JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, , and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.
The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.
Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed ’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)
Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.
The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include
• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.
• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, the Legion, and Mormon voting practices.
• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of and .
• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of and revocation of his priesthood license.
• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by .
• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of ’s appointment to a mission to Russia.
• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.
• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of , inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.
• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by .
• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the .
<July 2> , and myself also made affidavits on the same subject
came from and stated that and were inciting the people to Mobocracy and sending a Petition to <for a posse> to retake me.
A Petition to the praying him not to issue any more writs was immediately made out and signed by about 150 citizens of , and also
A against the proceedings was got up, signed and forwarded the same to by Messrs and .
I directed the to make a transcript of the proceedings before the Municipal court to forward to the , and to which he attached the following certificate.
I Clerk of the Municipal court of the city of , Illinois, do hereby certify that the foregoing hereunto attached papers [HC 5:478] and documents: to wit the foregoing Petition of Joseph Smith Senior and warrant from the of the state of , and Commission issued by Governor of the State of to , and the writ of , and the return of the said thereto, and endorsed thereon, are true copies of the papers and originals filed in this court in the exparte case of Joseph Smith Senr. upon the Petition of said Smith for a discharge from arrest on Habeas Corpus, and that the foregoing is a true copy of the true full and perfect record of the proceedings had in said case. In Witness Whereof
L. S. I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at the city of , Ills, this third day of July A.D. 1843.—
Clerk of the Municipal court of the city of Ills
He also made a transcript of the ordinances relating to Habeas Corpus and attached the following certificate.
I City Recorder of the city of Ills and Clerk of the city council of said city, do hereby certify that the foregoing hereunto attached, are true copies of the ordinances of said city regulating the proceedings on Writs of Habeas Corpus, the one passed the 8th. day of August AD 1842, and the other passed [blank] November 14th., 1842 both of which said ordinances are unrepealed, and now in force in said city. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the corporate seal of said city of at said city this 3rd. day of July A.D. 1843.
L.S. , City Recorder and Clerk of the city council of the city of Illinois.
which documents were delivered to my Lawyers with instructions to see immediately.
I had an interview with several Pottawatami chiefs, who came to see me during my absence.
<From s Journal.>
<“The Indian chiefs remained at until the prophet returned and had his trial during their stay they had a talk with [HC 5:479] in the basement of the . and some others were present, they were not free to talk and did not wish to communicate their feelings until they could see the great prophet. At length on the 2nd. day of July 1843 Joseph Smith and several of the met those chiefs in the court room with about 20 of the , the following is a synopsis of the conversation which took place as given by the Interpreter. The Indian Orator arose and asked the prophet if the men who were present were all his friends. Answer yes. He then said “we as a people have long been distressed and oppressed, we have been driven from our lands many times, we have been wasted away by wars until there are but few of us left, the white man has hated us and shed our blood until it has appeared as though their would soon be no Indian left, we have talked with the great Spirit, and the great Spirit has talked with us, we have asked the great Spirit to save us and let us live and the great Spirit has told us that he had raised up a great Prophet, Chief and Friend who would do us great good and tell us what to do and the great Spirit has told us that you are the man (pointing to the prophet Joseph) we have now come a great way to see you and hear your words, and to have you tell us what to do, our horses have become poor travelling, and we are hungry, we will now wait and hear your words.[”] The Spirit of God rested up upon the especially the Orator. Joseph was much affected and shed tears, he arose and said unto them [“]I have heard your words, they are true, the great Spirit has told you the truth. I am your friend and brother, and I wish to do you good, Your Father’s were once a great people they worshipped the great Spirit, the great Spirit did them good, he was their friend, but they left the great Spirit and would not hear his words or keep them, the great Spirit left them, and they began to kill one another and they have been poor and afflicted until now. The great Spirit has given me a book and told me that you will soon be blessed again, the great Spirit will soon begin to talk with you and your children, this is the book which your fathers made I wrote upon it (shewing them the book of Mormon) this tells what you will have to do. I now want you to begin to pray to the great Spirit. I want you to make peace with one another, and do not kill any more Indians, it is not good, do not kill white men, it is not good, but ask the great Spirit for what you want, & it will not be long before the great Spirit will bless you and you will cultivate the earth and build good houses like white men, we will give you something to eat and to take home with you.” When the prophets words were interpreted to the Chiefs, they all [HC 5:480] said it was good. The Chief asked “How many moons it would be before the great Spirit would bless them “He told them not a great many. At the close of the interview, Joseph had an ox killed for them & they were furnished with some more horses & they went home satisfied and contented”> [p. 1654]