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
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 .
<October 4> where he is harbored, that we may have something more than vague assertions. They well-know that no such proof can be produced, but that the charges had their birth in the minds of one or two artless scoundrels, wreaking <thirsting> for revenge for their late disappointments. The whole of the charges are a tissue of false[HC 6:43]hoods, got up with the idea of intimadating a peaceable body of citizens; but, sir, we set such designing knaves at defiance, and laugh at their threats, treating them with utter contempt, but ever ready to abide by the truth. John Greenhow.”
wrote the following letter:
“ Octr. 4th. 1843. To the and — Greeting. Dear and much esteemed Brethren. I hasten to inform you of my arrival in Liverpool on the 30 day of Sept, in Company with Elders , , and wife, James Houston and William G. Jermon. We left six of the Twelve in the city of the 2nd. day of September and came on board of the Ship “Columbus”, our passage money was five Dollars; we had a very hard passage, we were very much crowded in the Steerage, there was <were> 236 persons Dutch, Irish, English and Scotch, and as dirty as any I ever saw, we were not much sick, the weather was cold, had it been other wise we should have suffered more. there is A steamer leaves for to day, and I thought I would announce to you my arrival by this opportunity, and such information as I was in possession of, there is a ship to sail on the 14 inst, by which I shall write you again.
I found Elders , and in and they were well, and as far as I was informed by them, that the Church is in a good state and on the increase, it numbers some where between Eight and nine thousand members, there is a great want of laborers in the vineyard; there has many of the first Elders <have> left this for , leaving their places vacant. I presented to the Presidency here your decision relative to the printing; and Elders and they received it and manifested a desire to abide by it. wept when I shewed him your decision concerning him and his coming to by the first ship to see you face to face, the Brethren say here that he has been too hasty in some things and has given some an offence, but I do not as yet know anything derogatory to his character that I could say ought against him, I shall write you all the particulars as fast as I come in possession of them; as it regards the printing in this land We shall stop it after the next number is published, in it we wish to publish the news from for the benefit of the Saints, and to announce our arrival in this Country.
Permit me here to give you my opinion as it regards the printing in this land, and I will cheerfully abide your advice notwithstanding, after we stop the Star, we shall have during the shipping season to ad[HC 6:44]vertize and give general information in the emigration business to the Saints scattered abroad, I think it would be best to republish the Times and Seasons for the benefit of the church, the Duties on books are £2.10p per hundred weight, and there is now 16 00 Stars circulated here at the present and the demand for our [p. 1745]