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 19> A shower of rain in the p.m. The son of , aged 8 years, killed by lightning while standing in his s door-way in Bain Street.
To shew the spirit of the times, altho’ I do not vouch for the accuracy of all the statements, I copy from the State Register:—
“The public is already aware that a demand was lately made upon the of this for the arrest of Joseph Smith; and that a writ was accordingly issued against him. We propose now to state some of the facts, furnishing strong ground of suspicion that the demand which was made on the here was a manoeuvre of the Whig party.
1. A letter was shown to a gentleman of this city by the Agent of from the notorious to a gentleman in one of the Western counties of that , urging the importance of getting up an indictment immediately against Smith, for the five or six year old treason of which he was accused several years ago.
2. This charge had been made once before and afterwards abandoned by . It is the same charge on which Smith was arrested and carried before and discharged two years ago. After that decision the indictment against Smith was dismissed and the charge wholly abandoned. [HC 5:513]
3. But in the letter alluded to, says to his Agent, go to the Judge and never leave him until he appoints a special term of the court; never suffer the court to adjourn until an indictment is found against Smith for treason. When an indictment shall have been found, get a copy and go immediately to the and never leave him until you get a demand on the of for Smith’s arrest, and then dispatch some active and vigilant person to for a warrant, and let him never leave the until he gets it; and then let him never come back to without Smith.
4. A special term of the circuit court of , Missouri, was accordingly called on the 5th. day of June last. An indictment was found against Smith for treason five years old. A demand was made and a writ issued as anticipated by the 17th. of the same month.
5. , it is well known, has for a year past been a mere tool in the hands of the Whig junto at . He has been under their absolute subjection and control, and has been a regular correspondent of the Sangamo Journal, the principal organ of the Whig party. He has been a great pet of both the Journal and the Junto; and that paper has regularly announced his removals from place to place until latterly; and within the last year has published more of his writings, than of any other person except the editor.
6. , a short time after his nomination as the Whig candidate for Congress in the 6th. district, made a pilgrimage to for the purpose of currying favor with the Mormons and getting their support. But in this he was disappointed; as it appeared that many of the Mormons were disposed to support the democratic candidate. went home disappointed and dejected, and it was generally believed that failing to get the Mormon vote he would be beaten by his democratic opponent.
7. Let it be also born in mind that the treason of which Smith was accused was five or six years old; that it had been abandoned as a charge, [p. 1678]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [83]
See 19 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [84]
JS, Journal, 19 July 1843; “Killed by Lightening,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 26 July 1843, [3].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
- [85]
“The Federal Whig Conspiracy,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 19 July 1843, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
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