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.
<November 5> symptoms of being poisoned.
In the evening a prayer meeting in the Hall over the .
having kept a school in the Hall for some time, the noise proved a nuisance to the Clerks in the History office, and I gave orders to tell he must find some other room in which to teach School— as the room is needed for Councils.
Meeting at the preached—
Received a letter from dated October 16— he informs me there is a great call for [HC 6:65] preaching and many are wanted throughout the British Isles; much opposition: the Saints are anxious to have the Star continue its publication as 1600 copies are circulated.
Also received a letter from giving a partial account of the business affairs of the Emigration and publishing offices.
<6> Monday 6. Domestic affairs kept me busy in the morning, and in the afternoon listened to giving a relation of his visit to the , which amused me—
[five lines blank]
It has been very cool for some days past
arrived with a Company from .
<7> Tuesday 7. moved the tables back into the hall, when and called to report that the noise in the School disturbed them in the progress of writing the History. I gave orders that must look out for another place, as the History must continue, and not be disturbed, as there are but few subjects that I have felt a greater anxiety about than my History, which has been a very difficult task, on account of the death of my best clerks, and the apostacy of others, and the stealing of records by , and others.
The , viz. President , , , , , and assembled in the Mayor’s office, and voted to raise $500. to get paper &c. to print the Doctrine and covenants.
also voted that , and be a committee to borrow or get the money, and that go along with them.
<8> Wednesday 8. From 9 to 11 A.M. had an interview with and , read and heard read, part of my history— then attended to settling some accounts [HC 6:66] with several individuals. P.M. Examined a sample of fringe designed for the pulpits of the . from 2 to 3 conversing with , Lewis, and others.
The Neighbor has the following.
“We know that statements made by the mob in their [p. 1768]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [409]
Woodruff, Journal, 5 Nov. 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [410]
Reuben Hedlock, Liverpool, England, to Willard Richards et al., Nauvoo, IL, 16 Oct. 1843, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
- [411]
Hiram Clark, Liverpool, England, to Quorum of the Twelve, Nauvoo, IL, 18 Oct. 1843, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
- [412]
See 6 Nov. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [413]
JS, Journal, 6 Nov. 1843.
- [414]
News Item, Times and Seasons, 1 Oct. 1843, 4:343.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [415]
See 7 Nov. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [416]
JS, Journal, 7 Nov. 1843.
- [417]
Quorum of Twelve Apostles Minutes, 7 Nov. 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 7 Nov. 1843.
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [418]
See 8 Nov. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [419]
JS, Journal, 8 Nov. 1843.
- [420]
Editorial and Statements, Nauvoo Neighbor, 8 Nov. 1843, [2]–[3]; see also Edward Southwick, Dixon, IL, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 29 July 1843, JS Collection, CHL.
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.
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