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.
<July 7> also the authorities of the Counties within which the Mormons resided, repeatedly by direct and public orders and threats, commanded every Mormon in the , Joseph Smith their leader included, to leave the on peril of being exterminated, that the arrest of said Smith in the month of November A.D. 1838, was made without authority color or pretended sanction of law— said arrest having been made by a mob by which said Smith among others was condemned to be shot but which said sentence was finally revoked, said mob resolving itself into a pretended court of Justice without the pretended sanction of law there then and there made out the charges and procured the pretended conviction for the same which are mentioned in the indictment against the said Smith, by virtue of which he said Smith on the requisition of the of has been recently arrested by the order of His Excellency Governor of the State of , said affiants further state that they were imprisoned with the said [HC 5:496] Joseph Smith when they and the said Smith were delivered into the hands of a guard to be conducted out of <the> State of and by said guard by the order and direction of the authorities of said counties where said Mormons were arrested and confined and by order of the of the State of were set at large with directions to leave the without delay— That said Joseph Smith and said affiants were compelled to leave the for the reasons above mentioned, and would not and did not leave said for any other cause or reason than that they were ordered and driven from the state of by the and citizens thereof and further say not.
, , , , , , .
L.S. Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence this 7 day of July AD 1843. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my Notarial Seal at my office in this 7th. day of July AD 1843.
Notary Public. Ills”
About 4 p,m, , , and started on the Steamer “Rapids” on this Eastern Mission.
<8> Municipal court sat, and approved of the copies of the evidence heard on the , and revised it for the Press. In the afternoon started with <the affidavits of> , , , , and affidavits to carry to the .
arrived from the , with 157,000 feet of lumber, and 70,000 shingles for the .
, and arrived at and reship<ped> on board the “Lancet” for . [HC 5:497]
<9> Sunday 9th. Meeting at the in the morning; I addressed the Saints, of which the following is a brief synopsis as reported by Dr. .
“Joseph remarked that all was well between him and the heavens— that he had no enmity against any one, and as the prayer of Jesus, or his pattern so prayed Joseph “Father forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me,” for I freely forgive all men.” If we would secure and cultivate the love of others, we must love others even our enemies, as well as friends. Sectarian [p. 1665]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [42]
TEXT: “L.S.” enclosed in a hand-drawn representation of a seal, spanning three lines.
- [43]
JS, Journal, 7 July 1843.
- [44]
See 8 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [45]
JS, Journal, 8 July, 1843.
- [46]
Young, Journal, 8 July 1843; Woodruff, Journal, 8 July 1843.
Young, Brigham. Journals, 1832–1877. Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1, boxes 71–73.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [47]
See 9 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [48]
JS, Journal, 9 July 1843.
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