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.
See 17 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
<November 17> Wednesday 17. Elders and went to La Harpe
See 18 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
<18> Thursday 18.
“Proceedings of a meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day [HC 4:453] Saints, held at , November 18, 1841 opened by singing, and prayer by Elder . The object of the meeting was then stated by the which was for the purpose of taking into consideration the cases of — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — James B. T. Page, and , who stand indicted for Larceny, &c After the evidence was brought forward, it was unanimously resolved that said <persons> be expelled from the Church. Appropriate remarks were then made by Elders , , Savage, Gurley and others, for the occasion. A charge was then preferred against Thomas S. Edwards for Assault and Battery, with evidence that a warrant was issued for his apprehension, and against William W. Edwards for being accessory to the same. [blank] Unanimously resolved that Thomas S. Edwards, and William W. Edwards also, be expelled from the Church. [blank] <and> that the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Times and Seasons. Resolved that all other church business be laid over to conference. Resolved that this meeting be adjourned.
— President. J. E. Johnson, Church Recorder”—
<20> <See Addenda book page 44>
<21> [4 words illegible]
See 22 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
<22> Monday 22. <The following letter from is from the Millenial Star.>
“Alexandria Novr. 22, 1841— Dear — A few minutes now offer for me to write, and I improve them in writing to you. [HC 4:454] I have only time to say that I have seen precisely according to the vision which I had. I saw no one with me in the vision; and although was appointed to accompany me there, yet I found myself there alone. The Lord knows that I have had a hard time, and suffered much, but I have great reason to thank him that I enjoy good health at present, and have a prospect before me of soon going to a civilized country, where I shall see no more turbans or camels. The heat is most oppressive, and has been all through Syria. I have not time to tell you how many days I have been at sea, without food, or how many snails I have eaten; but if I had had plenty of them I should have done very well. All this is contained in a former letter to you written from Jaffa. I have been at Cairo, on the Nile, because I could not get a passage direct. Syria is in a dreadful state— a war of extermination is going on between the Druses and Catholics. At the time I was at Beyroote a battle was fought in the mountains of Lebanon, near that place, and about 800 killed. Robberies, thefts, and murders, are daily being committed. It is no uncommon thing to find persons in the Street without heads. An English Officer in going from St. Jean d’Acre to Beyroote, found ten persons murdered in the Street, and was himself taken prisoner, but was rescued by the timely interference of the Pacha. The particulars of all these things are contained in a former letter.
<See Margin>
<An American traveler, by the name of Gager who was a licensed minister of the Congregational or Presbyterian Church, left in company with me. He was very unwell with the Jaundice when we left, and at Damietta we had to perform six day’s quarantine before we ascended the Nile. On our passage up he was taken very ill with a fever, and became helpless. I waited and tended upon him as well as our circumstances would allow; and when we landed at Bulock, I got four men to take him to the American Consuls, in Cairo, on a litter; I also took all his baggage there, and assisted in putting him upon a good bed— employed a good faithful Arabian nurse, and the English Doctor. After the physician had examined him, he told me that he was very low with a typhus fever, and that it would be doubtful whether he recovered. Under these circumstances I left him to obtain a passage to this place. After I had gone aboard a boat, and was just about pushing off, a letter came from the doctor, stating that poor Mr. Gager died in about two hours after I left him. He told me before we arrived at Cairo that he was 27 years of age, and his friends lived in Norwich, Connecticut; near New London, I think. There are many particulars concerning his death which would be interesting to his friends, but I have no time to write them now.> [HC 4:455]
On Sunday morning, October 24, a good while before day, I arose from sleep and went out of the as soon as the Gates were opened, crossed the brook Cedron, and went upon the Mount of Olives, and there, in solemn silence, with pen, ink, and paper, just as I saw in the vision, offered up the following prayer to Him who lives for ever and ever:—
“O Thou! who art from everlasting to everlasting, [p. 1250]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
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Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [1179]
See 17 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1180]
Richards, Journal, 17 Nov. 1841.
Richards, Willard. Journals, 1836–1853. Willard Richards, Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490, boxes 1–2.
- [1181]
See 18 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1182]
“Proceedings of a Meeting,” Times and Seasons, 1 Dec. 1841, 3:616.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [1183]
See 22 Nov. 1841 entry in History Draft.
- [1184]
Orson Hyde, “Interesting News from Alexandria and Jerusalem,” LDS Millennial Star, Jan. 1842, 2:132–136; Orson Hyde, “Interesting News from Alexandria and Jerusalem,” Times and Seasons, 1 Apr. 1842, 3:739–742.
Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
- [1185]
TEXT: Insertion written sideways in left margin.
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