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.
<October 3> committee be appointed, to search out the offenders, and bring them to justice. Whereupon it was resolved that Joseph Smith, , , , , , <&> compose said Committee on motion. Resolved that be appointed the general Church Clerk in the room of who intends to remove to . It having been requested by that the Conference would appoint an Elder to take charge of the Church which he and had raised up in . On motion. Resolved that Elder , be appointed to preside there. The president then rose, and stated that it was necessary that something, should be done with regard to , so that it might be built up; and gave it as his opinion, that the brethren from the East might gather there, and also, that it was necessary that some one should be appointed from this Conference to preside over that stake. On motion; resolved that Elder be appointed to preside over the Church in and that he choose his own Counsellors. Conference adjourned for one hour.
One o’clock P.M. Conference met pursuant to adjournment. An opportunity was given to the brethren who had any remarks to make on suitable locations for stakes. Elder H. <W.> Miller stated that it was the desire of a number of the brethren residing in , to have a stake appointed at Mount Ephraim in that , and stated the advantages of the place for agricultural purposes. [HC 4:204] On motion; resolved that a stake be appointed at Mount Ephraim in . There being several applications for the appointment of stakes, it was resolved that a Committee be appointed to organize stakes between this place and , and that , , and compose said Committee. The President then spoke of the necessity of building a “” in this place. Whereupon it was resolved that the Saints build a house for the worship of God, and that , , and , be appointed a Committee to build the same. On motion; resolved that a commencement be made ten days from this date, and that every tenth day be appropriated for the building of the house. President rose and stated that there were several individuals, who on moving to this place, had not settled with their creditors, and had no recommend from the branches of the Church where they had resided. On motion. Resolved that those persons moving to this place, who do not bring a recommend, be disfellowshipped. , M.D. then spoke at some length, on the oppression, to which the Church had been subject, and <remarked>, that it was necessary for the brethren to stand by each other, and resist every unlawful attempt at persecution. Elder then addressed the meeting— Adjourned till tomorrow morning
<4.> Sunday morning. Conference met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened by prayer by — The was then called upon to read the report of the presidency, in relation to the Plot, after which the President made some observations on the situation of the debts on the City Plot <which will appear at the close of these Conference minutes> and advised that a committee be appointed to raise funds to liquidate the same— On motion, Resolved that and compose said Committee. On [p. 1103]