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.
[4 lines blank]
<6.> Wednesday 6. Went to my , and thence with to Mr. Bryant’s, to see him about his uniting with and others to resist the ordinance of the .
The Neighbor publishes the name of as Candidate for Vice President.
<7.> Thursday 7. A splendid <day> wind from the South West.
Minutes of a General Meeting. Reported by Elders and .
“A vast assembly of Saints met at the of the Lord at 9 o’clock A. M. by a special appointment of President Joseph Smith, for the purpose of advancing the progress of the &c.
The Patriarch, was present, also of the Twelve Apostles , , , , , , and ; also the Temple Committee and about eight thousand Saints.
A hymn was sung by the choir prayer by Elder ; when another hymn was sung.
Patriarch took the and said
‘The object of the meeting is to stir up your minds by way of remembrance. It is necessary to have a starting point which is to build the . With the assistance of the sisters we expect to get the nails and glass, and with the assistance of the brethren we expect to do the rest. I will proclaim in public and in private that the sisters bought the glass and nails by penny subscription. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.
We shall call upon this vast multitude for a donation to buy powder and fuse rope to blast the rocks in the quarry. We want the brethren to at least do as much as the sisters. [HC 6:236] We do not intend to finish the this season, but to take all the hands and finish the this summer, or the walls of it, and get the roof on by December and do off the inside next winter, and about a year from this spring we will dedicate it. We can do anything we undertake, we have power and we can do great things. In five years to come the work will progress more than it has done for ten years past. Isaiah said we should perform a marvellous work and a wonder. I don’t wonder he said so, if he saw this vast multitude, and I think this people is abundantly able to build this , and much depends upon it for our endowments, and sealing powers and many blessings depend upon it.
President Joseph Smith then arrived, took the stand arose, and after requesting to come to the and take his post, said:
I do not know whether the object of the meeting has [p. 1907]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [820]
See 6 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [821]
JS, Journal, 6 Mar. 1844.
- [822]
“For President, Gen. Joseph Smith,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 6 Mar. 1844, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
- [823]
See 7 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [824]
Bullock, Journal, 7 Mar. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
- [825]
JS, Journal, 7 Mar. 1844; Woodruff, Journal, 7 Mar. 1844; Historian’s Office, Sermon Book, 25–30.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Historian’s Office. Sermon Book / Historian’s Office. “Sermons by Joseph Smit[h] and Others,” ca. 1854–ca. 1856. Verso of Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, CHL.
Go to page