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 27> some of the details of his history since he was first taken in to the present time, and we can assure our readers that it will ‘a tale unfold’ relative to that which even many of those who have been driven therefrom will find it difficult to believe that there did exist such monsters in human shape.”
returned [HC 6:144] from , having obtained quite a number of signatures to the Memorial to Congress: and made an affidavit of what he learned in concerning the mob:
“State of )
ss
City of )
On the 28th. day of Dec. 1843 came before me, Joseph Smith, Mayor of said , and after being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that on the 26th. Inst. as he was passing from to throughthat part of where resides, he was credibly informed that on Saturday previous the anti-Mormons held a meeting, drew up an article and passed several resolutions, among which were these
“We will revere and hold sacred and inviolate the constitution of the , and also the constitution of this . We will visit the Mormons residing in our vicinity and require them to give up their guns, and such as do it, shall dwell here in peace; but those who will not do it, may have thirteen days to leave in, and if they are not off in that time, we will drive them.”
The above is the substance, but perhaps not the very words. They also swear that the Mormons shall never raise another crop in that region &c., &c. And further this deponent saith not.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28 Decr. 1843
Clerk M. C.”
having made affidavit of the cruel treatment he had recently received at the hands of the Missourians I here insert it:
“State of )
ss
City of )
On the 28th. day of December 1843 came before me Joseph Smith Mayor of the aforesaid, and after being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that on the 2d. day of December 1843, he was unlawfully arrested by force and arms <and kidnapped> at Doty’s Mill in Bear Creek precinct, Hancock County and State aforesaid, by Col. , his son John Williams of , , a school master from 4½ miles below , William Middleton and Joseph McCoy of Clark County Missouri, and four [HC 6:145] others. held his bowie knife to his breast. Six of the others stood with their pistols cocked and their fingers upon the triggers, muzzles presented at his body, ready to fire, and two stood with clubs, and amid the most horrid oaths and imprecations, took and bound with silk hand[k]erchiefs, your said affiant and led him away between two men, one holding a savage bowie knife on one side and the other a cocked pistol on the other side, (having taken away your said affiants weapons while binding him in the Mill.) and led your affiant about a mile: your affiant refused to walk any further and they put him upon a horse, <and tied his legs under the horse> and , the aforesaid schoolmaster, led the horse as fast as he could make his way, through a thicket and bye way to the house of the [p. 1831]