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.
<May 5> authority, and required to set to rights the Church in that place in every way which may become necessary according to the order of the Church of Jesus Christ. Resolved 3rd. That Colonel be appointed to receive the Affidavits which are to be sent to the City of — After which the afternoon was spent in receiving instruction from the presidency and those of the Twelve who were present— At five o clock p.m. Conference adjourned according to the resolution of Saturday, namely, until the first Saturday in October next, at , Illinois. Joseph Smith Jr. Chairman— Clerk
< 6> Monday 6 At a Conference held at Illinois on the 6th. of [HC 3:346] May 1839 President Joseph Smith Jr. presiding. The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to— Resolved 1st. That the families of , , and Bishop be kept here amongst us for the time being— Resolved 2nd. That be hereby appointed to preside over the Church at — Illinois— Resolved 3rd. That also go to , and there act in unison with the other Bishops of the Church. Resolved 4th. That ’s Gun Smith’s tools shall remain for the general use of the Church, until his return from Europe— Resolved 5th. That the following of the Seventies have the sanction of this Council that they accompany the twelve to Europe, namely— , , , , , , , , , , , , Abra[ha]m O. Smoot, also the following High Priests, namely, , , , William Snow, . Resolved 6th. That it be observed as a general rule, that those of the Seventies who have not yet preached, shall for the future, not be sent on foreign missions. Resolved 7th. That Elder be appointed to go to the City of , and preside over the Churches there, and in the regions round about.
<Letter to > I also gave the following letter to
“At a Conference meeting held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in the Town of Adams County, Illinois on Monday the 6th. day of May 1839 Joseph Smith Jr. Presiding— It was unanimously resolved that Elder be appointed to go to the City of and preside among the Saints in that place, and in the regions round about, and regulate the affairs of the Church according to the laws and doctrines of said Church, and he is fully authorised to receive donation monies, by the liberality of the Saints, for the assistance of the poor among us, who have been persecuted and driven from their homes in the State of , and from our long acquaintance with , and with his experience and knowledge of the laws of the Kingdom of God, we do not hesitate to recommend him to the Saints, as one in whom they may place the fullest confidence, both as to their Spiritual Welfare, as well as to the strictest integrity in all temporal concerns with which he may be entrusted. [HC 3:347] And we beseech the brethren in the name of the Lord Jesus, to receive this brother in behalf of the poor with readiness, and to abound unto him in a liberal manner [p. 935]