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 30> I received $300. from brother Spencer, and immediately paid it to .
On account of the cold weather, most of the Masons have discontinued the work on the .
See 31 Oct. 1843 entry in History Draft.
<31> Tuesday 31. At 9 a.m. Mr. Moore was brought before me for a breach of city ordinance, which was proved, and I fined him $5.00.
I rode out with in the carriage to the Prairie, returning about 3 p.m. Snow on the ground this morning; cold east wind, and rain all day.
See 1 Nov. 1843 entry in History Draft.
<November 1> Wednesday 1. In the evening there was a prayer meeting in the , 29 present.
See 2 Nov. 1843 entry in History Draft.
<2.> Thursday 2. Sitting in Council with , , , , , , and , at 10 a.m., on the subject of the following letter from, .
“ Oct 23d. 1843 Genl. Joseph Smith, Dr Sir, In a conversation with , of this place, a short time since, he expressed in very warm terms, feelings of sympathy for the wrongs yourself and brethren suffered in , as well as his sense of the vindictive feelings the authorities of that still manifested towards you personally.
has not yet had the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with yourself, although he says he had the pleasure of meeting your at her sister’s residence on Rock River. has been written by the Hon. B. Rhett, of S. Carolina, upon the subject of the Persecution and [HC 6:62] thinks of all men he would be the best qualified to present a petition in our behalf— and says should such an arrangement meet your approbation, he will use his influence in favor of a petition, and says he knows of some Honorable men in , whom he has no doubt are anxious to wipe off the stain that rests upon them, by some just reparation. I submit by permission of a copy of a letter he has written to a distinguished citizen of South Carolina, together with a circular put out confidentially by the friends of of S. C., whom with my present feelings I should cheerfully support for our next president, and whom I have no doubt would be preferred by the brethren to .
If the plan suggested, of memorializing Congress should meet your approbation, Please inform me. promises his aid in such an event, and says, he would go to and assist in arranging papers relative to such a step. Please accept my assurances of love and esteem for yourself and family, and a prayer that Wisdom from on high may direct you in your deliberations. I remain your bro. in Christ.
.”
<and> agreed to write a letter to the five candidates for the Presidency of the , to enquire what their feelings were towards us as a people, and what their course of action would be in relation to the cruelty and oppression that we have suffered from the State of , if they were elected.
The publish<ed> the following, in the Times and Seasons:—
“To the and churches abroad. “The Twelve,” On our late mission to the eastern states, <we> discovered that the publications at , were very little [p. 1760]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
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Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
Clayton, Journal, 30 Oct. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
JS, Journal, 30–31 Oct. 1843.
See 31 Oct. 1843 entry in History Draft.
Clayton, Journal, 31 Oct. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
See 1 Nov. 1843 entry in History Draft.
JS, Journal, 1 Nov. 1843.
See 2 Nov. 1843 entry in History Draft.
JS, Journal, 2 Nov. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 2 Nov. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
Joseph L. Heywood, Quincy, IL, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 23 Oct. 1843, JS Collection, CHL.
Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.
JS, Journal, 2 Nov. 1843.
“To the Elders and Churches Abroad,” Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1843, 4:360.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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