History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844]
-
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. F-1, created 9 Apr.–7 June 1856 and 20 Aug. 1856–6 Nov. 1856; handwriting of and Jonathan Grimshaw; 304 pages, plus 10 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the final volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This sixth volume covers the period from 1 May to 8 Aug. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1 through E-1, go through 30 Apr. 1844.
-
Historical Introduction
History, 1838-1856, volume F-1, constitutes the last 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 May 1844 to the events following his 27 June 1844 death, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in 1856.The material recorded in volume F-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin, and also assistant church historian . Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the volume and creating a set of draft notes, which Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks. Woodruff gathered additional material concerning the death of Joseph Smith as a supplement to George A. Smith’s work recording that event. Jonathan Grimshaw and , members of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed the draft notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents.According to the Historian’s Office journal, Jonathan Grimshaw initiated work on the text of volume F-1 on 9 April 1856, soon after Robert L. Campbell had completed work on volume E-1. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.) Grimshaw’s scribal work begins with an entry for 1 May 1844. Unlike previous volumes in which the numbering had run consecutively to page 2028, Grimshaw began anew with page 1. He transcribed 150 pages by June 1856, and his last entry was for 23 June 1844. Though more of his writing does not appear in the volume, he continued to work in the office until 2 August, before leaving for the East that same month. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 and 10 Aug. 1856.)assumed the role of scribe on 20 August 1856. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 20 Aug. 1856.) He incorporated ’s draft notes for the period 24–29 June 1844 on pages 151–189, providing an account of JS’s death and its immediate aftermath. He next transcribed a related extract from ’s 1854 History of Illinois on pages 190–204. Pages 205–227 were left blank.provided the notes for the final portion of the text. This account begins with an entry for 22 June 1844 and continues the record through 8 August 1844, ending on page 304. (The volume also included ten pages of addenda.) The last specific entry in the Historian’s Office journal that captures at work on the history is for 6 November 1856. A 2 February 1857 Wilford Woodruff letter to indicates that on 30 January 1857, the “presidency sat and heard the history read up to the organization of the church in , 8th. day of August 1844.” (Historian’s Office, Journal, 6 Nov. 1856; Wilford Woodruff, Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to George A. Smith, 2 Feb. 1857, Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, p. 410; see also Wilford Woodruff, Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, to Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich, 28 Feb. 1857, Historian’s Office, Letterpress Copybooks, vol. 1, pp. 430–431.)The pages of volume F-1 contain a record of the final weeks of JS’s life and the events of the ensuing days. The narrative commences with and arriving at , Illinois, on 1 May 1844 from their lumber-harvesting mission in the “” of Wisconsin Territory. As the late spring and summer of 1844 unfold, events intensify, especially those surrounding the suppression of the Nauvoo Expositor in mid-June. Legal action over the Expositor leads to a charge of riot, and subsequently JS is charged with treason and is incarcerated at the jail in , Illinois. The narrative of volume F-1 concludes with an account of the special church conference convened on 8 August 1844 to consider who should assume the leadership of the church.
June 30 which they promised to do.
Col. Richardson agreed to use all his influence to stay all illegal writs, and all writs for the present.
requested a guard might be sent to Golden’s Point, to protect the people there from the Mob.
Father was present, and spoke of the destruction of crops by the troops.
We extract from ’s Journal:—
“The Boston branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and many elders from various parts, met in Conference in Franklin Hall, , on the 29th day of June 1844.
“Present: a majority of the Quorum of the Twelve, viz., Prest , Presiding, Elders , , , , and .
C”onference opened by prayer.
“Elder occupied the forenoon in an interesting manner.
“Elders , and severally addressed the meeting in the afternoon, much to the edification of the people.
“Resolved that James H. Glines and William Henderson be ordained elders: they were ordained under the hands of Elders and .
“Conference adjourned till Sunday morning.
“The Twelve met in Council in the evening.
“30th. 10 a. m. Conference met pursuant to adjournment.
“Elder addressed the meeting, and ably removed the objections generally urged against new revelation.
“In the afternoon Elder preached on the immortality of the body and the spirit, and also the principle of charity, connecting it with baptism for the dead.
“In the evening Elder preached from the words of Jesus: ‘Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.’
“The house was full through the day and evening, and much instruction was given during the conference by those who spoke”
July 1 Monday 1. A. Jonas and Col. Fellows arrived in , with a message from the to the City Council. We copy their instructions: [HC 7:149]
“Colonel Fellows and Captain Jonas are requested to proceed by the first boat to and ascertain what is the feeling, disposition, and determination of the people there, in reference to the late disturbances, ascertain whether any of them propose in any manner to revenge themselves, whether any threats have been used, and what is proposed generally, to be done by them. They are also requested to return to and make similar inquiries there; ascertain how far false rumors have been put afloat for the purpose of raising forces; what is the purpose of the militia assembled, whether any attack is intended on . Ascertain also, whether any persons from or intend to take part in the matter, and in my name forbid any such interference, without my request, on pain of being demanded for punishment.
”
“June 30th 1844” [p. 242]
View entire transcript |
Cite this page
Cite this page
