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.
<December 16> the Mayor in executing the laws and ordinances of the City Corporation, and the laws of the and at the disposal of the Governor for the public defence, and the of the laws of the or of the , and shall be entitled to their proportion of the public arms; and Provided, also, that said Legion shall be exempt from all other military duty. Sec 26. The Inhabitants of “the City of ” are hereby exempted from working on any road beyond the limits of the , and for the purpose of keeping the Streets, lanes avenues and alleys in repair, to require of the male inhabitants of said , over the age of twenty one, and under fifty years, to labor on said Streets, lanes, avenues, and alleys, not exceeding three days in each year; any person failing to perform such labor when duly notified by the Supervisor, shall forfeit and pay the sum of one dollar per day for each day so neglected or refused. Sec 27. The City Council shall have power to provide for the punishment of offenders by imprisonment in the or Jail in all cases when such offenders shall fail or refuse to pay the fines and forfeitures, which may be recovered against them. [HC 4:244] Sec. 28. This act is hereby declared to be a public act, and shall take effect on the first Monday of February next.
Wm. L. D. Ewing, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
S. H. Anderson, Speaker of the Senate.
Approved Decr. 16. 1840.
State of )
Office of Secretary of State)
I, , Secretary of State do hereby Certify that the foregoing is a true and perfect copy of the enrolled law now on file in my office. Witness my hand and seal of State, at , this 18th. day of December 1840
L.S. . Secretary of State.
The following are the Legislative powers, alluded to in the 13th. section of the foregoing act as pertaining to the City Council of the City of , and which, consequently, become a part of the Charter of the City of , to wit;
Of the Legislative powers of the City Council.
Sec.1. The City Council shall have power and authority to levy and collect taxes upon all property, real and personal, within the , not exceeding one half per cent, per annum, upon the assessed value thereof, and may enforce the payment of the same in any manner prescribed by ordinance not repugnant to the Constitution of the and of this . Sec 2. The City Council shall have power to require of all officers appointed in pursuance of this Charter, bonds with penalty and security for the faithful performance of their respective duties as may be deemed expedient, and also to require all officers appointed as aforesaid to take an oath for the faithful performance of the duties of their respective offices upon entering upon the discharge of the same. Sec.3. To establish support and regulate common schools, to borrow money on the credit of the : Provided, that no sum or sums of money shall be borrowed at a greater interest than six percent, per annum, nor shall the interest on the aggregate of all the sums borrowed and outstanding ever exceed one half of the revenue arising for taxes assessed on real property within the Corporation. [HC 4:245] Sec 4 To make regulations to prevent the introduction of [p. 1128]