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.
<January 2> there may be many who do not value your labors. their sectarian prejudices being greater than their love for truth and the Constitution of our ; yet there are — — many who will undoubtedly appreciate your services, and will feel it a pleasure to assist you all that they possibly can.
Conscious of the righteousness of your cause— having the prayer of the Saints (amongst whom are — — many who have shared with you the trials persecutions and imprisonments which have been heaped upon the Saints in ) and having the approval of Heaven, I would say, go on dear Brethren in the name of the Lord, and while you are pleading the cause of the Widow and the Fatherless, may [HC 4:50] He who has promised to be a Father to the Fatherless, and a husband to the Widow, bless you in your undertaking, and arm you with sufficient strength for the herculean task in which you are engaged: Your exertions will be seconded by the Brethren in this region, who are disposed to do all they possibly can. I had just got ready to start for when I received your letter, I no sooner read it, than I abandoned the idea of going there; I then made exertions to obtain funds for you in this place; but not being able to get any, and hearing that there were brethren in lately from ; I started off the following day and succeeded in obtaining from Brother Herringshaw three hundred dollars, which I deposited with Messrs. Holmes and Co. Merchants in , subject to the order of ; the reason why I deposited it with them was, in consequence of the banks not doing any business and refusing to take deposits &c. I hope that we shall be able to raise you some more soon; Brother has promised to let us have one hundred dollars as soon as he gets a remittance from the East, which he expects daily. We have not been able to get much on the lots since you left, not more than enough to pay some wages for surveying, and a few debts; Brother returned the Subscription paper a few days ago, stating that he had not collected any thing since you left; In consequence of my health which has been poor and the coldness of the Weather I have not been able to attend to it myself, I hardly think we shall be able to raise the one thousand dollars for Mr. by the time he will expect it. is yet in ; not being able to move in consequence of the low stage of water in the Ohio River; I received a letter lately from , stating that he was in the City of , had published another Edition of his book and wanted permission to print an Edition of the Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, &c, with a periodical similar to the “Times and Seasons,” stating that there were men who had means, that would assist in these things— He likewise wanted to get privilege for the Twelve to print the Book of Mormon &c in Europe; I wrote in reply, that if there were any of the Brethren disposed to aid, and had means to spare for [p. 1006]