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 24.> got up in this place for the purpose of taking the life of President Joseph Smith, his family, and all the Smith family, and the heads of the church, one of the gentlemen will give his name to the public, and the other wishes it to be hid for the present, they will both testify to it on oath and make an affidavit upon it. the names of the persons revealed at the head of the conspiracy are as follows , Dr. , Mr. , and . And the lies that has hatched up as a foundation to work upon are, he says that I had men’s heads cut off in , and that I had a sword run through the hearts of the people that I wanted to kill and put out of the way. I won’t swear out a warrant against <them> for I don’t fear any of them, they would not scare off an old sitting hen. I intend to publish all the iniquity that I know of them. If I am guilty I am ready to bear it. There is sometimes honor among enemies. I am willing to do anything for the good of the people. I will give the name of one of the gentlemen who have divulged the plot, his name is , he will swear to it, he is a bold fellow. said a Smith should not be alive <in> two weeks, not over two months anyhow. Concerning the character of these men, I will say nothing about it now, but if I hear anything more from them on this subject, I will tell what I know about them.
Elder addressed the people as follows:—
While listening to Prest. Smith’s remarks, I thought of a figure i.e. If a Physician was going to dissect a body, he would not be likely to begin at the limbs, but cut the head off first. So the Adversary of the Saints has laid a plan to cut off the head of the church with the intention of scattering and destroying the whole body. It was so in the days of Jesus christ; the enemies of truth sought to kill him, that the body might be destroyed; which was also the case in the days of Elijah, Daniel, and many of the ancients. I once heard a man say who was opposed to this work “that it might be true, but it gave Joseph Smith power.’ True, said I, but if his power be subordinate to the power of God, it is right. If a man set up a kingdom by the power of God, then let others seek power from the same source. God sets up kingdoms and pulls down kingdoms; [HC 6:272] this makes men mad who will not submit to the kingdom of God. We all know the result of the power of Moses, who was the representative of God. Judging from what is past, how will it be when God sets up his kingdom in the last days? Whether there is a conspiracy now or not I don’t know; but no doubt there will be, if not now; for it has always been so. In the days of the Nephites, they had their Gadianton robbers. I have not any doubt but that the Apostates will join with the other wicked powers to try to put down the power of God and I am glad to have the power of the kingdom of God tested; and when it is fully tried, it will stand. I care not what sacrifice I am called to make for such a kingdom; if it is friends, wealth, or even life at the purchase of such a kingdom it is cheap. Did the ancient Apostles, Prophets, [p. 1937]