History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
Source Note
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, , and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth 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 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.
The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.
Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed ’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)
Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.
The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include
• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.
• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, the Legion, and Mormon voting practices.
• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of and .
• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of and revocation of his priesthood license.
• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by .
• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of ’s appointment to a mission to Russia.
• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.
• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of , inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.
• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by .
• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the .
• An account of JS’s sermon, 7 April 1844.
<September 19> Tuesday. 19. I was standing on the door steps at 7 a.m. and gave a Cod fish.
I directed to answer the letter recently received from the , and to enclose a copy of the resolutions passed at the meeting of the mobocracy at ; which he did.
Wrote a letter to .
<A portion of> The were present at a general muster of the Independent companies of ; saw a sham battle in which 35 brass cannon were discharged 7 times; one party was commanded by the Governor of ; and the other by the officer next in rank.
<20> Wednesday 20 Visited my accompanied by my brother .
The “Neighbor” has the following:
“.— A few short months ago it was heralded through this , that was the individual who attempted to murder , of . It was confidently stated that Joseph Smith [HC 6:35] was ‘accessory before the fact;’ the thing was swallowed as a precious morsel, by the enemies of Mormonism; it was iterated, and reiterated by the public journals, and the general expression of a certain class was, that Mr Smith ought to be hung; there was no doubt of his guilt;— he was one of the most inhuman, diabolical, dangerous and malignant persons in the universe— and when a requisition was made for him by the of , it was considered worse than ‘arson’ or ‘treason,’ that he should be acquited by the legal authorities of this ; under : and afterwards when was taken, it was exultingly stated that they had got the scoundrel, and that he would now receive the due demerit of his crime. How stands the matter when it is investigated? investigated by a court. The following will show:
“The last Expositor says:— , the Mormon confined in our county jail, some time since, for the attempted assassination of , was indicted by our last grand jury, for escaping from our county jail some time since, and sent to for trial. Owing, however to some informality in the proceedings, he was remanded to this again for trial. There was not sufficient proof adduced against him, to predicate an indictment for shooting , and the grand jury therefore did not indict him for that offence.”— -[ New Era.
It appears then that after all the bluster, the hue and cry about Mormon outrages, Mormon intrigue, ‘blood,’ ‘arson’, and ‘murder,’ that ‘there was not sufficient proof adduced against him to predicate an indictment for shooting , and the grand jury therefore did not indict him forthat offence.’ This speaks for itself; it needs no comment. We are glad for the sake of suffering innocence, that stands clear in the eyes of the law. Thus it seems that after exerting all their malice and hellish rage to implicate the innocent, they can find no proof against him. But yet he must be again incarcerated without proof for another hearing. This is justice. If he was guilty of breaking jail, why not try and punish him for that before that court? Where is the necessity of remanding him to another county for another hearing? It is evident that they wish to immolate him, and by offering him as a sacrifice, glut their thirst for innocent blood”. [p. 1736]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [276]
See 19 Sept. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [277]
JS, Journal, 19 Sept. 1843.
- [278]
Woodruff, Journal, 19 Sept. 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [279]
See 20 Sept. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [280]
JS, Journal, 20 Sept. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 20 Sept. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [281]
“Porter Rockwell,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Sept. 1843, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
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