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.
<December 11> Meetings were held, and similar resolutions passed, in all the wards of the , <requesting the City Council to raise a company of 40 men, to act as police>
Last night two ruffians whose names are unknown, went to the house of brother , a farmer living on the prairie, robbed the house of $4:50 threatened his life— stabbed him in the abdomen, when part of his caul gushed out. Dr. dressed his wounds to day and he thinks there is a prospect of his recovering.
See 12 Dec. 1843 entry in History Draft.
<12> Tuesday 12. In at 9 a.m. and wrote a letter to my
“President The Petition of a Special conference at Macedonia of last November for your appointment as Patriarch in the church has been received, duly considered, and is granted. You have my best wishes in your behalf, as well as my prayers; that you may fill so honorable and exalted a station with the dignity, sobriety, and grace which has hitherto characterized your conduct and communion with men, as a man of God. Respectfully yours
Joseph Smith.”
at 10 a.m. attended city council, which passed an ordinance exempting <all Church> property belonging to the from <City> Taxation for city purposes.
In accordance with the Petitions from the several Wards, The Council passed the following;
<“An> ordinance for selecting forty policemen and for other purposes.”
“Section 1 Be it ordained by the city Council of the city of , that the Mayor of said city be and he is hereby authorized, to select and have in readiness for every emergency, forty policemen, to be at his [HC 6:110] disposal in maintaining the peace and dignity of the citizens, and enforcing the ordinances of the said , for ferreting out thieves and bringing them to Justice, and to act as daily and nightly watchmen, and be under the pay of said . Passed December 11 12, 1843.
Recorder.
Joseph Smith Mayor.”
The Council also passed
“An ordinance for the health and convenience of Travellers <and other persons.>
Section 1. Be it ordained by the city Council of the city of , that the Mayor of the be and is hereby authorized to sell, or give Spirits, of any quantity <as> he in his wisdom shall judge to be for the health, comfort or convenience of such travellers, or other persons, as shall visit his House from time to time. Passed December 12 1843
Recorder
Joseph Smith Mayor”
See 13 Dec. 1843 entry in History Draft.
<13> Wednesday 13. At home.
I insert an Editorial from the Neighbor
“Public Meeting. It will be seen in another column that a public meeting was held in this place for the purpose of providing some remedy for the repeated aggressions of the State of , since which time an ordinance has been passed by the city council to carry into effect that object, and to prevent the citizens of this place, from being any longer imposed upon by the continued illegal proceedings of the State and citizens of .
We think that it is high time that some thing should be done to screen ourselves from the continued aggressions of this meddling, troublesome, blood-thirsty herd; and we know of no means that will be more efficient and lawful, than the one adopted.
We have done good for evil long enough, in all conscience, we think that we have fulfilled the scriptures every whit. They have smitten us on the one cheek, and we have turned the other, and they have smote that also. [p. 1801]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [522]
“Dreadful Outrage and Attempt at Murder,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 13 Dec. 1843, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
- [523]
See 12 Dec. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [524]
JS, Journal, 12 Dec. 1843.
- [525]
JS, Nauvoo, IL, to John Smith, [Macedonia, IL], 12 Dec. 1843, JS Collection, CHL.
Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.
- [526]
JS, Journal, 12 Dec. 1843; Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Book, 12 Dec. 1843, 24.
Nauvoo City Council Rough Minute Books, 1841–1845. Nauvoo, IL. Records, 1841–1845. CHL. MS 16800, box 1, fds. 2-5.
- [527]
- [528]
“Ordinance for the Health and Convenience of Travellers, and Other Persons,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 13 Dec. 1843, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
- [529]
See 13 Dec. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [530]
JS, Journal, 13 Dec. 1843.
- [531]
“Public Meeting,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 13 Dec. 1843, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
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