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 9> uneasy on that score— [HC 4:111] nothing new has transpired since you left us, with us, with the exception of the death of one of the Senators, Mr. Thaddeus Betts; who died — — yesterday, his funeral took place — — to day, hence no other business was transacted in the Senate— We have also lost the Cumberland Road Bill by a final vote in the Senate, 20 voting for and 22 against it, one single vote from the Majority would have saved it, by making a tie— the Vice President was exceedingly anxious for the opportunity of getting the casting vote in its favor— of Kentucky made a speech against and voted throughout against it, Grundy of Tennessee, Wright of and Buchanan of ; three of the leading Democrats in the Senate voted for it, There were but seven — — — — Whigs who voted for it, and thirteen Democrats. I think we will adjourn about the first or second Monday in June. I received from , the petition and papers, in relation to a change of Postmaster at with an Affidavit from , all of which have been laid before the proper department— as soon as I get an answer it shall be communicated to you— Don’t forget to have the Times and Seasons sent to me. Give my respects to Revd. Joseph Smith, and accept for yourself my best wishes for your happiness Yours &c ”
In the Times and Seasons of this month is a prospectus for publishing at a weekly paper to be called “The News—”
“To all People unto whom these presents shall come— Greeting— Be it known that we the constituted authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, assembled in Conference, at , Hancock County and State of Illinois, on this sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty, considering an important event at hand, an event involving the interest and fate of the Gentile nations throughout the world. From the signs of the times and from declarations contained in the oracles of God, we are forced to come to this conclusion. The Jewish nation have been scattered abroad among the Gentiles for a long period; and in our estimation, the [HC 4:112] time of the commencement of their return to the Holy Land, has already arrived. As this scattered and persecuted people are set among the Gentiles as a sign unto them of the second coming of the Messiah; and also, of the overthrow of the present kingdom’s and Governments of the Earth, by the potency of his Almighty arm in scattering famine and pestilence like the frosts and snows of winter, and sending the sword, with nation against nation to bathe it in each others blood: It is highly important, in our opinion, that the present views and movements of the Jewish People be sought after, and laid before the American People for their consideration, their profit and their learning; and feeling it to be our duty to employ the most efficient means in our power to save the Children of men from the “abomination that maketh desolate”, We have by the Counsel of the Holy Spirit, appointed Elder , the bearer of these presents, a faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ, [p. 1047]