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 9> and is good for nothing without the other half, that is the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
I am free to day— Messengers have returned with offers of peace from the . The Savior says Except a man be born again, of water and of the Spirit, he can in no wise enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Though we or an [HC 5:499] angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed, according to Galations 1 ch 8 v.”
This morning and retuned from . stated that on the 4th. they drove to , hired fresh horses and got to 124 miles about 7 on the morning of the 5th. in advance of the mail <carrying and > about 2 hours and ready to see the with documents— the affidavits were in the possession of , who refused to give them up, either to the or him, on account of a political squib in the State Register, charging with making capital Stock out of my arrest to favor his election to Congress; <> then demanded them as my Agent, telling him that if he would not give them up he would take them from him; then turned and said “I will do my duty if it takes my head”, and then went with him and delivered the papers to the . when they received the decision of the , started on their return home,— when they returned to they learned that Gen. had been staying there two or three weeks with 10 or 12 men, waiting for an opportunity of transporting me to , and had only left there the morning previous when they learned the decision of .
In the evening started for to carry further affidavits and see .
<10> I rode out with to the .
The following piece of poetry was composed by Miss on the occasion of my late arrest.
Like bloodhounds fiercely prowling,
With pistols ready drawn—
With oaths like tempests howling,
Those kidnappers came on.
He bared his breast before them
But as they hurried near
A fearfulness came o’er them—
It was the coward’s fear.
Well might their dark souls wither
When he their courage dared—
Their pity fled, O Whither?
When he his bosom bared?
“Death has to me no terrors”
He said “I hate a life
So subject to the horrors
of your ungodly strife.”
What means your savage conduct?
Have you a lawful writ?
To any legal process
I cheerfully submit.” [p. 1667]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [51]
See 10 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [52]
Clayton, Journal, 10 July 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [53]
“The Kidnapping of Gen. Joseph Smith,” Times and Seasons, 1 Aug 1843, 4:288.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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