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 17> and what we are doing in this Country, the work of the Lord <continues> progressing here, a<s when> — — — — — — — — Elders , and left — — — — — — — —: according to the account that the Elders give of their labors, there have been about eight or nine hundred persons baptized since they left— The gospel is spreading, the devils are roaring; as nigh as I can learn, the priests are howling, the tares — — — are binding up, the wheat is gathering; — — — nations are trembling; kingdoms — — — tottering: “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the Earth.” The poor among men are rejoicing in the Lord, and the meek do increase their joy: the hearts of the wicked do wax worse and worse, deceiving and be<ing> deceived, but I rejoice that I am counted worthy to be one of the number to carry salvation to the poor and meek of the Earth. Brethren, I want to say many things, but I shall not have room on this paper, as I design giving the minutes of our conferences below— After a long and tedious journey of 28 days on the Water we landed in — Elders , , , , and were in Company; we rejoiced in the Lord, and when we cast our minds upon the Saints in our Country, we could by faith participate in their joys; realizing they were met in Conference, it being the 6th. day of April. We soon found a room that we could have to ourselves, which made our solemn assembly glorious: we blest each other and prepared for our labor. The next day we found in the ; there had been about 30 baptized. On Wednesday went to , met with the Church on Sunday, bore testimony of the things the Lord is doing in these last days. President gave out an appointment for a Conference, for the Church on Wednesday the 15th.. At a Council of the 12 held in , England, on the 14th. of April 1840, it being the 9th. day of the 1st. month of the 11th. year, of the rise of the Church of Jesus Christ, Elders , , , , , , and being present. Elder was called to preside, and Elder chosen Secretary; the Council was opened by prayer by Elder . Elder was ordained to the office of an Apostle, and received into the Quorum of the Twelve by unanimous voice, according to previous revelation: Elder was unanimously chosen as the — — — — president of the Twelve. [HC 4:115] Resolved, that he who acts as the Secretary of the Quorum, shall prepare the Minutes of the Conferences of the Quorum, and deposit them in the hands of the President for keeping. Moved by , and seconded by , that Twenty of the Seventies be sent for, and that it be left discretionary with the President of the Twelve, to send for more if he think proper: Conference adjourned, benediction by . At a general Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in the Temperance Hall, , Lancashire England, on the 15th. April 1840, President called upon to preside, and Elder chosen Clerk, it being the [p. 1049]