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 .
<November 8> resolutions as published in the late Message were false; we also felt convinced that the parties themselves were apprized of that fact, and that it was a thing generally understood by the public, and therefore we did not trouble ourselves about it; but having the following testimonies and affidavits sent us for publication, we insert them for the information of those who may not have had opportunities of informing themselves relative to this subject.
State of )
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We the undersigned citizens of the Town of , county of Lee, State of Illinois, being duly sworn according to law depose and say, that we have seen the article entitled ‘Statement of facts connected with the arrest of Joseph Smith, and his discharge there from, published in the Message of the date of 15th. of July A.D. 1843; and have also seen an editorial article in the same number of said paper, in which it is stated, that said statement of facts was furnished by , one of Mr.Smith’s attorneys in said case, and that we know the fact stated in said statement, to wit, that for a considerable length of time immediately after his arrival at , did peremptorily refuse to allow Smith a private interview with his council, and that said did expressly state, that no conversation could be had with Smith, by his attorneys, unless he, was present at such conversation.
The length of time, which such refusal to allow said private conversation continued, was, in the belief of these deponents, at least one hour: and that such private conversation was not permitted by , until after being informed by at least two of these deponents, (Messrs. Dixon and Sanger) that such private interview must be allowed Mr Smith, as that was a right he had guaranteed to him
Sworn and subscribed to before me at this 29th. day of July, A.D. 1843. Frederick R. Dutcher, Justice of the Peace for Ill.
John Dixon, Issac Robinson, L.P. Sanger, J. D. Mc Comsay, J. Albert Helfenstien, , . [HC 6:67]
We, the undersigned, state under oath that we travelled in company with , the Agent of the State of , from to , at the time he had Joseph Smith in custody with the intention of taking him to , between the 26th. of June last, and the first instant, and that the Mormons, friends of Mr Smith, who met us on said journey, before we arrived at , conducted themselves, so far as we could perceive, and were able to judge, with the strictest propriety; and to our knowledge made use of no means towards either , or said ; but, on the contrary, several of them and said Smith among that number, pledged themselves that said and should be personally safe; and that said Mormons, none of them, as we could perceive, were armed, so far as was discernable; and farther that the statement made in the ‘Old School Democrat’ of the 12th. inst., over the signature of , that he and said were disarmed soon after they were arrested, on the trespass suit commenced against them by said Smith, and that their arms were not returned to them, until after the said [p. 1769]