D&C 131 - Intro

Section 131 is very short, only 8 verses, but there is a lot of content in the IM about it. The IM gives background as follow: "On 16 May 1843 the Prophet Joseph Smith, in company with William Clayton and four others, left Nauvoo for Ramus, Illinois, twenty-two miles to the southeast. The same evening found Joseph Smith and William Clayton in the home of Benjamin F. Johnson, where before retiring the Prophet gave some instructions on the priesthood to Brother and Sister Johnson. During that evening he turned to William Clayton, placed his hand on his knee, and said, 'Your life is hid with Christ in God and so are many others. Nothing but the unpardonable sin can prevent you from inheriting eternal life for you are sealed up by the power of the Priesthood unto eternal life, having taken the step necessary for that purpose.'" I find it interesting that he was given this promise that he will receive eternal life as long as he doesn't deny the Holy Ghost, which I think is true for all of us, that this statement could have been made to any baptized member of the church who is trying their hardest. As far as I understand, the unpardonable sin is denying the Holy Ghost after receiving a full knowledge, and that denial is a choice, it's a refusal to repent, and that's a choice that is made by an individual, not a punishment dispensed by a vengeful God. Other parts of section 131 came because "on the evening of 17 May the Prophet went to hear a Methodist preacher lecture. The Prophet afterwards offered some corrections to what had been said. Some of the corrections have been included in section131." I was really surprised to hear that Joseph Smith, the prophet of the restoration, who had a very personal relationship with God, went to hear the preaching of another faith. I also thought it was interesting that he offered correction afterward and wondered who he offered the correction to, did he offer it to the people he went with or did he offer it to the preacher himself?