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.
<April 15>
| George W. Hickerson | ||
| David Judah | ||
| Thomas Dobson | Jacob L. Burnham | |
| James Nelson | David J. Hershner | |
| Nathaniel Leavitt | James Graham | |
| John Lawrence | Timothy S. Hoyt | |
| Nathan A. West |
.
| 1st. | William G. Rule | O. M. Allen |
| 2nd. | William Coray | William H. Jordan |
.
| S. H. Briggs |
Free
| 1st | A. C. Nickerson | L[evi] S. Nickerson |
Those elders who are numbered in the foregoing list, to preside over the different states, will appoint conferences in all places in their several states where opportunities present, and will attend all the Conferences, or send experienced and able elders— who will preach the truth in righteousness, and present before the people “General Smith’s views of the powers and policy of the General Government”; and seek diligently to get up electors who will go for him for the presidency. All the elders will be faithful in preaching the Gospel in its simplicity, and beauty, in all meekness, humility, long suffering and prayerfulness; and the Twelve will devote the season to travelling, and will attend as many Conferences as possible.
Elder is instructed to pass through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and , to visit the churches, hold conferences and preside over them.
, Pres.
, Clerk of the Quorum of the Twelve. [HC 6:340]
I copy from the Washington Globe of 14 March:—
A New advocate for a national bank. We have cast our eyes hastily over General mith’s (Mormon Joe) ‘Views of the power and Policy of the Government of the . 1844.’ This illustrious individual ‘goes the whole figure’ with Messrs. , , Sargeant [John Sergeant], and the Whig party in general, for a national bank. After this, who can doubt the propriety of such an institution? Here is Joe’s plan for a ‘fiscal Agent,’ which is quite as sensible, both in nature and object, as the famous fiscalities:
[‘]For the accommodation of the people in every State and Territory, let Congress shew their wisdom, by granting a national bank, with branches in each State and Territory, where the capital stock shall be held by the nation for the mother bank, and by the States and Territories for the branches; and whose officers and directors shall be elected yearly by the people, with wages at the rate of Two dollars [p. 2015]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [996]
“A New Advocate for a National Bank,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1844, 5:510–511.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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