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.
<January 29 Meeting in .> transactions of the people of towards us since our first settlement in this in which was contained some of our sentiments and feelings on the subject of our persecutions by the authority of the , and our deprivation of the rights of Citizenship, guaranteed to us by the Constitution, which was yet in an unfinished state owing to causes which were stated by the Committee and they further apologized for not drawing it up in the form of resolutions agreeable to the vote of the former meeting— The report was accepted as far as completed and by a vote of the meeting, the same committee were directed to finish it, and prepare it for, and send it to the press for publication, and were instructed to dwell minutely on the subject relating to our arms, and the fiend like conduct of the officers of the militia in sequestering all the best of them after their surrender, on condition of being returned to us again, or suffering them to be exchanged for others, not worth half their value, in violation of their bond, and of the honor of the commander of the forces sent against us by the — On motion of President . It was resolved that we this day enter into a Covenant to stand by, and assist each other to the utmost of our abilities in removing from this , and that we will never desert the poor, who are worthy ’till they shall be out of the reach of the exterminating order of , acting for, and in the name of the — After an expression of sentiments, by several who addressed the meeting on the propriety of taking efficient means to remove the poor [HC 3:250] from the it was resolved that a Committee of seven be appointed to superintend the business of our removal and to provide for those who have not the means of moving till the work shall be completed— The following were then appointed, viz— , , , , , , and — Resolved that the draft an instrument expressive of the sense of the Covenant, entered into this day, by those present, and that those who were willing to subscribe to the Covenant should do it, that their names might be known which would enable the Committee more expeditiously to carry their business into effect. The instrument was accordingly drawn, and by vote of the meeting, the attached the names of those who were willing to subscribe to it adjourned to meet again on Friday the 1st. Febry next at 12 o’clock M. — Chairman”
The following is the subscription referred to in the preceding minutes with the names which were then, and afterwards attached to it— so far as they have been preserved—
<Subscription—> “We whose names are hereunder written, do each for ourselves individually, hereby covenant to stand by and assist each other to the utmost of our abilities in removing from this , in compliance with the authority of the , and we do hereby acknowledge ourselves firmly bound to the extent of all our available property, to be disposed of by a committee, who shall be appointed for that purpose, for providing means for the removing of the poor and destitute, who shall be considered [p. 881]