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.
<February 17.> The High Council met and settled several cases of difficulty betwixt brethren. [HC 6:220]
The Anti-Mormons held a convention at , the object being to devise ways and means of expelling the Saints from the . Among other resolutions was one appointing the 9th. March next as a day of fasting and prayer, wherein the pious of all orders are requested to pray to Almighty God that [“]he would speedily bring the false prophet, Joseph Smith, to deep repentance, or that he will make a public example of him and his leading accomplices.”
The ice broke up in the .
<18.> Sunday 18. Beautiful day. South <West> Wind— a very large assembly of the Saints met at the near the when I preached a lengthly discourse.
4 p. m. Went to my with and two gentlemen from — heard read my correspondence with — and read my “views of the powers and policy of the General Government”.
At 7 attended <prayer> meeting in the Assembly room.
<19.> Monday 19. At 9 a, m, went to my with , who proposed some alterations in my views of the Government— read the same and the seemed better pleased with it than before.
“To the of the Neighbor:
Sir: I wish to say to you, as there seems to be a prospect of peace, that it will be more love-like, God-like, and man-like, to say nothing about the ‘ Signal.’ If the breathes out that old sulphureous blast, let him go and besmear his reputation and the reputation of those that uphold him, with soot and dirt; but as for us, and all honest men, we will ‘act well our part for there the honor lies.’ We will honor the advice of ; cultivate peace and friendship with all; mind our own business, and come off with flying colors, respected, because, in respecting others, we respect ourselves
Respectfully, I am
Joseph Smith.
<(See Addenda page 7)> [HC 6:221]
The Wild Geese commence flying North.
<20> Tuesday 20. At 10 a. m. went to my where the Twelve Apostles and some others met in Council with brothers Mitchell Curtis, and Stephen Curtis, who left the on Black River 1st. of January; they were sent by and to know whether should preach to the Indians, the Menominees and Chippeways having requested it. The Chippeways had given some Wampum as a token of peace— and the brethren had given them half a barrel of Flour and an ox to keep the Indians from starving— and had gone through to Green Bay with them— to mark a road. I told them to tell I had no Council to give them him on the subject, he is there on his own ground and must act on his own responsibility, and do what he thinks best in relation to the Indians, understanding the Laws and nature of the subject as well as I can here, and he shall never be brought into difficulty about it by us. [p. 1895]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [757]
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 17 Feb. 1844.
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
- [758]
“A Day of Fasting and Prayer,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 28 Feb. 1844, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
- [759]
Bullock, Journal, 17 Feb. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
- [760]
See 18 Feb. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [761]
Bullock, Journal, 18 Feb. 1844; JS, Journal, 18 Feb. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
- [762]
See 19 Feb. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [763]
JS, Journal, 19 Feb. 1844.
- [764]
JS, Nauvoo, IL, 19 Feb. 1844, Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 21 Feb. 1844, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
- [765]
Bullock, Journal, 19 Feb. 1844.
Bullock, Thomas. Journal, Feb. 1844–Aug. 1845. In Historian’s Office, Journal, 1844–1997. CHL. CR 100 1, box 1, vol. 1.
- [766]
See 20 Feb. 1844 entry in History Draft.
- [767]
JS, Journal, 20 Feb. 1844.
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