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.
<July 12> had in their power, and fed the victims with their flesh; that they glutted their diabolical lust on defenceless innocence, and violated female chastity in a manner too horrid to relate; that in their mock tribunals they refused all testimony in favor of the accused, and thrust their witnesses into prison; that after robbing them of their property, they drove 15,000 persons from the ; that they cried to the authorities of that for redress, and from them to Congress; but the echo from both was, we can render you no assistance.”
Elders , and arrived in Louisville, and visited Mr. Porter, the Kentucky Baby, 7 feet 7 inches high and weighing 250 lbs.
having published a garbled statement of my arrest in the “Old School Democrat,” was replied to by in the same paper. [HC 5:508]
<13.—> I was in conversation with most of the day; and approved of the revised laws of the Legion.
The Legion authorized the issuing of legion scrip to the amount of $500.—
returned from , and reported that the was gone to , and he therefore left the affidavits in the care of ; (having started with an old decrepit animal and rode him all the way there and back again) he also reported that Gen. of had started from for .
, Q. S. Sparkes and preached at Cabbotville, Mass. While was preaching, some person threw stones through the windows and one hit on the thigh. The mob threw stones at them when they left the room, which flew like hail, but did not injure the brethren.
<14.—> Spent the day at home. I was visited by a number of Gentlemen and ladies who arrived from on a Steam boat. they manifested kind feelings.
started on a<n> <excursion> to the <Western Country.>. [HC 5:509]
<15.—> Spent the day at home. Weather very hot.
Deeded my half share in the Steam boat maid of Iowa, and also sixty city lots to . A shower this morning wet the ground one inch.
at 6 p.m., went with my family and about 100 others on a pleasure excursion on the “Maid of Iowa” from the to the North part of the and returned at dusk.
A theatrical performance in the evening by Mr. Chapman.
<16.—> Preached in <the> morning and evening at the stand in the , near and west of the , concerning a man’s foes being they of his own household; the same Spirit that crucified Jesus, is in the breasts of some who profess to be Saints, in , such as I have in secret enemies in the , intermingling with the Saints, &c.. Said I would not prophesy any more and proposed to hold the office of Prophet to the , as it was his birthright. I am going to have a reformation, and the Saints must regard , for he has the authority, that I might be a Priest of the Most High God; and slightly touched upon the subject of the Everlasting covenant, shewing that a man and his wife must enter into that covenant in this world or he will have no claim on her in the next world; but on account of the unbelief of the people, I cannot reveal the fulness of these things at present. [p. 1675]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [62]
Woodruff, Journal, 12 July 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [63]
Willard Richards, Nauvoo, IL, to Brigham Young, New York City, 18 July 1843, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
- [64]
See 13 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [65]
JS, Journal, 13 July 1843.
- [66]
Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 13 July 1843, 65.
Nauvoo Legion Minute Book, 1843–1844. Nauvoo Legion, Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430, fd. 1.
- [67]
JS, Journal, 13 July 1843.
- [68]
Rogers, Journal, 13 Aug. 1843.
Rogers, Noah. Journal, 1843–1845. CHL. MS 1389.
- [69]
See 14 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [70]
TEXT: Insertion written above an illegible cancellation of several words.
- [71]
TEXT: Insertion written above an illegible cancellation of several words.
- [72]
See 15 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [73]
JS, Journal, 15 July 1843.
- [74]
See 16 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [75]
JS, Journal, 16 July 1843; Clayton, Journal, 16 July 1843; Willard Richards, Nauvoo, IL, to Brigham Young, New York City, 18 July 1843, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.
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