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.
<October 28> , of which Buckingham Palace is Chief, this is for the royal family, and is occupied by her majesty Queen Victoria, and — — — — — — Prince Albert, when they are in the metropolis. It was built by his late Majesty William the Fourth, it covers a number of acres of ground, and is a very costly and splendid edifice: every door, entrance and gate leading to it is strongly guarded with armed soldiers. While we were there, we saw — — — — — — Prince Albert — — — riding — — — — — — — across St. James Park, mounted upon a gray horse accompanied only by his groom. We have visited the British Museum which contains a vast number and quantity of Egyptian Sepulchres, Mummies, Hieroglyphics, and Papyrus, the history and account of which we feel much interested in, and may forward you an account of the same in a future communication. We subscribe ourselves your brethren in the everlasting Covenant. , , .”
<see Addenda Book— page 1—> [HC 4:234] [HC 4:235]
<to come in below> <*Elders , and , the Committee appointed at the October Conference, wrote a petition to Congress for the redress of the grievances, of the Latter Day Saints in , setting forth their wrongs and sufferings; in substance the same as my petition of the 28th. of November 1839 in connection with , and .>
<<see Addenda Book page 1—>>
<3> <The English fleet bombarded St. Jean d’Acre, during which a powder magazine exploded, killing over 2,000 men.>
<November 1> Sunday November 1. 1840 Elder arrived in —
<see Addenda, page 3>
<9> <Monday Novr. 9th. Elder received Council to leave and go to Staffordshire for his health, as he had injured his lungs by preaching in the Streets, so that he discharged considerable blood <from them> Novr. 10 he took leave of and travelled to Birmingham, met Elder , preached, and baptized five in the evening.>
<21> Saturday 21. Elders , , and visited the Church at Bolton [HC 4:236]
<26> <Elders , and preached to the Saints in Hanley. on the 26th, on the following day at Stoke, and on the 28th. Elders and left for —> <*(see above)>
<December 4> <see Addenda Book page 3. > Friday 4 There was a conference in , Elder presiding. The Revelations of Elder were objected to, which were, that a certain brother must give him a suit of Clothes, and a gold watch, the best that could be had; also his saluting the Sisters with what he calls, a holy kiss &c &c justified himself in these things. Much good council was given him, but he said he knew the Revelations he had received, were from God, and would make no confession, consequently the conference cut him off, and demanded his licence which he refused to give up—
has been preaching and baptizing in the Isle of Man, <where> the work is now progressing.
<5> <see Addenda book, page 3.> [HC 4:237] A Great part of the City of Messina, Sicily, was this day destroyed by an Earthquake, such was the force of the first shock, that the Inhabitants of the Town were buried in an instant beneath the ruins.
<10> Thursday Elder left for Herefordshire—
<x13> Sunday— I attended the High Council at my Office. was on trial for lying, slandering the authorities of the Church, profane Swearing &c Witnesses were examined in part, and trial adjourned to the 20th.
<14> and dissolved Co-partnership, The Times and Seasons are to be continued by —
<16> Wednesday 16. This day the Charters of the “City of ”, the “Nauvoo Legion” and the “University of the City of Nauvoo”, were signed by the , having previously passed the House and Senate, as follows
“An Act to incorporate the City of Nauvoo” Sec.1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of represented in [p. 1123]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [826]
“War in the East,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:303.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [827]
See 1 Nov. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [828]
George A. Smith, Autobiography, 191.
Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.
- [829]
See 21 Nov. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [830]
Young, Journal, 21 Nov. 1840, p. [33].
Historian’s Office. “History of Brigham Young.” In Manuscript History of Brigham Young, ca. 1856–1860, vol. 1, pp. 1–104. CHL. CR 100 150, box 1, fd. 1.
- [831]
Young, Journal, 25–28 Nov. 1840, pp. [33]–[34]; “News From The Elders,” LDS Millennial Star, Jan. 1841, 1:238–239.
Historian’s Office. “History of Brigham Young.” In Manuscript History of Brigham Young, ca. 1856–1860, vol. 1, pp. 1–104. CHL. CR 100 150, box 1, fd. 1.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
- [832]
See 4 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [833]
“Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Feb. 1841, 2:306–307.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [834]
See 5 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [835]
“Earthquakes, Floods, and Shipwrecks,” LDS Millennial Star, Feb. 1841, 1:260.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
- [836]
See 10 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [837]
See 13 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [838]
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 12–13 Dec. 1840.
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
- [839]
See 14 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [840]
“Dissolution,”Times and Seasons, 15 Dec. 1840, 2:256.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [841]
See 16 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [842]
“Miscellaneous,” Times and Seasons, 15 Jan. 1841, 2:281–286.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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