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
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.
<March 24> it was such a wonderful thing for a Latter Day Saint to die in England, that was arraigned before the Mayor’s Court at , on the third of October, charged with “killing and slaying” the said Alice, with a “black stick,” &c but was discharged without being permitted to make his defence, as soon as it was discovered that the iniquity of his accusers was about to be made manifest. October 19th. 1838, gave himself wholly to the work, and soon after commenced preaching and baptizing in ; and from thence the work spread into Stockport, and other places in the neighborhood, through the labors of Elders , , John Moon, and <David> Wilding. A small church had previously sprung up in Bolton, through the labors of Elder <D> Wilding, and was continued by Elder . In the summer of 1839 Elders , , and J. Moon labored in Burslem, with some success, and a small church was planted in Burnley by Elder Thomas Richardson, besides many who were added in the older Branches, through the instrumentality of the local elders and priests, who were generally very faithful. December 8. 1839. Elders , Alexander Wright and arrived in , from ; and on the 25th. brothers Wright and started for Scotland, and soon commenced preaching and baptizing in Paisley and vicinity— January 13th. 1840 Elders , , and arrived in , from ; and on the 18th. brothers and started for the Potteries in Staffordshire passing through ; and on the 22nd. left for . April 6th. 1840 just ten years from the organization of the Church, Elders , , , , , and landed in from ; and on the ninth, arrived in , just two years from the day he left for . The arrival of the Elders caused the Saints to rejoice exceedingly— for it had been prophesied by many, (not of the church) that they would never come, and that Elders and would never return, but they are both now in England; Elder , having arrived in on the third instant from