory.) That we may be sealed up unto the day of redemption, this principle ought. (in its proper place) to be taught, for God hath not revealed any thing to Joseph, but what he will make known unto the Twelve & even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to—bear them. for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor know ye the Lord for all shall know him (who Remain) from the least to the greatest, How is this to be done? It is to be done by this sealing power & the other comforter spoken of which will manifest by Revelation….
[p. 4]
…After a person hath faith in Christ, repents of his sins & is Baptized for the remission of his sins & received the Holy Ghost (by the laying on of hands) which is the first Comforter then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering & thirsting after Righteousness. & living by every word of God & the Lord will soon say unto him Son thou shalt be exalted. &c When the Lord has thoroughly proved him & finds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazard. then the man will find his calling & Election made sure then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter…
[p. 5]
14 May 1843 (Sunday). Yelrome, Hancock County, Illinois.
Wilford Woodruff Journal
Now their is some grand secret ther[e] [2 Pet. 1:16–19] & keys to unlock the subject
Not withstanding the Apostle exhorts them to make their CallingAdd to their faith virtue
Knowledge temperance &C yet he exhorts them to make their Calling &
election Shure & though they had herd the audible
voice from heaven bearing testinoy that Jesus was the
Son of God yet he says we have a more sure word of Prophecy where unto ye do
well that ye take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place. Now wherein
could they have a more sure word of prophecy than to hear the voice of God
saying this is my Beloved Son &C Now for the Secret & grand Key though
they might hear the voice of God & know that Jesus was the Son of God this
would be no evidence that their election & Calling & election
was made shure that they had part with Christ &
was a Joint heir with him, they then would want that more sure word of Prophecy
that they were sealed in the heavens & had the promise of eternal live in
the Kingdom of God then having this promise sealed unto them it was as an
anchor to the Soul Sure & Steadfast though the thunders might roll & lightnings flash & earthquakes Bellow & war gather
thick around yet this hope & knowledge would support the soul in evry hour of trail trouble & tribulation Then Knowledge
through our Lord & savior Jesus Christ is the grand Key that unlocks the
glories & misteries of the Kingdom of heaven…
[p. 201]
Then I would exhort you to go on & continue to call upon God untill you make your Calling & election sure for yourselves by obtaining this more sure word of Prophesey & wait patiently for the promise untill you obtain it
[p. 202]
21 May 1843 (Sunday Morning). Temple
Stand.
Joseph Smith Diary, by
Willard Richards
we have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto you do well to take heed. as unto a light that shineth in a dark place
we were eyewitnesses of his majesty and heard the voice of his excellent glory—& what could be more sure? transfigured on the mount &c what could be more sure? divines have been quarreling for ages about the meaning of this.
[205] …3 grand secrets in this chapter which no man can dig out. which unlocks the whole chapter.
…like precious faith with us—add to your faith virtue &c. another point after having all these qualifications he lays this injuction. but rather make your calling & election sure—after adding all this virtue knowledge &. make your caling & sure.
…after all this make your calling and election sure. if this injunction would lay largely on those to whom it was spoken. how [206] much more then to them of the 19. century.—
1 Key Knowledge is the power of Salvation
2 Key Make his calling and Election Sure
3. it is one thing to be on the mount & hear the excellent voice &c &c. and another to hear the voice declare to you you have a part & lot in the kingdom.—
[pp. 204–206]
Howard and Martha Coray Notebook
…we were eye witnesses of his Majesty we have also a more sure word of Prophecy. Now brethren who can explain this no man be [but] he that has obtained these things in the same way that Peter did. Yet it is so plain & so simple & easy to be understood that when I have shown you the interpretation thereof you will think you have always Known it yourselves—These are but hints of those things that were revealed to Peter, and verily brethren there are things in the bosom of the Father, that have been hid from the foundation of the world, that are not Known neither can be except by direct Revelation The Apostle says, unto them who have obtained like precious faith with us the apostles through the righteousness of God & our Savior Jesus Christ, through the [207] knowledge of him that has called us to glory & virtue add faith virtue &c. &c. to godliness brotherly kindness—Charity—ye shall neither be barren or unfruitful in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. He that lacketh these things is blind—wherefore the rather brethren after all this give diligence to make your calling & Election Sure Knowledge is necessary to life and Godliness.
