History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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,
Franklin D. Richards
2 Apr. 1821–9 Dec. 1899. Carpenter, businessman, newspaper editor. Born at Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Phinehas Richards and Wealthy Dewey. Raised Congregationalist. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Phinehas ...
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, Jonathan Grimshaw, and
Leo Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
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; 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 “
Governor
14 Dec. 1796–14 Mar. 1860. Bookkeeper, bank cashier, merchant, Indian agent and trader, lawyer, doctor, postmaster, politician. Born at Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of John M. Boggs and Martha Oliver. Served in War of 1812. Moved to St. Louis, ca...
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’s forces” at
Far West
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
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, Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop
Vinson Knight
14 Mar. 1804–31 July 1842. Farmer, druggist, school warden. Born at Norwich, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Rudolphus Knight and Rispah (Rizpah) Lee. Married Martha McBride, July 1826. Moved to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by 1830. Owned farm...
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at
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, 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
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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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
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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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.
Brigham Young
1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...
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,
Heber C. Kimball
14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...
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,
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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, 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
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in
England
Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...
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by the
Twelve
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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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
America
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
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; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch
Joseph Smith Sr.
12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...
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; the establishment of the
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo
temple
Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...
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; the
Wisconsin “pinery”
Also known as the “pinery.” Collective term for regions in Wisconsin where lumbering operations were located, especially along Black, Chippewa, St. Croix, Wisconsin, and Wolf rivers. Latter-day Saints established lumber camps and mills on Black River to provide...
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expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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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.

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<January 21> in the and , and spent the evening in the with Elders and — interpreted dreams &c

The Presidents of the different Quorums met with the High Council at ’s Office, to receive instructions according to the appointment of the Council on the 18th.. President stated the reasons why the Quorum of Seventies had granted Licences, that he applied to President Joseph Smith for permission on the solicitations of the quorums; that their reasons for so doing were because Licences could not be obtained from the Church , President testified to the same, and the Council was satisfied with the Testimony. and were addressed by President on the Word of Wisdom

22 January 1842 • Saturday

<22> Saturday 22 I was very busy in appraising Tithing property, and in the evening revised the rules of the City Council, attended Council and spoke on their adoption, and was elected Vice Mayor pro tem of the City of .

23 January 1842 • Sunday

<23> Sunday 23 Spent the day mostly at <the> , and on the presentation of charges by Elder , silenced Elder of for preaching that the Church ought to unsheath the sword. and Elder A. Litz for preaching that the authorities of the Church were done away &c and cited him to appear before the High Council of for Trial.

24 January 1842 • Monday

<24> Monday 24 Reckoned with and in the Counting room and examined the Lots on which they are about to build a <steam> grain & saw Mill

25 January 1842 • Tuesday

<25> Tuesday 25 Signed deeds for lots, to the Laws, transacted a variety of business in the and . in the evening debated with and others to shew that the Indians have greater cause to complain of the treatment of the Whites, than the Negroes, or sons of Cain. [HC 4:501]

28 January 1842 • Friday • First of Two Entries

<* 28th.> The High Council heard and accepted the report of their Committee of the 18th. instant, as follows,

“The High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ, to the Saints of , Greeting: Dear Brethren— As watchmen upon the Walls of , we feel it to be our duty to stir up your minds, by way of remembrance, of things which we conceive to be of the utmost importance to the Saints. While we rejoice at the health and prosperity of the Saints, and the good feeling which seems to prevail among us generally, and the willingness to aid in the building of the “,” we are grieved at the conduct of some, who seem to have forgotten the purpose for which they had gathered. Instead of promoting union, appeared to be engaged in sowing strifes and animosities among their brethren, spreading evil reports; brother going to law with brother, for trivial causes, which we consider a great evil, and altogether unjustifiable, except in extreme cases, and then not before the world.— We feel to advise taking the word of God for our guide, and exhort you not to forget you have come up as Saviors upon Mount Zion, consequently to seek each other’s good,— to become one: inasmuch as the Lord has said, “except ye become one, ye are none of mine.” Let us always remember the admonitions of the Apostle:—

“Dare any of you having a matter go to law before the unjust and not before the saints? Do ye not know the Saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matter? Know ye not, that we shall judge Angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? If then, ye have judgment of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the Church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren. But brother goeth to law with brother and that before unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? [HC 4:504] Why do ye [p. 1271]

January 21 in the and , and spent the evening in the with Elders and — interpreted dreams &c

22 January 1842 • Saturday

22 Saturday 22 I was very busy in appraising Tithing property, and in the evening revised the rules of the City Council, attended Council and spoke on their adoption, and was elected Vice Mayor pro tem of the City of .

23 January 1842 • Sunday

23 Sunday 23 Spent the day mostly at the , and on the presentation of charges by Elder , silenced Elder of for preaching that the Church ought to unsheath the sword. and Elder A. Litz for preaching that the authorities of the Church were done away &c and cited him to appear before the High Council of for Trial.

24 January 1842 • Monday

24 Monday 24 Reckoned with and in the Counting room and examined the Lots on which they are about to build a steam grain & saw Mill

25 January 1842 • Tuesday

25 Tuesday 25 Signed deeds for lots, to the Laws, transacted a variety of business in the and . in the evening debated with and others to shew that the Indians have greater cause to complain of the treatment of the Whites, than the Negroes, or sons of Cain. [HC 4:501]

28 January 1842 • Friday • First of Two Entries

* 28th. The High Council heard and accepted the report of their Committee of the 18th. instant, as follows,

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Cite this page

Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
ID #
7513
Total Pages
562
Handwriting on This Page
- Thomas Bullock
Footnotes
1. 1286
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 21 Jan. 1842.
  
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
2. 1287
  See 22 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
3. 1288
  JS, Journal, 22 Jan. 1842.
4. 1289
  See 23 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
5. 1290
  JS, Journal, 23 Jan. 1842; Notification to Daniel Wood, 23 Jan. 1842.
6. 1291
  See 24 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
7. 1292
  JS, Journal, 24 Jan. 1842; Receipt to William and Wilson Law, 24 Jan. 1842; Deed to Wilson Law, 24 Jan. 1842; Deed to William Law, 24 Jan. 1842.
8. 1293
  See 25 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
9. 1294
  JS, Journal, 25 Jan. 1842.
10. 1295
  William and Wilson Law.
11. 1296
  See first 28 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
12. 1297
  “The High Council . . . to the Saints of Nauvoo,” Times and Seasons, 15 Feb. 1842, 3:699–700.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
13. 1298
  TEXT: Date inserted in margin vertically and text for the date bracketed through the remainder of the page and on to the next page.