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.
<April 28> , . presiding, when a quorum of High Priests was organized, consisting of 31 members. , President, Philip Gardner and Joseph S. Allen his Counsellors, and James C. Snow, Clerk.
There was a meeting at ’s, near the Saw Mill, of those who had been cut off from the Church, and their dupes. Several affidavits which they had taken against me and others were read. , [HC 6:346] , , , and were appointed a Committee to visit the different families in the , and see who would join the new church, (i.e.) as they had decided that I was a fallen prophet &c. and they appointed in my place, who choose and as his Counselors. and to be two of the Twelve apostles &c. &c., as report says.
Elder preached up Joseph in the forenoon <bearing a faithful testimony of the truth of the work, and my being a true prophet;> and in the afternoon, joined the anties: they choose chose , Bishop.
<A conference was held in Sheffield, England, representing 215 members, 7 elders, 10 priests, 5 teachers, and 3 deacons.>
See 29 Apr. 1844 entry in History Draft.
<29> Monday 29. At home, received a visit rom of , who gave me a gold pencil case, sent me by brother Theodore Curtis, who is now in , and the first words I wrote with it, were “God bless the man”.
At 11 a. m. came up for trial. I transferred the case to Alderman : objected to the jurisdiction of the court— also to an informality in the Writ &c.
The court decided he had not jurisdiction. Esq [blank] Noble from Rock river assisted the city attorney. was present.
I called a special Session of the city Council at 3½ p. m. when it was voted that take the place of during his absence this season,— also in place of . in place of , in place of —, in place of as Councillors in the city Council, and as Alderman in place of .
Lieut. Williams filed his affidavit versus Major [HC 6:347] General , and he was suspended from office to await his trial before a court Martial of the Legion, for ungentlemanly conduct &c. and he was notified of his command in the Legion being suspended, and was notified to take command— and also notified seven officers to sit as a Court Martial.
was suspended for trial about the same time
Steamer “Mermaid” touched at at 5 p. m, for a short time when going down.
published the following in the Neighbor:
“All is peace at among the Saints:
But, , I wish you to give the following outrage an insertion, in the Neighbor, that the public mind may be disabused and the disgrace and shame fall on those who have justly [p. 2026]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
JS, Journal, 28 Apr. 1844.
“Reports of Conferences,” LDS Millennial Star, July 1844, 5:27–28.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
See 29 Apr. 1844 entry in History Draft.
JS, Journal, 29 Apr. 1844.
Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 29 Apr. 1844, 10–11; “Doings of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [2].
Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Books, 1841–1845. Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800, box 1, fds. 2-5.
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
JS, Journal, 29 Apr. 1844; Richards, Journal, 29 Apr. 1844.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
“All Is Peace at Nauvoo Among the Saints,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 1 May 1844, [3].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
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