…Oh Peter if they who were of like precious faith with thee
were injoined to make their Calling & Election
sure, how much [208] more all we There are two Keys, one key knowledge. the
other make you Calling & election sure, for if you do these things you
shall never fall for so an entrance shall be administered unto you abundently into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord &
Savior Jesus Christ. We made known unto you the power
& coming of our Lord & S. J. Christ were Eye witnesses of his Majesty
when he received from God the Father honor & glory when there came such a
voice to him from the excellent glory, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well
pleased. this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in
the holy Mount. We have also a more sure word of
prophecy whereunto give heed until the day Star arise in your hearts this
is It is one thing to receive knowledge by the voice of God, (this
is my beloved Son &c.) & another to Know that you yourself will be
saved, to have a positive promise of your own Salvation is making your Calling
and Election sure. viz the voice of Jesus saying my
beloved thou shalt have eternal life. Brethren never
cease struggling until you get this evidence. T Take heed both before
and after obtaining this more sure word of Prophecy.
[pp. 206–208]
13 August 1843 (Sunday Morning). Temple
Stand.
William Clayton Diary
Went to meeting heard J. preach on 2 Peter 3. 10 & 11—being a funeral sermon on the death of E. Higbee When speaking of the passage “I will send Elijah the prophet &c” he said it should read [242] and he shall turn the hearts of the children to the covenants made with their fathers Also where it says and they shall seal the servants of God in their forheads &c it means to seal the blessing on their heads meaning the everlasting covenant thereby making their calling & election sure.
[pp. 241–242]
27 August 1843 (Sunday Morning). Temple
Grove.
Joseph Smith Diary, by
Willard Richards
how shall god come to the rescue of this generation. he shall send Elijah law revealed to Moses in Horeb—never was revealed to the C. of Israel and he shall reveal the covenants to seal the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the father.—anointing & sealing—called elected and made sure
[p. 244]
10 March 1844 (Sunday). At Temple.
Wilford Woodruff Journal
…what you seal on earth by the Keys of Elijah is sealed in heaven, & this is the power of Elijah, & this is the difference between the spirit & power of Elias and Elijah, for while the spirit of Elias is a forerunner the power of Elijah is sufficient to make our calling & Election sure, & the same doctrin whare we are exhorted to go on unto perfection not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works but of laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead &c.
[p. 330]
James Burgess Notebook
Make your calling and election sure go on from grace to grace until you obtain a promise from God for yourselves that you shall have eternal life. this is eternal life to know God and his son Jesus Christ, it is to be sealed up unto eternal life and obtain a promise for our posterity. Whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, this is the power of Elijah to seal or bind or turn the hearts of the fathers to their children sealed against all sin but the sin of sheding innocent blood and the Sin against the holy ghost.
[p. 334]
Franklin D. Richards
“Scriptural Items”
This power of Elijah is to that of Elias what in the architecture of the Temple of God those who seal or cement the Stone to their places are to those who cut or hew the stones the one preparing the way for the other to accomplish the work By this we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise ie Elijah
To obtain this sealing is to make our calling and election sure which we ought to give all diligence to accomplish
there are two sins agains which this power does not secure or prevail they are “The sin against the Holy Ghost” And “shedding of innocent Blood” which is equivalent to “crucifying the Son of God afresh & putting him to an open shame” Those who do these it is impossible to renew unto repentance for they are delivered to the buffettings of satan untill the day of redemptions
[p. 335]
12 May 1844 (Friday Morning). Temple
Stand.
Thomas Bullock Report
Oh! I beseech you to forward, go forward and make your calling and your election sure
[p. 368]
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