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 9.> pay a tax for the landing of every boat— and they could tax the boat or not as they liked.
The Female Relief Society met twice in the Assembly room and sanctioned “the voice of Innocence” and then adjourned for one week to accommodate others who could not get into the room at either of the meetings.
Our worthy brother died this morning occasioned by the accidental breaking of a rope and the falling of a bucket of rock upon <him>— while < engaged in walling up a well, and the> men above were in the act of lowering it <the rock to him.> [HC 6:248]
was one of those who bore the burden, in common with others of his brethren, in the days when men’s faith was put to the test. He was a native of , and moved many years since into Cuyahoga <Co. Ohio>. There, for the first time he heard the gospel preached, united with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in the Spring of 1831, and has been a sharer in the afflictions through which the saints have passed from that <time> until the time of his death. He shared in the violence of the persecutions; was cast into prison, and endured many months imprisonment; and after long delay, obtained a trial on the charges preferred against him, and <was> honorably discharged, being acquitted of all the crimes that a band of wicked persecutors could charge him with.
All the persecutions he endured only tended to strengthen his faith and confirm his hope; and he died as he had lived, rejoicing in the hope of future felicity.— Having united with the church in the forty-first year of his age, he filled up the prime of his life in the service of his God, and went to rest in his fifty sixth year; being fifty five years seven months and fourteen days old when he slept the sleep of death.
So the righteous pass and so they sleep, until the mandate of Him, for whom they suffer, and in whom they trust, shall call them forth to glory, honor, immortality and eternal life.
See 10 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
<10.> Sunday 10. Frost in the night, beautiful day. S. wind.
Brother was buried this day with Masonic honors. He was killed while at work in a well by a tub filled with stone falling on him.
I attended. meeting at the and preached on the subject of Elias, Elijah and Messiah a sketch of which was reported by Elder as follows.
“There is a difference between the Spirit and office of Elias and Elijah. It is the spirit of Elias I wish first to speak of, and in order to come at the subject, I will bring some of the testimony from the Scripture, and give my own. In the first place suffice it to say, I went into the woods to enquire of [HC 6:249] the Lord by prayer his will concerning me, and I saw an angel, and he laid his hands upon my head, and ordained me to be a priest after the order of Aaron, and to hold the keys of this priesthood, which office was to preach repentance [p. 1918]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
JS, Journal, 9 Mar. 1844.
Obituary for King Follett, Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Mar. 1844, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
See 10 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
Bullock, Journal, 10 Mar. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
Obituary for King Follett, Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Mar. 1844, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
JS, Journal, 10 Mar. 1844.
Woodruff, Journal, 10 Mar. 1844; Historian’s Office, Sermon Book, 46–52.
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.
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