History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
Source Note
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. D-1, created 4 July 1845–4 Feb. 1846 and 1 July 1854–2 May 1855; handwriting of , Robert L. Campbell, and ; 275 pages, plus 6 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fourth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fourth volume covers the period from 1 Aug. 1842 to 1 July 1843; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume D-1, constitutes the fourth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 August 1842 to 1 July 1843, and it was compiled after JS’s death.
The material recorded in volume D-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , with the assistance of . After Richards’s death in 1854, continued work on the volume as the new church historian with Bullock’s continued help. The process adopted by Richards and Bullock involved Richards creating a set of rough draft notes and Bullock transcribing the notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). George A. Smith followed a similar pattern, though he dictated the draft notes to Bullock and other scribes.
According to the Church Historian’s Office journal, finished the third volume of the series, volume C-1, on Thursday, 3 July 1845, in , Illinois. He began work on the fourth volume, D-1, the next day, beginning on page 1362 with the entry for 1 August 1842. (The pages in volumes A-1–E-1 were numbered consecutively.) Bullock continued work on the record, drawing upon ’s draft notes, until 3 February 1846—the day before D-1 and the other volumes were packed up in preparation for the Latter-day Saints’ exodus from Nauvoo. At that point he had reached page 1485 with the entry for 28 February 1843. Subsequently, apparently after the collection had arrived in Utah, Bullock added a brief comment beneath that entry: “end of W. Richard’s compiling[.] the books packed Feby. 4— 1846 in Nauvoo[.] Miles Romney— present. The records carried by T Bullock from Winter Quarters to G S L [Great Salt Lake] City in 1848.”
A notation at the top of page 1486 reports that “the books were unpacked in G. S. L. City by and . June 7. 1853. J[onathan] Grimshaw & Miles Romney present.” Vertically, in the margin, is a poignant epitaph: “Decr. 1 1853 Dr. Willard Richards wrote one line of History—being sick at the time—and was never able to do any more.” With Richards’s death on 11 March 1854, JS’s cousin was called to the office of church historian. The notation on the top of page 1486 acknowledges this change in officers, noting, “commencement of George A. Smith’s compiling as Historian. April 13. 1854[.] [C]ommenced copying July 1. 1854.” From mid-April to the end of June 1854, George A. Smith, in collaboration with Thomas Bullock, worked on the draft notes for the history before a new scribe, , resumed writing in D-1 on 1 July 1854, beginning with the entry for 1 March 1843.
continued transcribing intermittently into the late fall of 1854, when he was assigned other duties in the Historian’s Office. He had reached page 1546 with the entry for 5 May 1843. Work resumed in February 1855 in the hand of Robert L. Campbell, recently returned from a mission. He concluded volume D-1 on the morning of 2 May 1855 and began writing in E-1 that afternoon.
The 274 pages of volume D-1 contain a record of much that is significant in the life of JS and the development of the church he founded. Among these events are
• JS’s 6 August 1842 prophecy that the Saints would become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains.
•JS’s 8 August 1842 arrest on a warrant for being “an accessory before the fact” to an attack on former governor .
• ’s 17 August 1842 letter to governor , pleading for the humane treatment of her husband and family.
•JS’s 1 and 6 September 1842 instructions regarding the proper procedures for performing baptisms for the dead.
• JS’s 15 November 1842 “Valedictory” as he stepped down as editor of the Times and Seasons.
• The 26 December 1842 arrest of JS on a “proclamation” by former governor , and subsequent hearing in , Illinois.
• The 7 February 1843 recovery of a volume of patriarchal blessings given by , which had been stolen in , Missouri.
• JS’s 21 February 1843 remarks regarding the and .
• JS’s 2 April 1843 instruction at , Illinois, on the nature of God and other subjects.
• JS’s 16 May 1843 remarks at , Illinois, on the everlasting covenant and eternal marriage.
• The account of JS’s 23 June 1843 arrest and his hearing the following week at .
Footnotes
<June 20> upon the rights of private companies, or even individuals, and attempts made with zeal and determination to carry them out to the extent.
If public confidence be restored, the work can go on more vigorous than ever. Respectfully, Prest. of the Company.”
Elder John Snider reported the names of various persons in Great Britain and Ireland, who donated various small sums between May and Decemr 1842 as contributions for building the , and paid over $975.04 the names of the donors and amounts are recorded in the Law of the Lord.
I insert the following as an exception to the universal rule. Earl Spencer keeps all the poor in the parish of Wormleighton, England and so prevents a poor rate; he allows his laborers nine Shillings a week when out of employment, and they pay only a Shilling a year as a nominal rent for the house in which they severally reside.
See 21 June 1843 entry in History Draft.
<21> and left Portland at 4 a.m. and travelled to within 9 miles of , they changed their course and went direct to Inlet Grove where they arrived at 12½ took dinner and fed their horses, left Inlet at 2 p.m. and arrived at Wassons at 4 p.m. where they learned that I was gone to in the carriage, and altho their horses were [HC 5:438] tired down they started for , but met me about half way. They returned with me to Wassons and were glad to find a resting place having rode 212 miles in 66 hours and had very little rest on the way; the horses were tired, their backs very sore. I told them not to be alarmed, I have no fear, I shall not leave here, I shall find friends and Missourians can not hurt me. I tell you in the name of Israel’s God.
See 22 June 1843 entry in History Draft.
<22> Another meeting of the Laborers in the near the concerning wages.
I had previously given out an appointment to preach this day at , but on account of the change in circumstances, I wrote to telling the people there was a writ out for me, and therefore declined preaching, and I kept myself quiet all day, telling my friends that if I started for home I might be arrested where I had no friends, and kidnapped into , and thought it best to tarry at Inlet and see the result; many were desirous to hear me preach but were disappointed.
Lawyer of , having heard of the Writ being out against me, rode 12 miles to inform me. I thanked him for his kindness, paid him $25.00, and introduced him to my friends and , shewing that I had received previous information—
See 23 June 1843 entry in History Draft.
<23> arrived at from .
At 8 a.m. a Company of the brethren <(a bee)> gathered to remove the timbers from the to the .
I sent to at 10 a.m. to try and find out what was going on there; he met Mr. the Sheriff of Missouri and Constable of , Illinois about half way, but they being disguised, they were not known by him, and when at they represented them[HC 5:439]selves as <Mormon> Elders of the church, who wanted to see the the Prophet. They hired a man [p. 1581]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [770]
- [771]
See 21 June 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [772]
Clayton, Journal, 21 June 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [773]
See 22 June 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [774]
JS, Journal, 22 June 1843, in JSP, J3:38.
- [775]
Clayton, Journal, 22 June 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [776]
See 23 June 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [777]
JS, Journal, 23 June 1843, in JSP, J3:39; Clayton, Journal, 23 June 1843; “Communications,” Times and Seasons, 1 June 1844, 5:554–556;“Missouri vs Joseph Smith,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 5 July 1843, [2].
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
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