Journal of Discourses

The source for many of the quotes I have used is the Journal of Discourses. Here’s what the Church says about this today:

 

The Journal of Discourses is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a compilation of sermons and other materials from the early years of the Church, which were transcribed and then published. It included some doctrinal instruction but also practical teaching, some of which is speculative in nature and some of which is only of historical interest….

 

Questions have been raised about the accuracy of some transcriptions. Modern technology and processes were not available for verifying the accuracy of transcriptions, and some significant mistakes have been documented. The Journal of Discourses includes interesting and insightful teachings by early Church leaders; however, by itself it is not an authoritative source of Church doctrine. (lds.org)

 

Despite that position, the Journal was originally approved by the First Presidency and paid for by the Church as an official publication. A “Letter from the First Presidency” was printed in the first volume to voice their approval. It reads:

 

Dear Brethren—It is well known to many of you, that Elder George D. Watt, by our counsel, spent much time in the midst of poverty and hardships to acquire the art of reporting in Phonography, which he has faithfully and fully accomplished; and he has been reporting the public Sermons, Discourses, Lectures, &c., delivered by the Presidency, the Twelve and others in this city, for nearly two years, almost without fee or reward. Elder Watt now proposes to publish a Journal of these reports, in England, for the benefit of the Saints at large, and to obtain means to enable him to sustain his highly useful position of Reporter. You will perceive at once that this will be a work of mutual benefit, and we cheerfully and warmly request your co-operation in the purchase and sale of the above-named Journal, and wish all the profits arising therefrom to be under the control of Elder Watt. (byu.edu)

 

And the preface to the eighth volume states:

 

Then 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.” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 8, Preface, byu.edu)

 

Many, if not most, of the quotes in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (lds.org) are taken from Discourses of Brigham Young, which was compiled by Elder John A. Widtsoe and published in 1941 (it is abbreviated as DBY in the Brigham Young manual). The preface of this book states:

 

This book was made possible because Brigham Young secured stenographic reports of his addresses, As he traveled among the people, reporters accompanied him. All that he said was recorded. Practically all of these discourses (from December 16, 1851 to August 19, 1877) were published in the Journal of Discourses, which was widely distributed. The public utterances of few great historical figures have been so faithfully and fully preserved.

 

So the Journal of Discourses really is the primary source for a great amount of information in the Brigham Young manual.

 

•Considering these things, it seems that the Journal of Discourses is a legitimate source.