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.
<February 27 Democratic Association in > The first idea that occurred to your Committee was, to obtain correctly the facts of the case, for without them the Committee could come [HC 3:267] to no conclusions, as to what it might be proper for us to do. Without them, they could form no basis upon which the Committee might recommend to this association what would be proper for us to do, or what measures to adopt. The Committee, soon after their appointment, sent invitations to , and several others, to meet the committee and give them a statement of the facts, and to disclose their situation. Those individuals accordingly met the Committee and entered into a free conversation and disclosure of the facts of their situation, and after some time spent therein, the committee concluded to adjourn and report to this meeting, but not without first requesting those individuals to draw up and send us, in writing, a condensed statement of the facts relative to the subjects in charge of your committee, which those individuals engaged to do, and which the Committee request may be taken as part of their report, That statement is herewith lettered A
The Committee believe that our duties at this time, and on this occasion, are all included within the limits of an expanded benevolence and humanity, and which are guided and directed by that charity which never faileth. From the facts already disclosed, independent of the Statement furnished to the committee, we feel it our duty to recommend to this Association that they adopt the following resolutions— Resolved that the Strangers recently arrived here from the State of , known by the name of the “Latter Day Saints,” are entitled to our sympathy and kindest regard, and that we recommend to the Citizens of to extend to them all the kindness in their power to bestow, as persons who are in affliction. Resolved that a numerous committee be raised, composed of some individuals in every quarter of the Town and its vicinity, whose duty it shall be to explain to our misguided fellow Citizens, if any such there be, who are disposed to excite prejudices and circulate unfounded rumors; and particularly to explain to them, that these people have no design to lower the wages of the laboring class, but to procure something to save them from starving. Resolved that a standing Committee be raised, and be composed of individuals who shall immediately inform and others, as many as they may think proper, of their appointment; and who shall be authorised to obtain information from time to time, and should they be of opinion that any individuals either from destitution or sickness, or if they find them houseless, that they appeal directly and promptly to the Citizens of to furnish them with the means to relieve all such cases. Resolved that the Committee last aforesaid, be instructed to use [HC 3:268] their utmost endeavors to obtain employment for all these people, who are able and willing to labor, and also to afford them all needful, suitable, and proper encouragement. Resolved that we recommend to all the Citizens of , that in all their intercourse with the Strangers, that they use and observe a becoming decorum and delicacy, and be particularly careful not to indulge in any conversation or expressions calculated to wound their feelings or in any way to reflect upon those, who, by every [p. 889]