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.
<April 1> me from executing nearly all the arrangements, I had proposed for myself for the last eight months. Knowing the additions constantly joining your Society, it has occurred to me, that some of them may be unprovided with farming lands; and I mention at this time, that I am interested in a Tract of about 12,000 acres of very choice lands consisting of Timber and Prairie, fifteen or twenty miles from , upon which Mr. Gillet and several other families are settled, and cultivating most excellent farms— it is one of the best Neighborhoods in the . I do not know what my Copartners in this tract would say about disposing of what remains unsold of the Tract (say eight to nine thousand acres) but I should be disposed to sell upon reasonable terms, provided from twenty to forty families, valuable for their prudence, industry, and good habits from your Society, can be found to form a small Colony of practical farmers— I am also interested with the same Gentleman in lands near Rock River, in Henry and Mercer Counties, and believe this would on many accounts be another extremely desirable place or location for a Colony of your people— I have said nothing to those owning with me relative to this subject, but suppose they would be governed materially by two considerations; namely, the characters of the purchasers and the fact of their being actual settlers or not— If you think two small colonies of the right sort can be formed from your Society, you will oblige, by informing me at your earliest opportunity— The price of the balance in the Tract near , including an average proportion of timber, and an average proportion of prairie, I should think 450/100 dollars per acre, none of the prairie alone has been sold less than 3 dollars, and some at 3 and a half, and I am confident that four and a half dollars for timber and prairie is very low, and especially as a credit except for a small amount would be extended to the purchasers— The other Tract is nearly all Prairie, but the finest selection of that region. It is probably worth three and a half dollars per acre. [HC 4:101] As my paper is out I have only room to request my respects presented to all friends at . I beg you to tell the Editor of the Times and Seasons that as soon as my health allows me to go to the bank, I shall send them $10. Your obt. servt. ”
“<at> , <>. Brother J. Smith Jr. Dear Sir— I thought I would occupy a portion of this morning in writing to you— by a letter received from yesterday, I have learned that the Senate has decided that they have no constitutional right to interfere in the case between us, and the people of ; and refer us to the Courts for redress; either those of , or the . Now I am confident, that there is but one person in , that we can sue with safety, and that is , and he is known to be a bankrupt, and unable to pay his debts, that if we should sue him, we will have the cost to pay, as he has nothing to pay it, with, We are therefore left to bear the loss without redress at present— is on the way home, and has been for ten days, he obtained money [p. 1041]