Wilford Woodruff Journal 5: The King Follett Sermon — He Was One of Only Four Who Preserved Joseph Smith's Greatest Discourse (April 7, 1844)

On April 7, 1844, at a general conference in Nauvoo attended by thousands, the Prophet Joseph Smith delivered what would become known as the King Follett Sermon — his most expansive and theologically profound public address, given at the funeral of Church member King Follett.

In the sermon, Joseph taught: 'God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man... God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did.'

He also taught the eternal nature of the human soul, the nature of the celestial kingdom, and the infinite progression of intelligences.

Wilford Woodruff was one of only four men who took notes of the sermon. The four accounts — by Woodruff, Willard Richards, Thomas Bullock, and William Clayton — were later amalgamated into what is now called the King Follett Discourse, published in the *Times and Seasons* in 1844 and subsequently in every major compilation of Joseph Smith's teachings.

Woodruff's account is essential to reconstructing the sermon. Without his notes and those of the other three scribes, the most theologically significant sermon in Restoration history would have been entirely lost. Joseph was speaking to a crowd of thousands on a gusty spring day without amplification — only the faith and diligence of men like Woodruff preserved his words.

Woodruff himself said of his note-taking gift: 'I seldom ever heard Brother Joseph or the Twelve preach or teach any principle but what I felt as uneasy as a fish out of water until I had written it. Then I felt right. I could write a sermon of Joseph's a week after it was delivered almost word for word and after it was written it was taken from me or from my mind. This was a gift from God unto me.'

The King Follett Sermon is today recognized as one of the most important documents in American religious history.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

3 oclok PM April Sunday 7 th 1844. A vertical key with teeth pointing upward The following important edefying & interest- ing discourse was deliverd by President Joseph Smith to about twenty thousand souls upon the subject of the death of Elder King Follet. I now call the attention of this congregation while I addres you upon the subject of the dead The case of our Beloved Brother King Follet who was crushed to death in a well as well as many others who have lost friends will be had in mind this afternoon, & shall speak upon the subject in general as far as I shall be inspired by the Holy spirit to treat upon the subject. I want the prayers & faith of the Saints that I may have the Holy Ghost, that the testimony may carry conviction to your minds of the truth of what I shall say, & pray that the Lord may strengthen my lungs. there is strength here your prayers will be herd. Before I enter upon an investigation of this subject, I wish to pave the way, and bring up the subject from the beginning that you may understand, I do not intend to please you with oritory but with the simple truths of heaven Edify you. Go to the morn of creation to understand of the decrees of the Eloheem at the creation.