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.
<August 12> of County Commissioner’s court, they went to to give bonds, and take oath of office. When before the Court, , , Franklin J. Morrill [Worrell], one Prentice, and 12 or 15 others, came in armed with hickory clubs, knives, dirks and pistols, and told the court they must not approve their bonds or swear them into office; if they did, blood would be spilt; and pledged their word, honor and reputation, to keep them out of office and put down the Mormons. The bonds however were accepted, and the mob gave notice of a meeting of the anti-Mormons of for Saturday next, to consider about the Mormons retaining their offices.
was sworn into office as Recorder of the city of . [HC 5:528]
<13.—> Sunday— “I went to the stand<——> <I went to the stand> on Sunday morning August 13th 1843 <and preached> on the death of . <a synopsis of which <was> <was> reported by my Clerk Dr. .>
Brethren and Sisters, you will find these words in 2 Peter, 3rd. ch. 10, 11 vs:
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.”
I am not like other men; my mind is continually occupied with the business of the day, and I have to depend entirely upon the living God for every thing I say on such occasions as these.
The great thing for us to know is to comprehend what God did institute before the foundation of the world. Who knows it? It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes, and set bounds to the work and ways of the Almighty.
We are called this morning to mourn the death of a just and good man— a great and mighty man. It is a solemn idea that man has no hope of seeing a friend after he has lost him; but I will give you a more painful thought; it is simple; for I never design to communicate any ideas but what are simple, for to this end I am sent. Suppose you have an idea of a resurrection &c. &c., and yet know nothing at all [HC 5:529] of the Gospel, nor comprehend one principle of the order of heaven, but find yourselves disappointed— Yes, at last find yourselves disappointed in every hope or anticipation, when the decision goes forth from the lips of the Almighty— would not this be a greater disappointment, a more painful thought than annihilation?
Had I inspiration, revelation, and lungs to communicate what my soul has contemplated in times past, there is not a soul in this congregation but would go to their homes, and shut their mouths in everlasting silence on religion till they had learned something.
Why be so certain that you comprehend the things of God, when all things with you are so uncertain. You are welcome to all the knowledge and intelligence I can impart to you.
I do not grudge the world of all the religion they have got; they are welcome to all the knowledge they possess.
The sound saluted my ears, we are come unto Mount Zion, the city [p. 1689]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [167]
Richards, Journal, 12 Aug. 1843.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
- [168]
See 13 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [169]
JS, Journal, 13 Aug. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 13 Aug. 1843; “Discourse by President Joseph Smith on Sunday August 13th. 1843,” JS Collection, CHL.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.
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