History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
Source Note
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of , , Jonathan Grimshaw, and ; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “’s forces” at , Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop at , Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.
Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author. , , , and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.
The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in by the and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to ; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch ; the establishment of the city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo ; the expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.
<August 21> placed it close to my ear, and swore if I attempted to get away, that he would blow out my brains, they then commenced to whip me with large Gads which they had for the purpose, and literally mangled me from my Shoulders to my Knees. there were in company as near as I could recollect twelve or fourteen, they were striped of their hats and coats, with their sleeves rolled up, and collars open, which made them look like murderers and robbers; the names as far as I can recollect were Monday, Uno, and Martin, the others I do not recollect, after keeping me tied in this condition I should think an hour and a half, they then brought to me, and after some consultation, loosed me from the tree where I was tied, and led us back to the Town, put us in a room where I saw and , they then tied them about the neck, and led them out, and in the course of the night, they brought them back to the room where we were. said they stripped him, and whipped him very bad, this was on the seventh of July, the next day and myself were taken before a magistrate, nothing proven against us, only that we were Mormons, and we were ordered to Prison. and by some means were liberated but we ( and myself) were put into a Jail and put in Irons until the twenty first of August when through the kindness of God we made our escape and returned to ”
See 23 Aug. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<23> Sunday— <Uncle journalized: “Attended meeting at , Joseph and present, and a large assembly of Saints, who voted to commence building a city at and a place of worship.”> Ten were confirmed at the Carpenters Hall, . [HC 4:181]
See 29 Aug. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<29> Saturday. writes, the brethren are beginning to excite attention in some of the public grounds in . Outdoor preaching is common in England
See 30 Aug. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<30> Sunday <“Joseph Smith Jr preached at on eternal judgement and the eternal duration if matter.” -[From Uncle ’s journal]-> Twenty were confirmed at the Hall in .
The Electric Telegraph is beginning to be used on the Great Western Railroad in England, between Drayton and Paddington by which intelligence is communicated at the rate of 200,000 miles per second.
<See Addenda page 19> [HC 4:182] [HC 4:183]
This day was the first public preaching of the Gospel in the Streets of .
See 31 Aug. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<31> Monday baptized Henry Connor, Watchmaker, 52 Ironmongers Row. <in Peerless. Pool> <being the first baptized in that place; and confirmed him the same evening.>
<What date is this Epistle? There is no beginning of Sep. shown in this history!>
“To the Saints scattered abroad— Beloved brethren:— We address a few lines to the Church of Jesus Christ, who have obeyed from the heart, that form of doctrine which has been delivered to them by the servants of the Lord, [HC 4:184] and who are desirous to go forward in the ways of truth and righteousness and by obedience to the heavenly command, escape the things which are coming on the Earth, and secure to themselves an inheritance among the sanctified in the world to come. Having been placed in a very responsible situation in the Church, we at all times feel interested in the welfare of the Saints and make mention of them continually in our prayers to our Heavenly Father, that they may be kept from the evils which are in the world, and ever be found walking in the path of truth. The work of the Lord in these last days, is one of vast magnitude and almost beyond the comprehension of mortals: its glories are past description and its grandeur insurpassable. It is the theme which has animated the bosom of prophets [p. 1091]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [771]
See 23 Aug. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [772]
“Later. News from the Elders,” Times and Seasons, 1 Dec. 1840, 2:230–231.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [773]
See 29 Aug. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [774]
“News from the Elders,” LDS Millennial Star, Sept. 1840, 1:135–136.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
- [775]
See 30 Aug. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [776]
“New Invention,” LDS Millennial Star, Sept. 1840, 1:136.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
- [777]
See 31 Aug. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [778]
George A. Smith, Autobiography, 174.
Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.
- [779]
TEXT: Written sideways in left margin.
- [780]
“To the Saints Scattered Abroad,” Times and Seasons, Oct. 1840, 1:177–179.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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