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.
<November 28 Petition to Congress> and — when they first commenced settling in those Counties, there were but few settlements made there, the lands were wild and uncultivated. In the fall of 1838 large farms had been made, well improved and stocked— Lands had risen in value and sold for from ten dollars to twenty five dollars. The Improvement and settlement had been such, that it was a common remark that the County of would soon be the wealthiest in the — Thus stood their affairs in the fall of 1838, when the Storm of Persecution again raged over the heads of the Mormons, and the fierce Demon of the Mob drove them forth— houseless and homeless, and pennyless, upon the Charities of the World, which to them thank God! have been like Angel visits, but not few or far between. This last persecution began — — — — — at an election which was held in on the first Monday of August 1838. A Mormon went to the Polls to vote. One of the Mob standing by opposed his voting, contending that a Mormon had no more right to vote than a Negro, one angry word brought on another, and blows followed. They are however happy to state that the Mormon was not the Aggressor, but was on the defensive. Others interfered, not one alone, but many assailed the Mormon. His brethren seeing him thus assailed by numbers, rushed to the rescue, then came others of the Mob, until finally a general row commenced. The Mormons were victorious. the next day a rumor reached the Mormons of , that two of their brethren had been killed in this fight, and that a refusal had been made to surrender their bodies for burial. Not knowing at the time that this rumor was false, they became much excited and several of them started for with a view of giving the brethren whom they supposed to have been killed, a decent interment, where they arrived next morning. Among the Citizens this fight produced a great excitement. They held a public meeting and resolved to drive the Mormons from the Country. Individuals began also to threaten the Mormons as a body and swear that they should leave the in three days. When the Mormons who had gone from to as aforesaid arrived there, they found this state of excitement to exist. They also heard that a large Mob was collecting against them, headed by one of the Judges of the County Court of . [HC 4:29] Under these circumstances, and with a view to allay the excitement they called on , and enquired of him whether the reports they had heard in relation to him were true: Upon his denying them to be true they then requested him to give that denial in writing, which he freely did. This writing they published with a view of calming the public mind, and allaying the excitement— Having done this, they rested in quiet for some time, hoping that their efforts would produce the desired effect. Their surprize can, under these circumstances be easily imagined when a short time after, they learned that said had gone before and made oath that he was forced to sign the instrument, by armed Mormons, and procured a warrant for the arrest of Joseph Smith Junr. and , which was placed in the hands of the Sheriff. it was also reported that the said individuals had refused to surrender [p. 979]