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.
<February 23> and their successors in office, a certain lot in the City of , in the County of Hancock and state of Illinois, known and designated on the plot of said as the south half of lot numbered fifty six, for the purpose of erecting thereon the house contemplated in the first section of this act— Sec 3. The said Trustees are further authorized and empowered to obtain by stock subscription, by themselves or their duly authorized Agents, the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which shall be divided into shares of fifty dollars each. Sec. 4. No individual shall be permitted to hold more than three hundred nor less that one share of stock, and certificates of stock shall [HC 4:301] be delivered to subscribers, so soon as their subscriptions are paid in, and not before— Sec. 5. As soon as the contemplated shall have been completed and furnished, the stockholders shall appoint such Agents, as the Trustees may deem necessary in the management of the affairs of said Association Sec 6. The Trustees shall have power to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded in any Court of this in the name and style of the “Trustees of the Nauvoo House Association.” Sec. 7. They shall also take the general care and supervision in procuring materials for said , and constructing and erecting the same, and further to superintend its general management and to do and perform all matters and things which may be necessary to be done in order to secure the interests and promote the objects of this association. Sec. 8. This Association shall continue twenty years from the passage of this act and the herein provided for, shall be kept for the accommodation of strangers, travellers and all other persons who may resort thereto, for rest and refreshment. Sec. 9. It is moreover established as a perpetual rule of said to be observed by all persons who may keep or occupy the same, that Spirituous liquors of every description, are prohibited, and that such liquors shall never be vended as a beverage or introduced into Common use in said . Sec. 10. And whereas Joseph Smith has furnished the said Association with ground whereon to erect said . it is further declared, that the said Smith, and his heirs shall hold by perpetual succession a suite of rooms in the said , to be set apart and conveyed in due form of law to him and his heirs by said Trustees as soon as the same are completed— Sec 11. The Board of Trustees shall appoint one of their number as president thereof—
Wm. L. D. Ewing— Speaker of the House of Representatives—
S. H. Anderson— Speaker of the Senate
Approved— Feb. 23. 1841
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State of .)
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Office of Secretary of State)
I <> Secretary of State do hereby Certify the fore[HC 4:302]going to be a true and perfect copy of the enrolled law on file in my office.
L.S. <Witness> my hand, and Seal of State, Feby. 24th. 1841