135: The King Follett Discourse

The King Follett discourse or King Follett sermon, as it was prompted by the death of King Follett, a Nauvoo Latter-day Saint—has been hailed by historians both in and out of the Church as a landmark moment in Church history and “one of the truly remarkable sermons ever preached in America.” 1 Excerpts from it frequently appear in Church materials,  and it remains popular among Church members, historians, and others researching Church history and Joseph Smith’s life.

Even for people who were aware of Joseph Smith’s earlier teachings on the premortal existence, divine nature, and exaltation, the King Follett discourse stood apart as the defining moment when those key concepts powerfully came to life as a meaningful component of LDS doctrine and thought.