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.
<November 2> and confirm lease and release any part or all of my real Estate in and about or elsewhere within the State of , giving and granting unto my said attorney by these presents full power and authority in and about the premises, to have use and take all lawful means, in my name, for the purposes aforesaid, and upon the receipt of any such debts, dues, or sums of money (as the case may be) acquittances or other sufficient discharges, for me, and in my name to make and give. And generally to do all other acts and things in the law whatsoever, needful and necessary to be done in and about the premises for me and in my name, to do, execute and perform, as fully, and to all intents and purposes as I might or could— do if personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all and whatsoever my said Attorney shall lawfully do in and about the premises by virtue hereof. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one— Joseph Smith L.S. In presence of — .”
<6> < took the Oath as a counsellor in the City Council.>
<7> Sunday 7. <see Addenda book page 19.> [HC 4:445] I preached on the principles of Superstitution of which the whole world is so full, that but little room is left in the minds of Men for truth to operate. In the P.M. I attended a Council of the Elders at my Council room, relative to some affairs in which my brother was interested.
<8.> <At five o’clock P.M. I attended the dedication of the Baptismal Font in the . President was Spokesman.>
<see addenda book page 44> [HC 4:446]
<9> <I received a letter from , stating that he had purchased 5,000 $ worth of goods for me, and that he should visit , before his return home.>
<10> Up to this period a series of Storms and Earthquakes have desolated parts of the two Sicilies and Calabria.
A second English Edition of the Saints Hymn Book [blank] issued by Elder —
<a great part of Vicksburgh, Miss: consumed by fire—>
<13.> Saturday 13. I attended the City Council and moved that the Mayor and Recorder of the City receive each one hundred dollars per annum for their services, which became a law. I also presented a bill for “an Ordinance concerning Vagrants and Disorderly persons” which passed into an Ordinance as <follows (see Addenda Book page 48) I also presented a bill for an Ordinance> <in relation to appeals, which passed unanimously.> I also argued before the Council the right of Taxation, but [HC 4:447] that the expences of the did not require it at present
<14> <I preached to a large congregation at the . Nine of the Twelve Apostles met in Council, to prepare an Epistle to the Saints in Europe.>
<15> Monday 15.
“An Epistle of the Twelve <Apostles>. To the Saints scattered abroad in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and the Eastern Continent. Greeting: Beloved brethren:— We rejoice and thank our Heavenly Father daily in your behalf, that we hear of your faithfulness and diligence in the great work unto which you have been called, by the Holy Spirit, through the voice of the servants of the Most High, who have been and are now amongst you, for the purpose of instructing you in those principles, which are calculated to prepare the children of men for the renovation of the Earth and the restitution of all things spoken by the Prophets. Several months have passed away, since we bid adieu to our brethren and Sisters on the Islands of the Sea, and passed over the great deep to our homes, our kindred, the bosom of the Church, and the States of ; but neither time nor distance can efface from our [p. 1244]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [1165]
TEXT: “L.S.” in a circle.
- [1166]
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 6 Nov. 1841, 28.
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book / Nauvoo City Council. “A Record of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo Handcock County, State of Illinois, Commencing A.D. 1841,” ca. 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3435.
- [1167]
See 7 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1168]
- [1169]
See 10 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1170]
“Hymn Books,” Times and Seasons, Nov. 1841, 2:112.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [1171]
“Sketch of the Travels and Ministry,” LDS Millennial Star, Oct. 1841, 2:89–90.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
- [1172]
See 13 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1173]
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 13 Nov. 1841, 29–32.
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book / Nauvoo City Council. “A Record of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo Handcock County, State of Illinois, Commencing A.D. 1841,” ca. 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3435.
- [1174]
Woodruff, Journal, 14 Nov. 1841.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [1175]
See 15 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1176]
“An Epistle of the Twelve,” Times and Seasons, 15 Nov. 1841, 3:600–602.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [1177]
TEXT: Originally written “Scotland, England” but marked to transpose the two words.
- [1178]
TEXT: Originally written “now are” but marked to transpose the two words.
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