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> any resistance to the Mob, it was in self defence, and for these acts of self defence they always had the authority and sanction of the officers of the law for so doing. Yet they to the number of <about> Fifteen thousand souls have been driven from their homes in — their property to the amount of two millions of dollars has been taken from them, or destroyed, some of them have been murdered, beaten, bruised or lamed, and have all been driven forth, wandering over the world without homes, without property— But the loss of property does not comprise half their sufferings— They were human beings, possessed of human feelings, and human sympathies: Their agony of soul, was the bitterest drop in the cup of their sorrows. For these wrongs the Mormons ought to have some redress, yet how and where shall they seek and obtain it? Your Constitution guarantees to every Citizen, even the humblest, the enjoyment of life liberty and property It promises to all religious freedom, the right to all to worship God, beneath their own vine and fig tree, according to the dictates of their conscience— It guarantees to all the Citizens of the several States, the right to become Citizens of any one of the States, and to enjoy all the rights and immunities of the Citizens of the State of his adoption. Yet of all these rights have the Mormons been deprived, They have without a cause, without a trial, been deprived of life, liberty, and property. They have been persecuted for their religious opinions. They have been driven from the State of at the point of the bayonet, and prevented from enjoying and exercising the rights of Citizens of the State of . It is the theory of our laws, that for the protection of every legal right, there is provided a legal remedy— What then we would respectfully ask is the remedy of the Mormons? Shall they apply to the Legislature of the State of for redress? They have done so. They have petitioned, and these Petitions have been treated with silence and contempt. Shall they apply to the Federal Courts? They were at the time of the injury, Citizens of the State of — Shall they apply to the Court of the State of ? Whom [HC 4:37] shall they sue? The order for their destruction, their extermination was granted by the of the State of . Is not this a plea of justification for the loss of individuals done in pursuance of that order? If not, before whom shall the Mormons institute a trial? Shall they summon a Jury of the individuals who compose the Mob? An appeal to them were in vain: They dare not go to to institute a suit, Their lives would be in danger.”
For ourselves we see no redress unless it <is> awarded by the Congress of the . And here we make our appeal as American citizens, as Christians and as men believing that the high sense of justice which exists in your honorable bodies will not allow such oppression to be practiced upon any portion of the citizens of this vast republic with impunity; but that some measures which your wisdom may dictate may be taken, so that the great body of people who have been thus abused may have redress for the wrongs which they have suffered— And to your decision they [p. 986]