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 .
<March 7.> they need not pay Wharfage. I despise the man who will betray you with a kiss, and I am determined to use up such men if they will not stop their operations. If this is not true, let him come forward, and throw off the imputation.
When they appeal to , I will appeal to this people which is the highest court. I despise the lawyers who hag on lawsuits, and I would rather die a thousand deaths than appeal to . and Morrison say they own the wharves, but the fact is the own them— 64 feet from high water mark— from the to the Northern limits of the is public ground, as Water Street runs along the beach, and the beach belongs to the , and not to individuals.
Another thing;— I want to speak about the lawyers of this . I have good feelings towards them; nevertheless I will reprove the lawyers and doctors anyhow. Jesus did, and every prophet has, and if I am a prophet I shall do it; at any rate, I shall do it, for I profess to be a prophet. The Maritime laws of the have ceded up the right to regulate all tolls, Wharfage &c. to the respective corporations who have jurisdiction, and not to individuals. Our Lawyers have read so little that they are ignorant of this; they [HC 6:238] have never stuck their noses into a Book on Maritime law in their lives, and as Pope says:
‘Shallow draughts intoxicate the brain
Drink deep or taste not the pierian spring.’
Our city lawyers are fools to undertake to practice law when they know nothing about it.
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I want from this time forth every fool to stay at home, and let the steam boats and captains alone. No vessel could land any where if subject to individual laws. The Corporation owns the streets of the , and have as much right to tax the boats to make Wharves, as to tax citizens to make roads. Let every man in this stay at home, and let the boat Captains, peace officers, and every body alone.
How are we to keep peace in the , defend ourselves against mobs, and keep innocent blood from being shed? By striking a blow at everything that rises up in disorder. I will wage an eternal warfare with those that oppose me while I am laboring in behalf of the . I will disgrace every man by publishing him on the house top, who will not be still, and mind his own business. Let them entirely alone and they will use themselves up.
I was visited by an old gentleman this morning who told me that the spirit of mobocracy was about subsiding. A couple of merchants in this (I will not tell their names), have told the country people not to bring butter, eggs &c. to for sale; at least so the people abroad say. [p. 1909]