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.
<April 15> were baptized of course, not for themselves, but for their dead, Chrysostum says that the Marchionites practiced baptism for the<ir> dead, “after a catechumen was dead they had a living man under the bed of the deceased; then coming to the dead man they asked him whether he would receive baptism; and he making no answer, the other answered for him, and said that he would be baptized in his stead; and so they baptized the living for the dead.” The Church of course at that time was degenerate, and the particular form might be incorrect, but the thing is sufficiently plain in the scriptures, hence Paul, in speaking of the doctrine says, “Else what shall they do, who are baptized for the dead? If the dead rise not all, why are they then baptized for the dead? 1 Cor: 15 ch. 29 verse. Hence it was that so great a responsibility rested upon the generation in which our Savior lived; for says he “That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the Earth from the blood of righteous Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you all these things shall come upon this generation,” Matthew 23 ch. 35. 36 v. Hence as they possessed greater privileges than any other generation, not only pertaining to themselves, but to their dead, their sin was greater; as they not only neglected their own salvation but that of their progenitors, and hence their blood was required at their hands. And now as the great purposes of God are hastening to their accomplishment and the things spoken of in the prophets are fulfilling, as the kingdom of God is established on the earth, and the ancient order of things restored, the Lord has manifested to us this duty and privilege, and we are commanded to be baptized for our dead, thus fulfilling the words of Obadiah when speaking of the glory of the Latter Day. “And Saviors shall come up upon Mount Zion to judge the remnant of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s” A view of these things reconciles the scriptures of truth, justifies the ways of God to man; places the human family upon an equal footing, and harmonizes with every principle of righteousness, justice, and truth. We will conclude with the words of Peter: “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles,”... “For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.”
See 16 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
I continued busily engaged in making out a list of [HC 4:599] debtors and an invoice of my property to be passed into the hands of the Assignee until Saturday <16> evening the 16th. on which day the first number of “The Wasp” a Miscellaneous weekly newspaper was first published at my , , Editor, devoted to the Arts, Sciences, Literature, Agriculture, Manufacture, Trade, Commerce and the General news of the day on a small sheet at $1.50 per annum.
See 17 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
<17> Sunday 17. Spent the day with my family at home.
See 18 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
<18> Monday 18. <In consequence of the utter annihilation of our property by mob violence in the State of , and the immense expences which we were compelled to incur to defend ourselves from the cruel persecutions of that , we were reduced to the necessity of availing ourselves of the privileges of the General Bankrupt Law. therefore> I went to in company with my brothers and , and severally testified to our lists of Insolvency before the Clerk of the County Commissioners Court. and many more brethren were at the same day on business— My Clerk went with us.
About this time a disturbance broke out in Rhode Island, by a part of the Inhabitants wishing to change their Constitution, and make it like other States in the Union, which created much confusion and angry feeling in that State, and excitement in other States.
See 19 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
<19.> Tuesday 19. Rode out and examined some land near the northern limits of the — &c [p. 1324]
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Source Note
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Footnotes
Footnotes
- [1459]
See 16 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [1460]
JS, Journal, 15–16 Apr. 1842; “Proposals for Publishing the Wasp,” The Wasp, 16 Apr. 1842, pp. [1], [4].
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
- [1461]
See 17 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [1462]
JS, Journal, 17 Apr. 1842.
- [1463]
See 18 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [1464]
JS, Journal, 18 Apr. 1842; “An Ordinance concerning Brothels and Disorderly Characters,” The Wasp, 14 May 1842, [3].
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
- [1465]
“Important Documents,” The Wasp, 14 May 1842, p. [1].
The Wasp. Nauvoo, IL. Apr. 1842–Apr. 1843.
- [1466]
See 19 Apr. 1842 entry in History Draft.
- [1467]
JS, Journal, 19 Apr. 1842.
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