History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
Source Note
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of , , Jonathan Grimshaw, and ; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “’s forces” at , Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop at , Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.
Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author. , , , and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.
The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in by the and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to ; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch ; the establishment of the city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo ; the expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.
<April 9> to be our agent and Representative in foreign lands, to visit the cities of , Amsterdam, Constantinople and ; and also other places that he may deem expedient, and converse with the priests, rulers and Elders of the Jews, and obtain from them all the information possible, and communicate the same to some principal paper for publication, that it may have a general circulation throughout the . As has willingly and cheerfully accepted the appointment to become our Servant, and the servant of the public in distant and foreign countries for Christ’s sake, we do confidently recommend him to all religious and christian people, and to gentlemen and ladies, making no profession, as a worthy member of society, possessing much zeal to promote the happiness of mankind, fully believing that they will be forward to render him all the pecuniary aid he needs, to accomplish this laborious and hazardous mission for the general good of the human family. Ministers of every denomination, upon whom . shall call, are requested to hold up his hands and aid him by their influence, with an assurance that such as do this, shall have the prayers and blessings of a poor and an afflicted people whose blood has flowed to test the depths of their sincerity, and to crimson the face of freedom’s soil with Martyrs blood. is instructed by this conference to transmit to this country nothing but simple facts for publication, entirely disconnected with any peculiar views of theology, leaving each class to make their own comments, and draw their own inferences. Given under our hands <at the time and place before mentioned, Joseph Smith Jr. Chairman, , Clerk.”> [HC 4:113]
So emaciated was President , at this time, from his long sickness and journey that when returned home, this day, from a Mission to Clitheroe, and found him in his room he did not know him.
See 12 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<12> Sunday 12 Several of Twelve bore their public testimony to the Gospel <in the Cockpit .>
The High Council of met at my house, when I proposed that Brother go East with to settle some business transactions of the Church, which the Council sanctioned, and voted “that President Joseph Smith Junr. make the necessary credentials for and ”—
See 13 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<13> Monday 13. From the second of October 1839 to this date there have been 145 Shocks of Earthquakes in Scotland reported by Mr. Milne to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Some of these shocks were sufficient to alter the natural levels of the ground more than two degrees, and some witnesses thought four degrees, and cause houses to rock like boats on the Sea—
See 14 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<14> Tuesday 14 A council of the Twelve, namely , , , , <> , and , was held at the house of in England. when was ordained to the Apostleship (agreeably to the Revelation) by , under the hands of the Quorum present— Other business was transacted, as also on the following days, all which may be seen by reference to ’s letter of the 17th. instant.
See 15 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<15> Wednesday 15 Elder left for —
See 16 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<16> Thursday 16 Elder met with at —
See 17 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
<17> Friday 17
“ England April 17— 1840. To the Saints in the — For the Comfort of the Church in general — — — — — — I attempt to address a few lines [HC 4:114] to you, to let you know where we are, [p. 1048]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [621]
See 12 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [622]
Young, Journal, 12 Apr. 1840, p. [25].
Historian’s Office. “History of Brigham Young.” In Manuscript History of Brigham Young, ca. 1856–1860, vol. 1, pp. 1–104. CHL. CR 100 150, box 1, fd. 1.
- [623]
- [624]
See 13 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [625]
See 14 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [626]
Richards, Journal, 14 Apr. 1849; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 14 Apr. 1840; Brigham Young, “From England,” 17 Apr. 1840, Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:119.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [627]
See 15 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [628]
See 16 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [629]
Orson Hyde and John E. Page, Quincy, IL, 28 Apr. 1840, Letter to the Editor, Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:116–117.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [630]
See 17 Apr. 1840 entry in History Draft.
- [631]
Brigham Young, “From England,” 17 Apr. 1840, Times and Seasons, June 1840, 1:119–122.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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