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.
<August 6> to your faith? No; or will ten thousand testimonies destroy your knowledge of a fact? No; I don’t want any one to tell I am a prophet, or attempt to prove my word. I prophesy in the name of God Almighty they shall bear off the palm.
explained at some length concerning the election. [HC 5:526]
started for to transact some business for me, it not being prudent for me to go to .
“The in held a meeting in the Canaanite church, about 300 Saints were present. Meeting was opened by , and President addressed the congregation at considerable length. He said that a man or woman may ask of God and get a witness and testimony from God concerning any work or messenger that is sent unto them; but if a person asks for a thing that does not concern <him>, such as governing the ; <as a member of the church enquiring concerning the duty of a Presiding Elder,> what the Prophet or the Twelve ought to do; &c., he will not get an answer; if he does it will not be from God. He also remarked that if any in the church had the <fullness of the> he did not know it; for any person to have the fulness of that priesthood <he> must be a king and a Priest. A person may have a portion of that Priesthood the same as Governors or Judges of have power from the king to transact business; but that does not make them kings of . A person may be anointed king and priest <long> before he receives his kingdom.
In the evening Elder preached and was followed by Elder .” -[s Journal]-.
<7.—> Monday— Election of representative and State and County officers: the democratic ticket prevailing in by an overwhelming majority.
<8.—> Tuesday— The in went out on a pleasure excursion on the Delaware river with about 150 of the Saints; they went down to Gloucester Point, and spent the day in various innocent amusements.
<9.—> Wednesday— I rode out to my with a Gentleman.
<10.—> Thursday— Rode through the with my brother .
<11.—> Friday—
“Obituary. (From the Times and Seasons.) It is with regret that we announce the death of our respected brother, Gen. of . He joined the [HC 5:527] some time ago in the above place, and had come to for the purpose of arranging matters preparatory to his removal to this place. He was attacked by the cholera morbus, and died on Friday night the 11th. inst. He has left an amiable family, and a large circle of acquaintances, by whom he was greatly respected, to mourn his loss. Peace to his ashes.”
No man can put forth his hand to steady this ark, but God and his servant Joseph.
<12.—> Saturday— returned from . I was sick at home. having on Monday last been elected School Commissioner, and George W. Thatcher, Clerk [p. 1688]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [155]
Woodruff, Journal, 6 Aug. 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [156]
See 7 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [157]
JS, Journal, 7 Aug. 1843.
- [158]
See 8 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [159]
Woodruff, Journal, 8 Aug. 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [160]
See 9 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [161]
Clayton, Journal, 9–10 Aug. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [162]
See 10 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [163]
See 11 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [164]
Obituary for James Adams, Times and Seasons, 1 Aug. 1843, 4:287.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
- [165]
See 12 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [166]
JS, Journal, 12 Aug. 1843.
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