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 19> a matter of great speculation with us.”
At 1 p.m. I was present when the Legion paraded near the , were inspected by the officers and instructed to prepare themselves with arms and ammunition and to hold themselves in readiness for a moments notice. Brother Henry Boley was shot severely under the arm by the accidental discharge of his gun.
Amos S. Chase made the following affidavit
“State of . City of . ss. On the 19th. day of December 1843 came Amos S. Chase, before me Joseph Smith Mayor of said , and after being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that on the 18th. day of Decer. 1843 he was about four miles below in , shortly after the arrested for being concerned in kidnapping , not long since, and saw the men of the Neighborhood gathering with arms, to retake the said ; and when asked what they would do if the did not sanction such an unlawful course; several of them replied “Damn the ! If he opens his head we will punch a hole through him!! He dare not open his head! we will serve him the same sauce we will the Mormons.” The said [HC 6:121] Mob then went to , where your affiant saw then with their arms, and further your affiant saith not.
Amos S. Chase
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 19th. day of Decer. 1843. Clerk M. C.
<20> Wednesday 20. At home in good health and Spirits counselling and attending to business in general.
The of the Municipal Court took the following affidavits
“State of city of ss. On the 20th. day of December 1843 personally appeared before me Clerk of the Municipal court of said , of Bear Creek precinct in said , and after being duly sworn deposeth and saith, that on the 19th. day of November 1843, at his house, in the precinct aforesaid, of , Territory of Iowa, by false pretences persuaded your affiant to accompany said to the at , where your affiant was seized by one Joseph C. Mc Coy of Clark County Missouri in connection with the said and about one dozen of other Individuals, whose names are unknown to your affiant, and by them forced across said , where they bound your affiant, and Mark Childs swore that your affiant had stolen said Mc Coys horse and colt, and that his father had secreted said horse and colt— and said threatened your affiant with death or seven years imprisonment, in order to persuade him to make false statements, and testify that his father had stolen said Mc Coy’s horse and colt, which statements your affiant made, and swore to the same, while in duress, with a Bowie knife presented to intimidate. And your affiant further saith that the testimony he gave concerning his s guilt was extorted from him through fear, while in duress and said testimony was absolutely false, and your affiant fully believes that his is innocent of the crime of stealing said Mc Coy’s horse and colt, and farther your <deponent> saith not.
.
L S Subscribed and sworn to before me, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at aforesaid this 20th. day of December A. D. 1843.
. Clerk of the Municipal court of the city of ” [HC 6:122] [p. 1808]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [555]
JS, Journal, 19 Dec. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 19 Dec. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [556]
- [557]
See 20 Dec. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [558]
JS, Journal, 20 Dec. 1843.
- [559]
- [560]
TEXT: “LS” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal, spanning three lines.
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