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 .
<July 2> Buggy on said journey while the said rode on the coach upon the assurance and pledge of James Campbell Esqr. the Sheriff of Illinois, who had said and in custody for want of bail, in a civil action, and upon whom they had served returnable before Judge Young at Ills Your affiants as well as others in company at the same time gave assurance and pledges to said that his prisoner the said Smith should not escape from him, and the said was satisfied as he avowed with the pledges aforesaid, and expressed himself to be so at the time, and fully consented that the said Smith might travel on said journey in the manner he did. That the friends of said Smith met him in great numbers as he approached the city of , by which place the Sheriff as these affidants believe voluntarily decided to go at the request of said Smith, and upon representations made to him that it was the best route to . That no violence was offered to said or , and that to the best of these affiants knowledge and belief no threats or intimidation were made use of to influence and control their conduct either during the journey to, or after their arrival at ; said and dined with said Smith at his own house and were hospitably entertained and after dinner, say in two hours after the arrival of the party in said , a writ of habeas Corpus was issued by the Municipal court of the said city of in favor of said Smith which was served upon said . The said made return of the writ together with the body of said Smith and alleged the causes of his capture and detention, at the same time denying the jurisdiction of the court, and alleging that he had been served with the prior writ of Habeas Corpus before mentioned said remained in and a part of the time in the Municipal court room and some time after the examination of the writ of Habeas Corpus issued by the Municipal Court had commenced, and as your affiants believe during the whole sitting of the Court on friday afternoon the 30th of June and then departed for after a patient examination of the fact and matter of law set forth in complainants petition which said examination lasted from friday afternoon till the next day Saturday, at night, the said Smith was discharged as for defects in the Warrant under which he had been arrested and was imprisoned as upon the merits of the case by the said [HC 5:477] Municipal Court, and these affiants further say that said and were before they arrived at the City of and while they were there, assured by the said Smith, and many of the Company who had travelled together from , (these affiants among the number,) that they should be protected from violence, and that the said Smith did publicly declare in to the people there assembled that his honor was pledged that said should be protected from violence, and requested every one to preserve his pledge inviolate. These affiants state further that no violence or threats to their knowledge or belief were made use of towards the said or the said either before or after their arrival at ; but the numbers who met and accompanied the said Smith and his escort on the journey conducted themselves in an orderly and peaceable manner and manifested only their attachment to said Smith, and joy to find him safe in the custody of the laws of the State of , all of which facts are true to the best of the knowledge and recollection of these affiants.