History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
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Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. D-1, created 4 July 1845–4 Feb. 1846 and 1 July 1854–2 May 1855; handwriting of , Robert L. Campbell, and ; 275 pages, plus 6 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fourth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fourth volume covers the period from 1 Aug. 1842 to 1 July 1843; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
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Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume D-1, constitutes the fourth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 August 1842 to 1 July 1843, and it was compiled after JS’s death.The material recorded in volume D-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , with the assistance of . After Richards’s death in 1854, continued work on the volume as the new church historian with Bullock’s continued help. The process adopted by Richards and Bullock involved Richards creating a set of rough draft notes and Bullock transcribing the notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). George A. Smith followed a similar pattern, though he dictated the draft notes to Bullock and other scribes.According to the Church Historian’s Office journal, finished the third volume of the series, volume C-1, on Thursday, 3 July 1845, in , Illinois. He began work on the fourth volume, D-1, the next day, beginning on page 1362 with the entry for 1 August 1842. (The pages in volumes A-1–E-1 were numbered consecutively.) Bullock continued work on the record, drawing upon ’s draft notes, until 3 February 1846—the day before D-1 and the other volumes were packed up in preparation for the Latter-day Saints’ exodus from Nauvoo. At that point he had reached page 1485 with the entry for 28 February 1843. Subsequently, apparently after the collection had arrived in Utah, Bullock added a brief comment beneath that entry: “end of W. Richard’s compiling[.] the books packed Feby. 4— 1846 in Nauvoo[.] Miles Romney— present. The records carried by T Bullock from Winter Quarters to G S L [Great Salt Lake] City in 1848.”A notation at the top of page 1486 reports that “the books were unpacked in G. S. L. City by and . June 7. 1853. J[onathan] Grimshaw & Miles Romney present.” Vertically, in the margin, is a poignant epitaph: “Decr. 1 1853 Dr. Willard Richards wrote one line of History—being sick at the time—and was never able to do any more.” With Richards’s death on 11 March 1854, JS’s cousin was called to the office of church historian. The notation on the top of page 1486 acknowledges this change in officers, noting, “commencement of George A. Smith’s compiling as Historian. April 13. 1854[.] [C]ommenced copying July 1. 1854.” From mid-April to the end of June 1854, George A. Smith, in collaboration with Thomas Bullock, worked on the draft notes for the history before a new scribe, , resumed writing in D-1 on 1 July 1854, beginning with the entry for 1 March 1843.continued transcribing intermittently into the late fall of 1854, when he was assigned other duties in the Historian’s Office. He had reached page 1546 with the entry for 5 May 1843. Work resumed in February 1855 in the hand of Robert L. Campbell, recently returned from a mission. He concluded volume D-1 on the morning of 2 May 1855 and began writing in E-1 that afternoon.The 274 pages of volume D-1 contain a record of much that is significant in the life of JS and the development of the church he founded. Among these events are• JS’s 6 August 1842 prophecy that the Saints would become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains.•JS’s 8 August 1842 arrest on a warrant for being “an accessory before the fact” to an attack on former governor .• ’s 17 August 1842 letter to governor , pleading for the humane treatment of her husband and family.•JS’s 1 and 6 September 1842 instructions regarding the proper procedures for performing baptisms for the dead.• JS’s 15 November 1842 “Valedictory” as he stepped down as editor of the Times and Seasons.• The 26 December 1842 arrest of JS on a “proclamation” by former governor , and subsequent hearing in , Illinois.• The 7 February 1843 recovery of a volume of patriarchal blessings given by , which had been stolen in , Missouri.• JS’s 21 February 1843 remarks regarding the and .• JS’s 2 April 1843 instruction at , Illinois, on the nature of God and other subjects.• JS’s 16 May 1843 remarks at , Illinois, on the everlasting covenant and eternal marriage.• The account of JS’s 23 June 1843 arrest and his habeas corpus hearing the following week at .
Footnotes
April 3 Miller’s day of judgment has arrived, but it is too pleasant for false prophets.
At 2 P.M. Started for , where we arrived about 4 P.M. and staid at ’.
Elders and returned to having preached four times.
In evening reading the book of Revelations with , and conversing with Esq. [Hiram] Backman.
Upwards of $12,000,000 have been recently expended by the French Government to fortify the City of Paris.
4 Spent 5 hours preaching to Esq. [Hiram] Backman, , and the es; Backman said “almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
We left about 2 P.M. and arrived at at 5½.
5 Sat with , , , , and ; Associate Justices in the Municipal Court, on a writ of Habeas Corpus, and discharged Jonathan and [Benjamin] Lewis Jonathan Hoopes from Custody.
A branch of the Church organized at Mount Holly, of 25 members by Elder Newton [HC 5:326]
6 I was detained from Conference, to hear a case of Assumpsit, Widow Thompson vs. Dixon until 11 A.M.
The first day of the 14th year of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sun shone clear, warm and pleasant, the snow has nearly all disappeared, except a little on the north side of the hill above ; the ice about 2 feet thick on the , West of the ; a considerable number of the brethren crossed from the side of the , to the conference, on the ice; the walls of the are from 4 to 12 feet above the floor.
At annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was convened on the floor of the . There were present, , Patriarch: , , , , , , and of the quorum of the Twelve; Elder and a very large assembly of the elders and saints.
Elder announced that President Joseph Smith was detained on business, but would be present soon. Sung a hymn. Elder opened by prayer, and another hymn was sung. Elder then read the 3rd chapter of the 2nd epistle of Peter, and spoke upon the subject of the resurrection. At ten minutes before 12 o’clock President Joseph Smith, Elders and arrived.
At 12 o’clock President Joseph Smith commenced by saying, We all ought to be thankful for the privilege we enjoy this day, of meeting so many of the Saints, and for the warmth and brightness of the heavens over our heads,— and it truly makes the countenances of this great multitude to look cheerful, and gladdens the hearts of all present.
He next stated the object of the meeting, which was,
First, to ascertain the standing of the first presidency, which he should do by presenting himself before the conference.
Second, to take into consideration the expediency of sending out the [HC 5:327] Twelve, or some of them, amongst the branches of the church, to obtain stock to build the , for the time has come to build it. [p. 1512]
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Document Information
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Footnotes
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536
See 3 Apr. 1843 entry in History Draft.
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537
JS, Journal, 3 Apr. 1843; Young, Journal, 1–3 Apr. 1843.
Young, Brigham. Journals, 1832–1877. Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1, boxes 71–73.
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Insertion in handwriting of Thomas Bullock.
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538
See 4 Apr. 1843 entry in History Draft.
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539
JS, Journal, 4 Apr. 1843.
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540
See 5 Apr. 1843 entry in History Draft.
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541
JS, Journal, 5 Apr. 1843.
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542
See 6 Apr. 1843 entry in History Draft.
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543
JS, Journal, 6 Apr. 1843.
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536
