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 13> inhabitants of this than any despot of the eastern country over his serfs. I met him, and he gave me some abusive language, taking up a stone to throw at me: I seized him by the throat to choke him off.” He then spoke of Esquire interfering when he had no business, and of the abuses he received at the election on the hill.
They got a constable by the name of King; I don’t know what need there was of a Constable. Old Father Perry said “why you can’t vote in this precinct”; King took me by the collar, and told me to go away. All our wrongs have arisen under the power and authority of democracy, and I have sworn that this arm shall fall from my shoulder, and this tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, before I will vote for them, unless they make me satisfaction; and I feel it sensibly. I was abused and neglected at the ground, and there was not a man in the crowd to say “this is brother Joseph, or this is the Mayor.”
He then spoke of the grog shops, and the disturbance of the crowd in the street by Moesser’s grocery.
I have been ferretting out grog shops, groceries, and beer barrels. I have warned the rum and beer dealers to be scarce after this time, and the peace officers to watch the grog shops, and give me seasonable notice of any disorder. If they are conducted as they have been I will rip them up.”
He then sat down but resumed
“I had forgotten one thing; we have had certain traders in this , who have been writing falsehoods [HC 5:531] to ; and there is a certain man in this who has made a covenant to betray and give me up to the Missourians, and that too before commenced his persecutions. That man is no other than : this testimony I have from gentlemen from abroad whose names I do not wish to give. I most solemnly proclaim the withdrawal of my fellowship from this man on condition that the foregoing be true, and let the Saints proclaim it abroad that he may no longer be acknowledged as my Counsellor; and all who feel to sanction my proceedings and views will manifest it by uplifted hands.”
There was a unanimous vote that be disfellowshipped and his license demanded.
The held meetings in various parts of .
<14> Monday. Rode out at 9 A.M. At home at 1 p.m. In the evening attended the funeral of , who died at my house yesterday. <¶> I copy from the State Register, as follows:
“We have seen and heard a statement that had delayed making a decision upon the demand of for the militia to arrest Joseph Smith until after the election, so as by intimidation to compel the Mormons to vote the democratic ticket. The authors of this desperate and reckless slander, take counsel from their own corrupt hearts, and judge others by a knowledge of what they would do in like case. No doubt, but that they would do this, and more too, if necessary, to secure the success of their party, and hence their readiness to believe evil of others. If, however they had been in the least degree inclined to judge correctly, they would have gone as we have done to the records of the Secretary’s office, where they would have ascertained that all these suspicions were groundless; and that the had actually decided not to call out the Militia, eleven days before the election.” [p. 1691]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [172]
Woodruff, Journal, 13 Aug. 1843.
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
- [173]
See 14 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [174]
JS, Journal, 14 Aug. 1843.
- [175]
“Illinois and Missouri,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 30 Aug. 1843, [2]; “Illinois and Missouri,” Times and Seasons, 15 Aug. 1843, 4:292–294.
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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