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.
Moved by seconded by ; that be ordained High Priest— Carried— Moved by , seconded by Elder ; that be ordained High Priest— carried— Moved by seconded by Elder ; that Thomas Smith be ordained High Priest— carried— Moved by , seconded by Elder , that John Alliston be ordained Elder— carried. Also by the same, that be ordained Elder— carried: and that William Berry be ordained Elders— carried. Moved by , seconded by ; that Joseph Slinger be ordained Priest— carried— Moved by , seconded by , that be ordained Priest— carried— Moved by seconded by ; that John Smith be ordained Priest,— carried. also by the same that Robert Williams be ordained Priest— carried. and that be ordained Priest— carried. Moved by , seconded by ; that John Melling be ordained Priest— carried. Moved by , seconded by ; that John Sanders be ordained Elder— carried. Moved by , seconded by ; that John Parkinson be ordained elder— carried. Moved by , seconded by ; that James Worsley be ordained Elder— carried. also, by the same, that John Allan be ordained Elder— carried. and that John Swindlehurst be ordained Priest— carried. Elder then called upon those officers, whose circumstances would permit them to devote themselves entirely to the work of the ministry, and would volunteer so to do, to stand up, when the following names were taken, viz: of the travelling high council, , , , , , and ; other officers, namely; , , , , , Thomas Richardson, , John Parkinson, John Wych, John Needham, H<enry> Royle, , D. Wilding, <Charles Price>, Joseph Knowles, William Kay, Samuel Heath, William Parr, R. Mc.Bride, and James Morgan— [HC 4:148] Moved by , seconded by , that Elder P. Melling be appointed to preside over the following branches of the Church, viz , Langton, Penworthan, North Meols and Southport— Carried. Moved by seconded by , that Elder Richard Withnall be appointed to preside over the branches of the Church at Whittle, Dauber’s Lane, Chorley, Hunters Hill, and Euxtonburgh— Carried. Moved by seconded by that Elder Thomas Smith be appointed to preside over the branches of the Church at Clithero, Chatburn, Downham, Chaighley, Grindleton, Whitemore, Burnley, Blackburn, Ribchester, and Thornley.— Carried. Moved and seconded, that and his Counsellors be set at liberty from the charge which they have sustained as a Presidency, that they may have the privilege of more fully entering into the field of labor; and that their labors be accepted.— Carried. Elders and then proceeded to ordain those who had been nominated to their respective offices, after which — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — the minutes, were read and — — — — — — — accepted by the unanimous voice of the Conference — — — — — — — — — —
Conference — adjourned to the Sixth day of October next, to be held in the Carpenter’s Hall at 10 o’clock. A.M. [p. 1073]