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.
<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
See 22 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
<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 .
See 23 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
<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.
See 24 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
<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
See 25 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
<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]
See first 28 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
<* 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]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [1286]
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 21 Jan. 1842.
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
- [1287]
See 22 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [1288]
JS, Journal, 22 Jan. 1842.
- [1289]
See 23 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [1290]
JS, Journal, 23 Jan. 1842; Notification to Daniel Wood, 23 Jan. 1842.
- [1291]
See 24 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [1292]
- [1293]
See 25 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [1294]
JS, Journal, 25 Jan. 1842.
- [1295]
William and Wilson Law.
- [1296]
See first 28 Jan. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [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.
- [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.
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