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.
<January 1> work of creating the world and all things upon it; (Colossians 1.16) for by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in the earth &c, and of redeeming the same from the fall; and to the judging of the quick and dead; for the right of judging rests in the Priesthood; and it is through this medium that the Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son (John v. 22) referring to his administration on earth. It was necessary that Christ should receive the priesthood to qualify him to minister before his Father unto the children of men, so as to redeem and save them, does it seem reasonable that any man should take it upon him to do a part of the same work, or to assist in the same priesthood, who has not been called by the spirit of prophecy or revelation as was Aaron, and ordained accordingly? And can it be expected that a man will be called by revelation who does not believe in revelation? Or will any man submit to ordination, for the fulfilment of a revelation or call, in which he has no faith? We think not. That we may learn still further that God calls or elects particular men to perform particular works, or on whom to confer special blessings, we read (Isaiah xlv, 4) for Jacob my servants sake, and Israel mine elect, I have called thee (Cyrus) by thy name; to be a deliverer to my people Israel, and to help to plant them on my holy mountain, (Isaiah lxv, 9, see connexion) for mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there even on the mountains of Palestine, the [HC 4:257] land of Canaan, which God had before promised to Abraham and his seed; (Genesis xvii, 8) and the particular reason why Abraham was chosen or elected to be the father of this blessed nation, is clearly told by the Lord, (Genesis xviii, 19.) for I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him; and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him; and this includes the general principle of election (i.e.) that God chose, elected or ordained, Jesus Christ, his Son, to be the Creator, governor, Savior, and judge of the world; and Abraham to be the Father of the faithful, on account of his fore-knowledge of their obedience to his will and commandments; which agrees with the saying in the 2nd. Timothy ii, 21, if a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Thus it appears that God has chosen or elected certain individuals, to certain blessings, or to the performance of certain works; and that we may the more fully understand the movements of the Supreme Governor of the Universe in the order of election, we proceed to quote the sacred writers. Romans viii, 29, 30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the first born among <many> brethren; moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. And whom did he foreknow? Those that loved him, as we find in the 28th. verse of the same chapter, for we know that all things shall work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called [p. 1134]