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 6> to, or under the regulations of the travelling High Council. called the attention of the Conference to the case of Emma Bolton, a female from the Potteries, who had conducted herself disorderly; Elder Johnson, and others, spoke of several cases of improper conduct on her part; after which it was moved by , seconded by , and carried unanimously, that Emma Bolton be cut off from the Church. The then called the attention of the Conference, to a letter from Isaac Brown and other Officers of the Church at Macclesfield, concerning Elder Heath, and also to some half a dozen charges preferred by the said Isaac Brown, James Galley, Edward Horrocks, and John Horrocks, against the said Samuel Heath, for several items of misconduct and neglecting the duties of his Office, to all of which charges Elder Heath pleaded not guilty. The complainants then entered into proof of the several items, to which Elder Heath replied by stating that the charges against him, were in consequence of a misunderstanding, &c; the proceedings opened a wide field for instruction from , followed by the , who recommended the parties to become reconciled to each other, stating that he did not consider the charges preferred against Elder Heath sufficiently substantiated; to withdraw fellowship from him: when it was moved and seconded, that no further proceedings be taken in this subject, — — — — and carried unanimously. After which the Conference adjourned till seven o clock— At seven o’clock, the meeting was opened by prayer. The having made such preliminary remarks as the importance of the subject called forth, proceeded to call upon those who were willing to volunteer their services to labor in the vineyard of the Lord, when the Officers gave their names as follows. High Priests. , Thomas Smith, , , , , , , — . Elders , John Parkinson, David Moss, Martin Little[HC 4:216]wood, William Parr, Samuel Heath, John Sanders, Theodore Curtis, Henry Royle, Thomas Tweddle, John Leigh, , Thomas Richardson, Priests William Snailam, William Speakman, John Needham, James Mahon, Frederick Cook, Robert Crooks, William Mitchell, , Robert Williams, William Jones, Thomas Pollitt, Richard Steel, John Burns, Joseph Knowles, , John Wyche, William Roylance, Jos. Street, Jos. White. Moved, seconded and carried— That Elder go to Edinburgh— Elder go to Birmingham, also take charge of the Staffordshire Potteries Conference, and John Burns, Priest go with him— Elder takes charge of the Herefordshire Conferences, as heretofore, also Garway &c— William Snailam, — — — — — — — — — — — — and Joseph Knowles, Priests to accompany — Brother Robert Crooks, Priest, to go to Bolton— Thomas Richardson, Elder, <and John Needham, Priest,> go to Herefordshire — — — , Elder, go to the Isle of Man— <Elder> Thomas Tweddle, to Glasgow— John Sanders, Elder, <to> labor at Alston, and go to Carlisle as soon as practicable— — Elder <to> go to Newcastle upon Tyne— Elder John Parkinson, to — — — Greenoch— Elder Henry Royle, <and Frederick Cook, Priest> go to Cly in Flintshire,— William Mitchell, Priest, to Leeds— Elder Thomas Smith, remain at Clitheroe— Elder John Leigh, and James Mahon, priest, go to Arden Cheshire— Joseph White and Richard Steele, Priests, to labor under the direction of ,—
Elder John Smith to be ordained High Priest, to take charge of the Church in and the regions round about— Elder Peter Melling [p. 1108]