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.
<October 4> publications are on the increase, the duties would almost reprint the Times and Seasons and then we could do our advertizing on the last page, if thought advisable; we could afford it as cheap as the present Star, and pay you something for the privilege of publishing as well as to pay it to the crown, I have not yet learned the amount of funds remaining here subject to your order. I have not had much time as yet to enquire into those matters in consequence of the multitude of business in unloading our freight from ship board. The brethren that came with me wish me to say to those whom it may concern that they are well and will in a few days leave for their fields of labor. I shall write to you once a month, no preventing providence, and should be glad to have you write to me as often, and give me your advice and council relating to those things you in your wisdom may think beneficial to the Saints and emigration in this land. I wish would forward to me the amount of the number that will make the Volume of the Times and Seasons complete by the first opportunity; by so doing I can sell the 200 Volumes to advantage. I will try to forward to him what I can obtain for the Times and Seasons already here; if it should be thought wisdom to reprint the Times and Seasons here, I wish would be particular to send so that we could obtain them if possible, I am informed by that they have not received any intelligence from you since last February. I wish you would write me your mind concerning the printing immediately on the receipt of this sheet, so that our communication with the Saints in may not be stopped long. I am as ever your humble servant in the bonds of the N. E. [blank]. C. .”
I was at the preparing some legal papers.
Esq., U.S. Attorney for , arrived this afternoon, and I spent the rest of the day in riding and chatting with him.
Council of met and adjourned to Sunday evening, my brother ’s child being sick. [HC 6:45]
The started from for .
<5> Thursday 5 This morning I rode out with to the farm &c..
In the afternoon rode to the Prairie to shew some brethren some land. Evening, at home, and walked up and down the Streets with my . Gave instructions to try those persons who were preaching, teaching, or practicing the doctrine of plurality of wives; for according to the law I hold the keys of this power in the last days, for there is never but one on Earth at a time on whom the power and its keys are conferred— and I have constantly said no man shall have but one wife at a time, unless the Lord directs otherwise.
<6> Friday 6 I attended special , but as few people were out in consequence of the weather proving unfavorable, the organization of the Conference was adjourned until to morrow, or the first pleasant day. <¶> After giving notice that ’s case would be considered &c
I walked towards home, and gave instructions to my to cause all the papers relating to my land claims in the [p. 1746]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [323]
JS, Journal, 4 Oct. 1843.
- [324]
Woodruff, Journal, 4 Oct. 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [325]
See 5 Oct. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [326]
JS, Journal, 5 Oct. 1843.
- [327]
See 6 Oct. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [328]
JS, Journal, 6–8 Oct. 1843.
- [329]
TEXT: Arrow drawn from the end of this line to the beginning of the next to join them.
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