JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of , , Jonathan Grimshaw, and ; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “’s forces” at , Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop at , Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.
Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author. , , , and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.
The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in by the and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to ; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch ; the establishment of the city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo ; the expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.
posterity; he wanted to bring them into the presence of God. they looked for a city &c Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God. through the power of the Priesthood but he could not In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing and there were Elias’s raised up who tried to restore these very glories but did not obtain them but they prop[h]ecied of a day when this glory would be revealed Paul spoke of the Dispensation of the fulness of times when God would gather together all things in one &c and those men to whom these Keys have been given will have to be there and they without us cannot be made perfect. These men are in Heaven but their children are on Earth. Their Bowels yearn over us. God sends down men for this reason, Matt 13. 41, and the Son of Man shall send forth his Angels &c. All these Authorative Characters will come down and join hand in hand in bringing about this work. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of Mustard seed the Mustard seed is small but brings forth a large tree and the Fowls lodge in the branches: The fowls are the Angels thus Angels come down combine together to gather their children and gather them. We cannot be made perfect without them, nor they without us, when these things are done the Son of Man will descend the Ancient of days sit— we may come to an innumerable company of Angels, have communion with and recieve instruction from them Paul told about Moses proceedings, spoke of the children of Israel being baptized &C he knew this and that all the Ordinances and blessings were in the Church— Paul had these things and we may have the fowls of Heaven lodge in the branches &c. The Horn made war with the Saints and overcame them &c until the Ancient of Days came judgment was given to the saints of the Most High from the Ancient of Days the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom— this not only makes us ministers here but in Eternity. Salvation cannot come without Revelation it is in vain for any one to minister without it— No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a Prophet— No man can be the minister of Jesus Christ, except he has the testimony of Jesus and this is the Spirit of Prophesy,— whenever salvation has been administered it has been by Testimony. Men of the present time testify of Heaven, and of Hell and have never seen either and I will say that no man knows these things without this. Men profess to prophecy. I will prophecy that the signs of the coming of the Son of Man are already commenced,— One pestilence will desolate after another— we shall soon have War and Bloodshed. The moon will be turned to Blood— I testify of these things and that the coming of the Son of Man is nigh even at your doors,— If our souls and our bodies are not looking forth for the coming of the Son of Man and after we are dead if we are not looking forth &c we shall be among those who are calling for the rocks to fall upon us &c— The hearts of the children of men will have to be turned to the Fathers and the Fathers to the children living or dead, to prepare them for the coming of the son of man. If Elijah did not come the whole Earth would be smitten There will be here and there a Stake for the gathering of the Saints. some may have cried peace, but the saints and the world will have little peace from henceforth Let this not hinder us from going to the Stakes for God has told us to flee not dallying or we shall be scattered, one here, another there. There your children shall be blessed and you in the midst of friends where you may be blessed The Gospel Net gathers of every kind, I propecy that that man who tarries after he has an opportunity of going will be afflicted by the Devil [p. 12 [addenda]]