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.
<June 15> The News papers of the are teeming with all manner of lies, abusing the Saints of the most High, and striving to call down the wrath of the people, upon his servants.
<16> <Wednesday 16 Elder and Company arrived at Wheeling, at 4 pm, and on the 20th. visited the brethren at .>
<21> <Monday 21. & visited the Saints in Penn: on their mission East, and there met Elder on his return home.>
<22> Tuesday 22. Elder Theodore Curtis, having previously been arraigned before a Magistrate and bound over in the sum of forty pounds, for “blasphemy,” (i.e.) preaching the Gospel, appeared at the Court of Sessions, at Gloucester, England and after remaning five days— was informed on enquiry, that no bill was found against him, and was suffered to go at large again after paying one pound and one shilling costs. Thus we see that the same opposition to truth prevails in other countries, as well as in this.
The following is extracted from a letter in the “Juliet Courier”
“June 1841 My Dear Sir. Before this reaches you— I have no doubt you will have heard of the trial of Joseph Smith: familiarly known as the Mor[HC 4:380]mon Prophet. As some misrepresentations have already gone abroad, in relation to decision, and the merits of the question decided by the ; permit me to say the only question decided, though many were debated, was the validity of the executive writ which had once been sent out, I think in Septr. 1840, and a return on it that Mr. Smith could not be found. The same writ was issued in June 1841. There can really be no great difficulty about this matter— under this state of facts. The acquitted himself handsomely, and silenced clamors that had been raised against the Defendant. Since the trial I have been at on the , in Illinois, and have seen the manner in which things are conducted among the Mormons In the first place I cannot help noticing the plain hospitality of the Prophet Smith, to all Strangers visiting the , aided as he is, in making the stranger comfortable by his excellent , a woman of superior ability. The people of the appear to be honest and industrious, engaged in their usual avocations of building up a town, and making all things around them comfortable. On Sunday I attended one of their meetings, in front of the , now building, and one of the largest buildings in the . There could not have been less than 2.500 people present, and as well appearing as any number that could be found in this or any State. Mr. Smith preached in the morning, and one could have readily learned then, the magic by which he has built up this society, because as we say in — “they believe in him”— and in his honesty. It has been a matter of astonishment to me, after seeing the prophet as he is called; and many other gentlemanly men, any one may see at , who will visit there; why it is, that so many professing Christianity, and so many professing to reverence the sacred principles of our Constitution, (which gives free religious toleration to all,) have slandered, and persecuted this sect of Christians.”
<26> <Saturday 26 and Company arrived on “the <Steamer> Mermaid,” at the mouth of the Ohio River.>
<July 1> Thursday July 1. Elders , , & , arrived <at .> after an interesting Mission to England— The accounts of their mission are highly satisfactory.
<During a heavy thunderstorm at Derby, England; hundreds of small fish and frogs descended, and were picked up alive by the people.> [HC 4:381]
<The following is an extract from the Legion Minutes.>
<3> Saturday 3. The second Regiment, first Cohort <consisting of four companies> was organized and Captain Nn opbh/ [p. 1213]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [1053]
Young, Journal, 16–17 June 1841, pp. [66]–[68].
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.
- [1054]
George A. Smith, Autobiography, 227.
Smith, George A. Autobiography, ca. 1860–1882. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 2.
- [1055]
See 22 June 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1056]
“Brother Curtis and the Trial for Blasphemy,” LDS Millennial Star, Aug. 1841, 63.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
- [1057]
“From the Juliet Courier,” Times and Seasons, 2 Aug. 1841, 2:498.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [1058]
Young, Journal, 26 June 1841, p. [69].
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.
- [1059]
See 1 July 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1060]
See 3 July 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1061]
Hosea Stout, History of the Nauvoo Legion, Draft 2, p. [2], Nauvoo Legion Records, CHL.
Stout, Hosea. History of the Nauvoo Legion, Draft 2, ca. 1844–1845. Nauvoo Legion Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3430, fd. 10. One of three drafts of the history; includes material dated 4 February 1841 through September 1843. Pages are out of order; in the current order, this draft includes pp. [1]–[4], [13]–[14].
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