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 13> “I beg leave to call your attention to a subject of considerable importance to our Church, and which if not attended to is calculated [(]in my humble opinion) to raise a prejudice in a considerable portion of the community, and destroy those benevolent and philanthropic feelings, which have been manifested towards us as a people by a large portion of this community; I have reference to the Letters of Brother , which have been inserted in the Quincy Whig, I am aware that upon a cursory view of these, nothing very objectionable may appear; yet if they are attentively considered there will be found very great objections to them indeed: for instance in condemning the Democracy of , why condemn that of the whole Union, and why use such epithets as “Demagogue” to for not answering his letter when it is very probable that he had not received it. Yesterday I was waited on by who asked me what was intended by such publications, and why we should come out against the democracy of the nation, when they were doing all in their power to assist us; It was something which he could not understand, and wished to know if we as a people countenanced such proceedings. I told him for my part, I was sorry that his letters had ever made their appearance, and believed that such a course was at variance with the sentiments of the greater part of our people. Yesterday I brought the subject before the authorities of the Church who are here, where it was manifest that his conduct was not fellowshipped and the brethren wished to disavow all connexion with such proceedings and appointed a Committee to wait on , to beg of him, not to persist in the course, which if not nipt in the bud will probably bring persecution with all its horrors upon an innocent people by the folly and imprudence of one individual— From information I understand that the feelings of the are [HC 3:351] very much hurt by the course which is pursued. I think we ought to correct the public mind on this subject, and as a Church disavow all connexions with politics; By such a measure we may in some measure counteract the baneful influence which his letters have occasioned: But if such a course which he () has adopted, be continued (as I understand that he intends to do) it will block up our way, and we can have no reasonable prospect of obtaining justice from the authorities of the Union, whom we wantonly condemn before we have made application. The same feelings are begining to be manifested in by those who have been our friends there. The Whigs are glad of such weapons, and make the most of them— You will probably think I am a little too officious but I feel impressed with the subject, I feel for my brethren; The tears of Widows, the cries of Orphans and the moans of the distressed are continually present in my mind and I want to adopt and continue a course, which shall be beneficial to us— but if through the imprudence and conduct of Isolated individuals— 3, 4, or 5 years hence our altars should be thrown down, our Homes destroyed, our brethren slain, our Wives Widows, and our Children Orphans, your — — — — [p. 938]