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.
<March 7.> do away this evil. As soon as was annexed, I would liberate the slaves in two or three States, indemnifying their owners, and send the Negroes to , and from to Mexico, where all colors are alike. And if that was not sufficient, I would call upon and annex it.
Singing by the choir.
Prayer by President .
The Barque Fanny Captain <Patterson> arrived at with <210 Souls> led by Elder William Kay, they express in a letter to the Millennial Star, that no people ever had a more prosperous voyage, than the Lord has favored this company with, and such a Captain and crew for kindness could scarcely be met with, the Captain frequently administering from the Cabin stores unto the necessities of all who required it—
Elder published an address to the Inhabitants of .
<8.> Friday 8. Very heavy rain all night, accompanied by thunder.
arrived from the .
At 10 a. m. my scribe called to tell me that was a native of Ireland and therefore was not constitutionally elligible to be the Vice President— he wanted to know who should be nominated for Vice President, I told him to Council with others on that [HC 6:244] point; when he said he would call a Council this evening.
At 7 p.m. The first Presidency, the Twelve, , , , and assembled in the Mayors , when read the following pacific communication which I had previously dictated him to write:
“A friendly hint to .
One of the most pleasing scenes that can transpire on earth, is, when a sin has been committed by one person against another, to forgive that sin: and then, according to the sublime and perfect pattern of the Savior, pray to our Father in heaven, to forgive also. Verily, verily such a friendly rebuke is like the mellow zephyr of summer’s eve; it soothes; it cheers and gladdens the heart of the humane and the savage.— Well might the wise man exclaim: “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” for men of sense, judgment, and observation, in all the various periods of time, have been witnesses, figuratively speaking, that water not wood, checks the rage of fire.
Jesus said, “blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God;”— wherefore if the nation, a single state, community, or family ought to be greatful for anything, it is peace. Peace, lovely child of heaven; peace, like light from the same great parent, gratifies, animates, and happifies the just and the unjust, and is the very essence of happiness below, and bliss above. He that does not strive with all his powers of body and mind: with all his influence at home and abroad, and to cause others to do so too, to seek peace, and maintain it for his own benefit and convenience, and for the honor of his state, nation and country, has no claim on [p. 1914]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [826]
“Barque Fanny,” LDS Millennial Star, Apr. 1844, 4:202.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
- [827]
Page, An Address to thh [the] Inhabitants and Sojourners of Washington, 1–4.
Page, John E. An Address to thh [the] Inhabitants and Sojourners of Washington, to His Excellency the President of the United States, the Honorable Senators and Representatives in Congress, and All Rev. Divines, Magistrates, Landlords, Merchants, Artists, Mechanics, Laborers, Soldiers, Marines, and the World at Large. [Washington DC]: [1844].
- [828]
See 8 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [829]
Bullock, Journal, 8 Mar. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
- [830]
JS, Journal, 8 Mar. 1844.
- [831]
“A Friendly Hint to Missouri,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1844, 5:473–474.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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