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 13> Friday 13 First severe frost at this season— ice on the water.
At home made arrangements to prepare provisions for the workmen in the . From 10 a.m. till 3 p.m., presided in Municipal court, on in favor of ; to be delivered from the custody of Samuel Waterman; the prisoner being sick, adjourned the case to the 16th.
In the afternoon trying a span of grey horses in the carriage.
Dr. Turner, a Phrenologist, came in, I gratified his curiosity for about an hour, for him to examine my head—
I was engaged settling accounts with .
<14> Saturday 14 In the morning at home, having a long conversation with a physiologist and Mesmerizer; I asked them to prove that the mind of man was seated in one part of the brain more than another.
Sat in city Council till 1 p.m. which passed “an ordinance concerning the inspection of Flour”— and appointed , Inspector of Flour for the city of .
<15> Sunday 15 <Cool, calm and cloudy> At 11 a.m. I preached at the East of the.
The following synopsis <was> reported by Dr. :—
“It is one of the first principles of my life, and one that I have cultivated from my childhood, having been taught it by my , to allow every one the liberty of conscience. I am the greatest advocate of the [HC 6:56] Constitution of the there is on the earth. In my feelings I am always ready to die for the protection of the weak and oppressed in their just rights, the only fault I find with the Constitution, is, it is not broad enough to cover the whole ground.
Although it provides that all men shall enjoy religious freedom, yet it does not provide the manner by which that freedom can be preserved, nor for the punishment of government officers who refuse to protect the people in their religious rights, or punish those mobs, states, or communities, who interfere with the rights of the people on account of their religion. Its sentiments are good, but it provides no means of enforcing them. It has but this one fault; under its provisions a man or a people who are able to protect themselves can get along well enough, but those who have the misfortune to be weak or unpopular, are left to the merciless rage of popular fury. The Constitution should contain a provision, that every officer of the Government who should neglect or refuse to extend the protection guaranteed in the Constitution, should be subject to capital punishment, and then the of the would not say ‘your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you;’ a issue exterminating orders; or Judges say, ‘the men ought to have the protection of law, but is won’t please the mob; the men must die anyhow to satisfy the clamor of the rabble; they must be hung, or be damned to all eternity.’ Executive writs could be issued when they ought to be, and not be made instruments of cruelty to oppress the innocent, and persecute men whose religion is unpopular.
I cannot believe in any of the creeds of the different denominations, because they all have some things in them I cannot subscribe to, though all of them have some truth. I want to come up into the presence of God, and learn all [p. 1754]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [347]
See 13 Oct. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [348]
JS, Journal, 13 Oct. 1843.
- [349]
TEXT: “for” crossed out in graphite and “by allowing” inserted.
- [350]
Clayton, Journal, 13 Oct. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [351]
See 14 Oct. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [352]
JS, Journal, 14 Oct. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 14 Oct. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [353]
See 15 Oct. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [354]
JS, Journal, 15 Oct. 1843.
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