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.
<January 12> since the Conference in July last—
<13.> Saturday 13. At home in the morning. At 10 o’Clock attended City Council, where a bill for an ordinance was taken under consideration concerning the Recording of Deeds in this and [2 words illegible] read twice; it elicited much discussion. I signed resolutions passed at a Court Martial held this morning.—Stephen M Farnsworth was chosen President of the Priests’ Quorum and William Carmichael and William Box his Counselors.
The 10 Policemen who were not present at the meeting of the City Council on the 5th. inst were sworn in the matter of and and testified that they had received no private instructions whatever from me.
A discussion took place on the subject of granting licenses for the Sale of Spirits.
<14> Sunday 14. At home all day. [HC 6:175] A prayer meeting was held at the Assembly room, which I did not attend. Warm and rainy towards evening. The Twelve Apostles preached at private houses in various parts of the .
A branch of the church was organized in with 34 members. T. B. Jackaway, President & E. L. Brown, Clerk.
<15> Monday 15. At home. Wrote to Sister . Almira N. Y.
At 9 a. m. teams began to arrive with wood, according to the appointment of the Twelve Apostles, there being about 200 of the brethren chopping in the woods and from thirty to forty teams engaged in drawing the wood to my house. About 100 loads were drawn, and as many more chopped, and left to be drawn another day.
At 10 a. m. called, and told me it was reported that was going to put me under $10.000 bonds for speaking against him. At the same time summoned me to attend a court as Witness before , and I went accordingly to give my testimony.
The Twelve Apostles wrote the following letter:—
“ January 15th. 1844
To President , and the Saints at Morley Settlement, the Twelve send Greeting.
Beloved Brethren. While the work of the Lord is great and sought out by all them that have pleasure therein, the Lord of the vineyard has laid special charges upon some of his servants to execute, and while we are striving by all <means> to raise funds to hasten the the approaching spring, we are not unmindful of the history of the church, the great proclamation to the kings of the earth, and the Memorials to Congress &c., all of which are now before the church, though their [HC 6:176] progress is retarded for the want of the necessaries of life, in the families of those who are employed in this business.
Two or three Clerks are necessarily employed, and that continually, by our prophet, who cheerfully devote their time, not a tenth but the whole, to roll on these desirable objects, but their hands are palsied, and their pens staid more or less; therefore, with the approbation of our President we again call on you, [p. 1861]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [654]
See 13 Jan. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [655]
JS, Journal, 13 Jan. 1844; Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 13 Jan. 1844, 41–44; Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 13 Jan. 1844, 70–75; Nauvoo Stake Priests Quorum Minutes, 13 Jan. 1845.
Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Books, 1841–1845. Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800, box 1, fds. 2-5.
Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 1843–1844. Nauvoo Legion, Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430, fd. 1.
Nauvoo Stake Priests Quorum. Minutes, Jan. 1844–June 1845. CHL.
- [656]
TEXT: The phrase “was taken under considertion” was marked by a bracket and arrow to be moved after the word “city” on the next line.
- [657]
TEXT: A bracket and arrow around this and the following paragraph indicate that they should be move to the previous paragraph after “elicited much discussion.”
- [658]
See 14 Jan. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [659]
JS, Journal, 14 Jan. 1844; Woodruff, Journal, 14 Jan. 1844.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [660]
Minutes, New Orleans, LA, 22 Jan. 1844, in Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1844, 5:477.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [661]
See 15 Jan. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [662]
JS, Journal, 15 Jan. 1844; Woodruff, Journal, 15 Jan. 1844; “Wood Chopping,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 17 Jan. 1844, [2].
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
- [663]
Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Isaac Morley, Morley Settlement, IL, 15 Jan. 1844, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
Go to page