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
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.
Wars are at hand we must not delay, but are not required to sacrifice We ought to have the building up of as our greatest object— When wars come we shall have to flee to Zion— The cry is to make haste,— The last revelation says “Ye shall not have time to have gone over the Earth until these things come. It will come as did the Ch0lera, War, and Fires burning, Earthquakes one pestilence after another &c until the Ancient of Days come then judgment will be given to the saints.
Whatever you may hear about me or take no notice of it <for> if it be a place of refuge the Devil will use his greatest efforts to trap the Saints. You must make yourselves acquainted with those men who like Daniel pray three times a day to the House of the Lord Look to the Presidency and recieve instruction. Every man who is afraid, Covetous &c will be taken in a snare. The time is soon coming when no man will have any peace but in Zion and her Stakes. I saw men hunting the lives of their own Sons and brother murdering brother, women killing their own Daughters, and Daughters seeking the lives of their Mothers. I saw Armies arrayed against Armies, I saw Blood, Desolation, Fires, &c. The son of man has said that the mother shall be against the Daughter, and the Daughter against the Mother &c. These things are at our Doors. They will follow the Saints of God from City to City Satan will rage and the Spirit of the Devil is now enraged I know not how soon these things will take place and with a view of them shall I cry peace? No! I will lift up my voice and testify of them. How long you will have good Crops and the famine be kept off I do not know. when the Fig tree leaves, know then that the summer is nigh at hand. we may look for Angels and receive their ministration. but we are to try the Spirits and prove them. for it is often the case that men make a mistake in regard to these things. God has so ordained that when he has communicated, no vision is to be taken but what you see by the seeing of the eye, or what you hear by the hearing of the ear When you see a Vision pray for the interpretation if you get not this shut it up there must be certainty in this matter. An open vision will manifest that which is more important Lying Spirits are going forth in the Earth. There will be great manifestations of Spirit both false and true.— Being born again comes by the Spirit of God through Ordinances. An Angel of God never has wings— some will say that they have seen a Spirit that he offered them his hand but they did not touch it. This is a lie. First it is contrary to the plan of God. A spirit cannot come but in glory An Angel has Flesh and Bones we see not their glory. The Devil may appear as an angel of light ask God to reveal it if it be of the Devil he will flee from you, if of God he will manifest himself or make it manifest we may come to Jesus and ask him he will know all about it— If he comes to a little child he will adapt himself to the Language and capacity of a little child Every Spirit or vision or singing is not of God. The Devil is an Orator he is powerful— he took our Saviour on to a pinnacle of the Temple— and kept him in the wilderness for forty days. The gift of discerning Spirits will be given to the Presiding Elder— pray for him that he may have this gift— Speak not in the gift of Tongues without understanding it or without interpretation— The Devil can speak in Tongues— The adversary will come with his work he can tempt all classes, can speak in English or Dutch Let no one speak in Tongues unless he interpret except by the consent of the one who is placed to preside then he may discern or interpret or another may. Let us seek for [p. 13 [addenda]]