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 29> and not the people called him. Had the people gathered together, and appointed one of their number to be a Prophet, he would have been accountable to the people; but inasmuch as he was called by God and not the people, he is accountable to God only, and the Angel who committed the Gospel to him, and not to any man on earth. The Twelve [HC 5:521] are accountable to the Prophet and not to the church, for the course they pursue, and we have learned to go and do as the Prophet tells us.
met in Utica, Elder in the chair; four branches were represented, containing 7 Elders, 5 , 6 , 2 and 159 members; 1 Elder, 2 priests, 1 Teacher and 1 Deacon were .
<30.—> Sunday— I was very sick, my lungs oppressed, and over heated thro’ preaching last Sunday, and called for my brother , , and to lay on hands and pray for me.
preached in the morning. After preaching, called a special to appoint Recorders for for the dead. having started on his mission to Ireland, was appointed General church Recorder,
and , , and Recorders for the Baptisms for the dead. In the afternoon the Clerks met to organize and prepare for their duties. [HC 5:522]
Brothers and preached in the morning; and in the afternoon; and in the evening, in the Temperance hall in .
A Conference was held in Briton, Michigan when was chosen President, and nine were represented, comprising 5 Elders, 6 , 7 , 1 and 225 members.
<31.> Monday.— My health improving, I went to the Prairie sold 100 acres of land, and called at my .
Wrote to .
I copy from ’s Journal:—
“Our assembled and walked over ; we first visited Mr. Curling’s Glass Works, and saw them at work through each branch; we saw them make pressed, stamped and plain tumblers, large Jars, &c. We next went on the bluff above the and had a view of the New basin, that is to contain the water to be forced into it from the Alleghany river to water the . From this place we had a fair view of the below; it truly sends forth its columns of smoke and blackness that arise from the coal fires which propel the numerous engines that are the main spring of all the foundries, manufactories, and works of the great city of . <(¶> We then descended the hill and visited the water works or reservoir. The building is 150 feet long, 110 feet wide, and contains two engines of 200 horse power each, to drive a force pump to force the water from the Alleghany river into the Basin on the Bluff to supply the wants of the citizens. The whole cost of this building, reservoir, and basin was $200,000. The building is after the Roman order. The whole architecture, design, making and finishing the building was executed by Charles Beck, a member of the . We [p. 1685]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [125]
Minutes, Utica, NY, 29 July 1843, in Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1843; 4:300–302.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [126]
See 30 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [127]
JS, Journal, 30 July 1843; Richards, Journal, 30 July 1843.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
- [128]
TEXT: Arrow indicates this line to be moved to above.
- [129]
Woodruff, Journal, 30 July 1843; Young, Journal, 30 July 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Young, Brigham. Journals, 1832–1877. Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1, boxes 71–73.
- [130]
Minutes, Briton, MI, 28–30 July 1843, in Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1843, 4:299–300.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [131]
See 31 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [132]
JS, Journal, 31 July 1843; Clayton, Journal, 31 July 1843; Richards, Journal, 31 July 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
- [133]
Woodruff, Journal, 31 July 1843; Young, Journal, 31 July 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Young, Brigham. Journals, 1832–1877. Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1, boxes 71–73.
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