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.
<December> meaning of law, that those citizens of any Section of country, who do not rise up as virtuous freemen, (when any portion of Inhabitants, congregate, or combine to injure, slander or deprive another portion of their rights.) and magnify the law, to clear themselves from such unhallowed attempts to subvert order and law, that they by their silence make themselves accessories of the crime of such unlawful assemblage, or outrageous individuals.
Resolved unanimously, That we solicit the , by all honorable means to grant us peace for we will have it.
“, Secretary” Chairman.”
In the afternoon started with the papers to the , also the petition from Goodwin and others, and ’s affidavit [HC 6:102]
The German brethren met at the Assembly room at 6 p.m, and choose as their , and organized to have preaching in their native language.
Directed copies of my appeal to the various authorities of and the .
<8> Friday 8 At 11 a.m. I went to my and gave instructions to my for the drawing of a Draft of a Dam on the , and directed that the city Council be called at 4 this afternoon to make preparations for any invasion from .
and made an affidavit which I insert.
| “State of ) | ss |
| City of ) |
On the 8th. day of December 1843, came and , before me Joseph Smith Mayor of said , and after being duly sworn depose and say, that they have been informed that two men have been kidnapped recently by the Missourians in connection with some of the lawless inhabitants of the County of , and that <rumors> are now afloat, that it is the intention of said lawless persons in connection with the aforesaid Missourians to kidnap some of the citizens of this , and further your affiants would state that they are of opinion to prevent difficulties of such a vexatious nature, that something should be done to secure the peace of this from being disturbed, and further your affiants say not.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 8th. day of December 1843. Clerk.
whereupon I issued the following notification.
State of )
City of )
To the of said Greeting—
Whereas Complaint has been made to me upon oath that some persons have been kidnapped by the Missourians in connection with [HC 6:103] some of the lawless inhabitants of , and that threats have been made that some of the citizens of , will be kidnapped or arrested and forcibly carried away from said without being allowed the benefit of the writ of , according to the ordinance in such case made and provided, you will therefore take the necessary measures to have the rights of the [p. 1795]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [495]
JS, Journal, 7 Dec. 1843.
- [496]
Woodruff, Journal, 7 Dec. 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [497]
See 8 Dec. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [498]
JS, Journal, 8 Dec. 1843.
- [499]
- [500]
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