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 20.> 10 p. m: commenced snowing again.
<21.> Thursday 21. A cold snow storm thro<ugh> the night.
In Council in the Assembly room, discussing the propriety of petitioning Congress for the privilege of raising troops to protect the making of settlements in the uncivilized portions of our Continent.
[5 lines blank]
was appointed a Committee to draw up a Memorial to Congress. [HC 6:270]
<22.> Friday 22. Snow on the ground, cold bleak N. Wind— cloudy.
At 10 a. m. held Mayor’s court, <and>
Afterwards read German in the reading room.
In the afternoon met with the Twelve in prayer, at Prest. ’s house.
I advised the Seventies to pull down the <remainder of the> walls and rebuild the Seventies’ Hall on a permanent basis from the foundation, and not erect for themselves a trap, but build one two stories high, and strong enough to stand for a generation.
<23.> Saturday 23. Day warmer— rode out with to endeavor to raise money to furnish the hands in the with supplies. Visited the and public works.
also called with and at ’s; he was gone to Appanoose and Mrs. [Sarah Phinney] Foster was at Mr. Gilmans. I here extract from ’s journal.
“We went down there and saw her. Prest. Joseph asked sister Foster if she ever in her life knew him guilty of an immoral or indecent act. She answered No. He then explained his reasons for asking, which were he had been informed that had stated, that Joseph made propositions to his wife calculated to lead her astray from the path of virtue. and then asked if ever he had used any indecent or insulting language to her— She answered never. He further asked if he ever preached any thing like the Plurality of wife doctrine to her, other than what he had preached in public— she said No! He asked her if he ever proposed to have illicit intercourse with her, and especially when he took dinner during the ’s absence— she said No. After some further conversation on the subject, we left, Mrs. Gilman was present all the time. Prest. Joseph and then went on foot to the ”
<24.> Sunday 24. At 10 a. m. met at the near the [HC 6:271] . The following very brief outline of the speeches is from the Journal of
“President Joseph Smith addressed the people; the following is the substance of what I heard him say:—
I have been informed by two gentlemen that a conspiracy is [p. 1936]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [888]
Clayton, Journal, 20 Mar. 1844.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [889]
See 21 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [890]
Woodruff, Journal, 20 Mar. 1844.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [891]
JS, Journal, 21 Mar. 1844; Council of Fifty Minutes, “Record,” 21 Mar. 1844.
Council of Fifty. “Record of the Council of Fifty or Kingdom of God,” Mar. 1844–Jan. 1846. CHL.
- [892]
See 22 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [893]
Bullock, Journal, 22 Mar. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
- [894]
JS, Journal, 22 Mar. 1844.
- [895]
TEXT: Arrow drawn to line below indicating there should be no paragraph break.
- [896]
Woodruff, Journal, 22 Mar. 1844.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [897]
See 23 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [898]
JS, Journal, 23 Mar. 1844; Clayton, Journal, 23 Mar. 1844.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [899]
See 24 Mar. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [900]
JS, Journal, 24 Mar. 1844.
- [901]
Woodruff, Journal, 24 Mar. 1844.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
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