History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell,
Leo Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
View Full Bio
, 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

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
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
View Full Bio
, who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
View Full Bio
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
Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
View Full Bio
’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
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
More Info
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
Hyrum Smith
9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...
View Full Bio
and
William Clayton
17 July 1814–4 Dec. 1879. Bookkeeper, clerk. Born at Charnock Moss, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. Son of Thomas Clayton and Ann Critchley. Married Ruth Moon, 9 Oct. 1836, at Penwortham. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Heber...
View Full Bio
.

• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
View Full Bio
and revocation of his priesthood license.

• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by
Addison Pratt
21 Feb. 1802–14 Oct. 1872. Sailor, farmer, carpenter. Born in Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Henry Pratt and Rebekah Jewell. Married Louisa Barnes, 3 Apr. 1831, in Dunham, Lower Canada. Settled on banks of Lake Erie, in New York, where he...
View Full Bio
.

• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of
George J. Adams
7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...
View Full Bio
’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
Sidney Rigdon
19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...
View Full Bio
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
Vermont
Area served as early thoroughfare for traveling Indian tribes. French explored area, 1609, and erected fort on island in Lake Champlain, 1666. First settled by Massachusetts emigrants, 1724. Claimed by British colonies of New York and New Hampshire, but during...
More Info
, inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.

• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by
Eliza R. Snow
21 Jan. 1804–5 Dec. 1887. Poet, teacher, seamstress, milliner. Born in Becket, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Daughter of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Moved to Mantua, Trumbull Co., Ohio, ca. 1806. Member of Baptist church. Baptized into Church...
View Full Bio
commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by
Lorenzo Snow
3 Apr. 1814–10 Oct. 1901. Schoolteacher. Born in Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio. Son of Oliver Snow and Rosetta Leonora Pettibone. Attended Oberlin College. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John F. Boynton, 19 June 1836, in Kirtland...
View Full Bio
.

• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the
United States
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
More Info
.

• An account of JS’s
King Follett
24/26 July 1788–9 Mar. 1844. Born at Winchester, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of John Follett and Hannah Oak (Oake) Alexander. Married Louisa Tanner, by 1815. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spring 1831. Member of Whitmer branch...
View Full Bio
sermon, 7 April 1844.

Hide editing marks

<September 9> the Mill; then it has to go through the smut machine, then ground, then put through the bolting Machine, and many will bolt, in going through. I speak in parables— I compare the Saints to a good cow; when you milk her clean she will always have an abundance of milk to give; but if you only milk her a little, and don’t strip her, she will soon dry up. So with the Saints if they do but little in building up Zion they soon have but little to do with; this was the case in . [10 words illegible] <The night before arriving at I had a dream while on the Steamboat;> I dreamt that I had a wagon with a rack on it, and an individual with me. We were going to a field of Wheat of mine that had been cut, bound and shocked up, in order to haul in to the barn; when we came to the field, I jumped off the wagon and got over the fence to examine it, pulled off the cap sheaf and behold it was oats, pulling the bundles apart I found there were clusters of rats: on further examination I found clusters of Mice, and the oats were all eaten up.

In my dream I was going to haul in wheat, but to my astonishment it was Oats, and they were all eaten up by the Rats and mice.

I thought these rats and mice were the Elders and official Members who had been in and lain on the church at , lived on the Wheat,— eaten them up instead of building up new branches; so that when the Twelve came along they could not get any thing for the or , or hardly a place to stay; the rats had eaten up the Wheat; so we had to go to the World for a home to stay while we were there.

We do not profess to be polished stones like Elders , , and &c. but we are rough stones out of the Mountain, and when we roll through the forest, and knock the bark from the trees, it does not hurt us even if we should get a corner knocked off occasionally; for the more we roll about, and knock the corners off, the better we are, but if we were polished and smooth when we get the corners knocked off it would deface us. Joseph Smith never professed to be a dressed, smooth, polished stone, but to have kicked himself rough out of the mountain; and he has been rolling among the rocks and trees, yet it has not hurt him at all; but he will be as smooth and polished in the end as any other stone, while many who were so very polished and smooth in the beginning get badly defaced and spoiled while they are rolling about.”

Elder said:

“Some are going to Zion, and the rest [HC 6:21] want to know what they shall do. The Lord through Jeremiah, 3 ch. 14 v— says “I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion; and I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Inasmuch as you hearken to council you will know what the will of the Lord is concerning you in all things. Meet often together to worship God, and to speak to each other of the things of God. Gather as soon as you can— come up to the mountain of the Lord’s House, and there learn of these things, that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.”

Elder said:

“I do not know that I can say anything to impress the subjects which have been spoken upon more fully upon your [p. 1725]

September 9 the Mill; then it has to go through the smut machine, then ground, then put through the bolting Machine, and many will bolt, in going through. I speak in parables— I compare the Saints to a good cow; when you milk her clean she will always have an abundance of milk to give; but if you only milk her a little, and don’t strip her, she will soon dry up. So with the Saints if they do but little in building up Zion they soon have but little to do with; this was the case in . The night before arriving at I had a dream while on the Steamboat; I dreamt that I had a wagon with a rack on it, and an individual with me. We were going to a field of Wheat of mine that had been cut, bound and shocked up, in order to haul in to the barn; when we came to the field, I jumped off the wagon and got over the fence to examine it, pulled off the cap sheaf and behold it was oats, pulling the bundles apart I found there were clusters of rats: on further examination I found clusters of Mice, and the oats were all eaten up.

In my dream I was going to haul in wheat, but to my astonishment it was Oats, and they were all eaten up by the Rats and mice.

Elder said:

“I do not know that I can say anything to impress the subjects which have been spoken upon more fully upon your [p. 1725]

View entire transcript |

Cite this page

History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]

Cite this page

Request for Documents