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 .
<December 21> This unfortunate event raised the whole in arms, and we were required forthwith to surrender our arms and leave the . Fifty one guns were given up, which have never been returned or paid for to this day. Parties of the Mob from 30 to 70 in number, then scoured the Country in every direction, threatening and abusing women and children until they were forced, first to take shelter in the woods and prairies at a very inclement Season of the year, and finally to make their escape to , where the people permitted them to take refuge for a time. After the Society had left , their buildings amounting to about two hundred, were either burned or otherwise destroyed, with a great portion of their crops, as well as furniture, Stock &c. for which they have not as yet received any remuneration. The Society remained in , nearly three years, when in compliance with the demands of the citizens there, it was determined to remove to that Section of the Country, known afterwards as . In order to secure our people from molestation, the members of the Society bought out most of the former inhabitants of what is now , and also entered much of the wild land, then belonging to the in that section of Country, fondly hoping that as we were American citizens, obeying the laws, and assisting to support the government, that we would be protected in the use of homes which we had honestly purchased from the general government, and fully paid for. Here we were permitted to enjoy Peace for a Season, but as our Society increased in numbers, and settlements were made in and Carrol[l] Counties, unfounded jealousies sprung up among our neighbors and the Spirit of the Mob was soon manifested again. The people of our church who had located themselves at , were compelled by the mob to leave the place, notwithstanding the Militia were called out for their protection. From the mob went to , and while on their way took some of our people prisoners, and greatly abused and mistreated them. Our people had been driven by force from ; they had been compelled to leave and sell their lands there, for which they have never been paid, they had finally settled in , where they had purchased and paid for nearly all the Government land within its limits, in order to secure homes where they could live and worship in peace, but even here they were soon followed by the mob. The Society remained in from 1836 until the fall of 1838, and during that time had acquired, by purchase from the Government, the Settlers and Pre-emptioners, almost all the lands in the County of , and a portion of those in and Carrol counties. Those Counties when our people first commenced their Settlements were for the most part wild and uncultivated and they had converted them into large and well improved farms, well stocked. Lands had risen in value from ten to twenty five dollars per acre, and those Counties were rapidly advancing in cultivation and wealth. In August 1838 a riot commenced growing out of the attempt of a member of the Society to vote, which resulted in creating great excitement and many scenes of lawless outrage. A Large mob under the conduct of came into the vicinity of , drove off our Stock and abused our people, another party came into , took away our horses and cattle, burnt our houses and ordered the Inhabitants to leave their homes immediately. By orders of and a company of about 60 men went to disperse this mob under the command of . A conflict ensued in which and two of his men were killed and others wounded. [p. 1824]