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 15> we wish to forcibly impress the matter upon your minds, hoping you will become aroused to a sense of your duty; that every company of saints, every elder that comes here, and every mail, may bring money and other property for this important work, which [HC 6:266] when completed will stand, in one sense of the word, as a firm pillar in Zion, and which will greatly facilitate the prosperity of the great cause of truth, which we all are actively engaged in.”
<16.> Saturday 16. At home, at 1 p. m. I sat in Council with , and .
The Female relief Society had two meetings in the Assembly room, as it would not hold all at once and sanctioned the “Voice of Innocence from ”.
<17.> Sunday 17. Last night was visited by a very strong wind from the west; it blew down <a portion of the west wall of> the New Hall, (28 by 40 feet on the ground.<> which the Seventies had commenced on Bain Street, and they had raised ready for the roof.
The wind continued very strong all day. In the evening had a smart snow storm, which covered the ground, <and was> succeeded by a frosty night.
Attended prayer meeting.
<18.> Monday 18. The frost of last night was so severe, as to form ice inside the houses.
I staid at home to recite German with .
<19.> Tuesday 19. Met in Council in the Assembly room. Elders , , , , , , and met in Council in addition to the former names.
In the afternoon heavy driving rain. N. W. Wind, dull cold day.
<20.> Wednesday 20. Severe cold N. W. Wind with a Snow and Hail Storm until 10 a. m. afternoon dull. W. Wind.
Spent the morning and afternoon in the Assembly room studying the languages. [HC 6:267]
read me a letter which he had written to Col. concerning his nomination to be a candidate for the Vice President of the
The Illinois register has the following.
General Joseph Smith a Candidate for President.
It appears by the Papers that the Mormon Prophet is actually a Candidate for the Presidency. He has sent us his pamphlet, containing an extract of his principles; from which it appears that he is up to the hub for a United States Bank and a Protective tariff. On these points, he is much more explicit than , who will not say that he is for a bank, but talks all the time of “restoring a national currency;” nor will say what kind of tariff he is for. He says to the South, that he has not sufficiently examined the present tariff, but thinks very likely it could be amended.
Gen. Smith professes no such fastidious delicacy. He comes [p. 1933]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [871]
See 16 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [872]
JS, Journal, 16–17 Mar. 1844.
- [873]
See 17 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [874]
Bullock, Journal, 17 Mar. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
- [875]
JS, Journal, 16–17 Mar. 1844.
- [876]
See 18 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [877]
JS, Journal, 18–19 Mar. 1844; Council of Fifty Minutes, “Record,” 19 Mar. 1844; Clayton, Journal, 19 Mar. 1844.
Council of Fifty. “Record of the Council of Fifty or Kingdom of God,” Mar. 1844–Jan. 1846. CHL.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [878]
See 19 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [879]
Bullock, Journal, 19 Mar. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
- [880]
See 20 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [881]
Bullock, Journal, 20 Mar. 1844; Woodruff, Journal, 20 Mar. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [882]
JS, Journal, 20 Mar. 1844; Wilford Woodruff to Solomon Copeland, 19 Mar. 1844.
- [883]
“General Joseph Smith a Candidate for President,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 20 Mar. 1844, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
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