History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1 [1 July 1843–30 April 1844]
Source Note
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, , and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth 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 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.
The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.
Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed ’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)
Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.
The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include
• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.
• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, the Legion, and Mormon voting practices.
• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of and .
• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of and revocation of his priesthood license.
• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by .
• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of ’s appointment to a mission to Russia.
• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.
• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of , inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.
• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by .
• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the .
• An account of JS’s sermon, 7 April 1844.
<September 11> when the old Shepherd of the sheep comes up to lick Salt, the Elders will hit him over the head with a cane; their religion is as dear to them as ours to us. Don’t feed too much Salt at once, but give a little at a time or they are cloyed.
Elders of Israel, be wise; give short discourses, as long ones cloy your hearers, who will say ‘a good discourse, but I got tired.’
Never infringe on the rights of other people, and never tear down other people’s houses till you have built a better. We are sent to preach repentance, and let people alone. How do you like to go into other Churches, and hear them abusing us? Do as you would be done by; persuade men and not compel them unless the time spoken off by the Savior comes when the Lord shall say unto his servants “go out into the high ways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled’ Luke 14 ch. 23 v. Let men be humble, kind, and affectionate.” [HC 6:30]
<10.> Sunday 10. Cold and considerable rain: kindled a fire in the for the first time this fall. This is the first rain of any consequence since the first of June; there has been occasional— say three or four slight showers, but not enough to wet the potato hills, and the vegetables in the gardens have generally stopped growing on account of the drouth;— even corn is seriously injured,— much of it by a worm in the ear. Early potatoes are scarcely worth digging.
<11.> Monday 11. Early this morning a petition was presented to me, as Lieutt. General, to devise means to get the public arms of the for the : Whereupon I appointed , , and , a Committee to wait on on the subject.
Election for Probate Justice— weather cold— people cold. received most of the votes in ,— say 700 votes.
6 p.m. I met with my brother , , and , in my private room, where we had a season of prayer for ’s little daughter who was sick, and who was some better.
<12.> Tuesday 12. Rainy day. [HC 6:31]
left for Portland by Railroad, and while passing through Chester woods, the Engine was thrown off the tracks, and with the Baggage cars, smashed to pieces, several of the passenger trains mounted the ruins, but none of the passengers were injured except two very slightly. The Engineer however was killed instantaneously. with most of the passengers remained all night in the woods, and found it very cold.
<13.> Wednesday 13. I attended a lecture at the by Mr. John Finch, a Socialist from , and said a few words in reply.
The following article appears in the Neighbor, copied from “The (Conn) Herald.”
“ and Joseph Smith. A gentlemen of this town, of undoubted veracity, who has lately spent several weeks at , and among the Mormons, informs us that the general impression abroad in [p. 1733]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [256]
See 10 Sept. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [257]
JS, Journal, 10–12 Sept. 1843.
- [258]
See 11 Sept. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [259]
See 12 Sept. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [260]
Woodruff, Journal, 12 Sept. 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [261]
See 13 Sept. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [262]
JS, Journal, 13 Sept. 1843.
- [263]
“Nauvoo and Joe Smith,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 13 Sept. 1843, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
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