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 27> said:
“I never saw but three times, and never exchanged a word with any man living on the subject. I ask pardon for having done anything which should give occasion to make you think so.”
In the evening attended Council and prayer meeting with my brother , , , and .
<28> Monday 28. I was visited by a deputation of Pottowatamie Indians; the following is copy of a letter brought by them
“Father,
The last time we been in her we dint understand what you have tel us, this day the berrer will let us know what advise your goo[d]ness will let us know the last time we saw the Real (Red) french they use two tel us how to do always we are like bline peple in this place, we want know what is the matter they want allways our land then if wel do so how will com of us— You are our father we hope you tell us faier and throuth of all this business one, the french and Anglis as allways make charitey we hope you will be the same. our chiffe are very onsisay [anxious] for that matter to per asap [perhaps] let go our land— we allways think to not let led go. Your advise father is what we want, when I was a boy I never think to lost our land but now I am fare from my father— I am bline— But still we attend to not sel or Exchange no we shut our yeres [eyes] to our frends ar on Mission and opened— tow you— Miamis Nahachaweth, Mesaocobet, Megesse, Chabortoche, this are grate menes not chiefs but considerate, we think after you saw this lines father you will let us know by your hand what you think— if your think we must kepe our land your are with us we, chant give up— if you say so— we are all against the [blank] other Band, and Brave fellers in here— Namouth, Manitomenque, Paicouchaiby, Tapawisse, we hierd cled our father was arive now we begin to see lite, <then we send our Soldiers two give there hands & ours to our father we like very much you shall be our father we think Grate of you we think as longe we are in the Dark our father will give us the Lite> the last time our Soldiers went to sea you we could not understand good but know we send our will understand well and repeted well what you will tel us, we like veray much to give us some plant (plan) of our land where is bigin— Paicouchaiby like his knew father if he will be let us know, we give our hand tow Father and hope all good ad vises from him.
We go Give our hand to our father, brave soldier,— and younges menes and hope your advise by your hand,
<Prairy, Indian Band>
we are very Pour it is for that we pray on you father—”
To the foregoing I wrote this answer
“ August 28. 1843 Dear children, I have received and read your kind words, and agreeable to your wishes I now send you an answer. In regard to parting with your lands and selling them, I do not think it is best for you to let them go but to keep them to live upon for yourselves and your children, and in regard to my giving you council and being your father I have to say that I shall be happy to render you any assistance in my power in giving instructions and advice as well as to do any other business for you, which lays in my power at any time if it be not contrary to the laws of the , which laws I am always obedient and subject to. I feel interested in the welfare and prosperity of all [p. 1709]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
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Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [213]
See 28 Aug. 1843 entry in History Draft.
- [214]
Clayton, Journal, 28 Aug. 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [215]
TEXT: Beginning at this point there is a box drawn around the text of the rest of this page and the following page (through 28 Aug. 1843) with a graphite notation that “this not to be printed B.Y.” “not to print | B.Y.” is written on the following page.
- [216]
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