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 26> those vested with the powers of government, for redress of grievances; and that their right to bear arms in defence of themselves and the State, cannot be questioned. This over-wise right of gun-fence was made, as I have learned, for breachy Indians, but was used by , as a sine qua non, pointed with steel and burning with brimstone, to exterminate the Mormons. Truly we may ask, what is right, and what is law, contrary to the constitution? The Legislature of acknowledged the exterminating order of as constitutional, and appropriated more than $200.000 to pay the drivers and robbers, and I may as well say, mobbers of the Mormons, for services rendered the in 1838. O Gladius! O Crumena! Viator.”
Shower of rain at noon.
<27.—> Wednesday Thursday 27.— I drove <with> thro’ the city in my carriage.
The “Adelaide” having run aground on a Sand bar, as graphically describes their voyage, “it was like punching suckers out of <a> Trout brook,” on account of the lowness of the water. <Elders , and > they were set ashore and took coach for , where they arrived at 6 o’Clock; went to the Temperance Hall and unobserved heard preaching against the sects. There Here they met with & .
<28> Thursday Friday 28 I was at home, sick, and was visited by .
At noon, the Recorder, brought the desk containing city and books and papers to the Mayors , as he was about to go on a Mission to Ireland.
The met at . inquired concerning the proceedings of the Twelve in ; found that , and had held a , organized the church, and then left for . [HC 5:520]
stayed a few days and disunited what had been done, and re-organized the church; but the church was left in no better situation. reproved for undoing alone what three of the had done together. He also alluded to my instructions to be gentle and mild in their teachings, and not to fight the sects any more at present, but to win the affections of the people.
In the evening they met at ’s house. Elders , and addressed the Saints, numbering seventy five.
<29> Friday Saturday 29. I rode up to the and sent copy of certificate of Trustee, and ’s power of attorney to , . Walked up to near the , met my brother , and had a conversation about . There was a political meeting at the , when Mr. , Candidate for Congress addressed the citizens for three hours, and was replied to in short by .
Council of the met in the evening at ’s to teach the — said,
A man should in the first place preside over himself, his passions, his person, and bring himself into subjection to the Law of God; then preside over his children and his wife in righteousness; then he will be capable of presiding over a of the ; but many Elders are contending about presiding over churches, when they are not capable of presiding over themselves, or the least child they have.
The first principle of our cause and work is to understand that there is a Prophet in the church, and that he is at the head of the church of Jesus Christ on earth.
Who called Joseph Smith to be a Prophet? Did the people, or God? God, [p. 1684]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [112]
JS, Journal, 26 July 1843.
- [113]
See 27 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [114]
Clayton, Journal, 27 July 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [115]
TEXT: A transposition mark in text indicates two previous phrases to be reversed: “I drove thro’ the city with Father Morley”.
- [116]
Woodruff, Journal, 27 July 1843; Young, Journal, 27 July 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Young, Brigham. Journals, 1832–1877. Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1, boxes 71–73.
- [117]
See 28 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [118]
Clayton, Journal, 28 July 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [119]
JS, Journal, 28–29 July 1843.
- [120]
Woodruff, Journal, 28 July 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [121]
See 29 July 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [122]
JS, Journal, 29 July 1843; Clayton, Journal, 29 July 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [123]
Letter to the Editor, Nauvoo Neighbor, 2 Aug. 1843, [2].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
- [124]
Woodruff, Journal, 29 July 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
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