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.
<September 23> “ September 23. 1840 To the President and Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and also to all the Saints assembled in General Conference. Your humble servant embraces with pleasure this opportunity to pen for your edification a few lines. I congratulate you with the steady march and advancement of the cause of Christ, as has fallen under my observation. and have been treated with respect, and had the greatest attention paid us by the brethren and Sisters; and by Gentlemen and Ladies of the first class in Society, we have been made welcome very heartily to their dwellings and comforts of life. When we separate from them, they grip our hands with tears standing full in their eyes, bidding us farewell and often leave something noble with us to help us on our mission; and a firm promise that they will duly reflect on the great things which we have told them. They ardently request us to send them some competent Elder to preach to them; yes, dear brethren, the cause of truth is marching onward with unparalleled rapidity, and victory! victory! will soon be the shout of all the faithful in Christ, and thank the Lord, thank the Lord, is the language of unworthy me, that I have lived to see 1840 with all its attendant evidences of the truth of the Book of Mormon and the book of Doctrine and Covenants. I must save a place in this communication to make some remarks concerning Brother I can say in truth and soberness that he merits the esteem and confidence of the Saints and all the good men for his diligence and economy while getting the Book of Mormon stereotyped &c here. The honest and frank course he has pursued towards the Gentlemen with whom he has been concerned in business (viz Shepherd Stearns and others) has conciliated their everlasting respect and esteem from their own manifestations to me. Dear brethren and Sisters your humble Servants and myself sincerely solicit your special prayers sealed with a hearty Amen. is truly a humble servant of the Lord and very agreeable companion in the ministry; our hearts are one, our faith is one, and the Strong holds of Satan quake before us. We desire to have grace to perform our mission, that we may return to our families and brethren with triumph and joy— I anticipate that is in . I am waiting to obtain a few copies of the third Edition of the Book of Mormon— To [HC 4:201] raise means is hard, yet we trust in the Lord. I shall go to as soon as possible. I have baptized thirteen in this City, many are believing, and some halting between two opinions, and have baptized in all since I started Eighty four— I have had a vision from the Lord, which manifested the present state of the world respecting the Jews, , the remnant of Israel and also the Gentile world— as hasty summer fruit so is this nation— as a vineyard of grapes fully ripe ready to be gathered for the Press so are all the nations of the Earth— I want the conference to send some faithful and competent Elder to this place to nurse the seed or word that has been sown here, and shall leave this matter with to lay before the Conference. Elders and are here and are using all their energies of both mind and body to fill their calling; I deem them amply qualified to discharge the functions of their office, provided they keep humble. Dear brethren remember me to my family and pray for them— remember me to and also all of the wives of the Elders in particular whose husbands are in the field. Tell them to pray for us. I hope the authorities of the Church will see that they are provided with food and raiment that they may enjoy life with you, Yours in the bonds of the Covenant— — Elder.” [p. 1101]