What Is the Journal of Discourses?
The Journal of Discourses is a 26-volume collection of over 1,500 sermons delivered by early LDS leaders between 1854 and 1886.
Distribution: Published in Liverpool, England and sold worldwide as a subscription publication—a semi-monthly periodical members purchased to receive prophetic sermons unavailable through the Deseret News.
Official Endorsement: The First Presidency (Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards) issued a letter dated June 1, 1853 encouraging all Saints to purchase the publication. In 1861, apostle George Q. Cannon wrote in the preface to Volume 8:
“The Journal of Discourses deservedly ranks as one of the standard works of the Church, and every rightminded Saint will certainly welcome with joy every Number as it comes forth from the press as an additional reflector of ’the light that shines from Zion’s hill.'”
Then and Now
George Q. Cannon called the Journal “an additional reflector of ’the light that shines from Zion’s hill.'”
Today, the LDS Church states it “is not an authoritative source of Church doctrine.”
This raises an important question: if these teachings were authoritative enough to be sold as prophetic light to members worldwide for 35 years, shaping beliefs about race, marriage, and salvation across generations, what responsibility exists for the real-world impact of those teachings?
Why This Project Exists
This project systematically documents statements by early LDS prophets that have been:
- Scientifically Falsified — Claims contradicted by evidence (e.g., moon inhabitants, young earth)
- Doctrinally Disavowed — Teachings the church no longer endorses (e.g., Adam-God, blood atonement, racial priesthood ban)
- Self-Contradicting — Statements that contradict other prophetic declarations (e.g., “never abandon polygamy” → 1890 Manifesto)
- Failed Prophecies — Time-bound predictions that did not occur
Our Methodology
Primary Sources Only
Every claim traces to a specific JoD volume, page, date, and speaker. No relying on secondhand characterizations.
Let Them Speak
The prophets are more compelling in their own words than in ours. We prioritize direct quotation over interpretation.
Full Documentation
Every song includes a complete lyric-to-source mapping, historical context, and responses to common apologetic defenses.
Charitable Reading First
We note reasonable interpretations before flagging material. The case is strengthened by addressing the best defenses.
Their Own Standards
We hold the prophets to the standards they set for themselves—their definitions, their authority claims, their predictions.
The Songs
We transform these documented findings into historically accurate songs that let the prophets speak for themselves. Each song is accompanied by:
- Complete lyrics with verse-by-verse source citations
- Primary source quotes from the Journal of Discourses
- Historical context explaining the setting and significance
- Apologetic responses addressing common defenses
- Audio (when available) via embedded Suno player
Project Status
| Metric | Status |
|---|---|
| Volumes Surveyed | 26/26 (Complete) |
| Songs Completed | 9 |
| Next Wave Candidates | 50+ |
Core Principle
“The remedy can never be applied, unless the disease is known.” — Nauvoo Expositor, June 7, 1844
This project documents what was taught—in the prophets’ own words—so that history is not quietly revised away.