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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<March 24> An Earthquake at Falmouth this morning.

<25> Friday 25. Attending to a variety of business, counseling &c.

<26> Saturday 26. Elder received his final instructions from the President and received his blessing from Elder , with the laying on of the hands of President Joseph, , and , and started for England this day.

27 March 1842 • Sunday

<27> Sunday 27. After speaking to the Saints for some time on the subject of baptism for the dead, I baptized 107 individuals. <See addenda book page 61.> [HC 4:568] I also witnessed the landing of 170 English brethren from the Steamer “Ariel”, under the presidency of Elder , <Stephen Nixon> <Elder also, <brought> about $3000 worth if goods for the and .>

28–30 March 1842 • Monday–Wednesday

<28> Monday 28. I was at the received s donations from England, and attended to a variety of business, as also on the 29th. and 30th..

The following extract is from a letter received from Elder

“Bristol March 28. 1842— , much esteemed brother I am happy to be able to state to you that I arrived here in safety and in health on Saturday the 26th. instant after making a tour through a number of Churches on my way from Cheltenham, which place I left in the evening of the 14th. visited the Church at Lea; in the neighborhood of which I preached twice. I then went to Garway, where I preached five times to overflowing congregations, from thence visited Abergavenny, and preached three times, The work appears to be upon the onward march in all these places. Many are enquiring after truth and embracing it. The brethren and friends appeared very anxious for me to tarry longer, but being desirous to commence my labors in this City, I took my leave on Saturday the 26th. and came, via Newport, by the packet to this City, and preached [HC 4:569] three times yesterday. There appears to be a good feeling manifested here at present.” In the evening our Hall was quite full, and the people listened very attentively, persons of respectable appearance were present. We intend getting a large Hall, and putting out bills shortly. Enclosed is an order for ten shillings, it being a donation for the building of the in , mostly from the branch of the church at Frogmarsh— Yours in the bonds of the New Covenant, .”

30 March 1842 • Wednesday

<30> <Sunday 30. See addenda book page 61.>

31 March 1842 • Thursday

< 31> Monday 31. In Council at my with Elders [HC 4:570] , , &c and wrote an Epistle to the “Female Relief Society”, and spoke to the Society in the afternoon.

1 April 1842 • Friday

<April 1> Friday April 1. 1842. I was engaged in the general business

“Try the Spirits. Recent occurrences that have transpired amongst us render it an imperative duty devolving upon me to say something in relation to the Spirits by which men are actuated. It is evident from the Apostle’s writings that many false spirits existed in their day, and had “gone forth into the world,” and that it needed intelligence which God alone could impart to detect false spirits, and to prove what spirits were of God. The world in general have been grossly ignorant in regard to this one thing, and why should they be otherwise, “For no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God.” The Egyptians were not able to discover the difference between the Miracles of Moses, and [p. 1303]

March 24 An Earthquake at Falmouth this morning.

25 March 1842 • Friday

25 Friday 25. Attending to a variety of business, counseling &c.

26 March 1842 • Saturay

26 Saturday 26. Elder received his final instructions from the President and received his blessing from Elder , with the laying on of the hands of President Joseph, , and , and started for England this day.

27 March 1842 • Sunday

27 Sunday 27. After speaking to the Saints for some time on the subject of baptism for the dead, I baptized 107 individuals. See addenda book page 61. [HC 4:568] I also witnessed the landing of 170 English brethren from the Steamer “Ariel”, under the presidency of Elder , Stephen Nixon Elder brought about $3000 worth if goods for the and .

28–30 March 1842 • Monday–Wednesday

28 Monday 28. I was at the received s donations from England, and attended to a variety of business, as also on the 29th. and 30th..

The following extract is from a letter received from Elder

30 March 1842 • Wednesday

30 Sunday 30. See addenda book page 61.

31 March 1842 • Thursday

31 Monday 31. In Council at my with Elders [HC 4:570] , , &c and wrote an Epistle to the “Female Relief Society”, and spoke to the Society in the afternoon.

1 April 1842 • Friday

April 1 Friday April 1. 1842. I was engaged in the general business

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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. 1419
  See 25 Mar. 1842 entry in History Draft.
2. 1420
  See 26 Mar. 1842 entry in History Draft.
3. 1421
  JS, Journal, 26 Mar. 1842.
4. 1422
  See 27 Mar. 1842 entry in History Draft.
5. 1423
  Discourse, 27 Mar. 1842, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff; JS, Journal, 27 Mar. 1842.
6. 1424
  See 28 Mar. 1842 entry in History Draft.
7. 1425
  JS, Journal, 28 Mar. 1842.
8. 1426
  Lorenzo Barnes, Bristol, England, 28 Mar. 1842, Letter to the Editor, LDS Millennial Star, Apr. 1842, 2:190.
  
  Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
9. 1427
  See 31 Mar. 1842 entry in History Draft.
10. 1428
  JS, Journal, 31 Mar. 1842; Letter to Emma Smith, 31 Mar. 1842; Discourse, 31 Mar. 1842, as Reported by Eliza R. Snow.
11. 1429
  See 1 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
12. 1430
  JS, Journal, 1 Apr. 1842.
13. 1431
  [JS], “Try the Spirits,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:743–748.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.