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 27> The Stock, property and concerns of said corporation shall be managed by twenty trustees, who shall be stockholders of said Corporation, any five of whom to be designated by a majority of the Trustees, shall form a quorum for the transaction of all ordinary business of said Corporation, the election of which Trustees shall be annual. The first mentioned twenty persons, whose names are recited in the first section of this act, shall be the first trustees of said corporation, and shall hold their offices until the first Monday in September A.D. 1841, and until others shall be elected in their places. Sec. 8. The Trustees of said corporation for every subsequent year, shall be elected on the first Monday of September in each and every year, at such place as the Trustees for the time being shall appoint, and of which election they shall give at least fifteen days previous notice by advertisement in some Newspaper in or near the City of ; at every election of Trustees, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote on each share of stock owned by him, Provided that no Stock holder shall be entitled to more than twenty votes, and said Stockholders may vote either in person or by proxy. The election for Trustees shall be conducted in such manner as shall be pointed out by the bye laws of said Corporation, and whenever a vacancy shall happen by death, resignation or otherwise among the Trustees, the remaining trustees shall have power to fill such vacancy, until the next general election for trustees. Sec 9. The Trustees of said corporation as soon as may be after their appointment or election under this act, shall proceed to elect [HC 4:304] out of their number a President, Treasurer, and Secretary, who shall respectively hold their offices during one year, and until others shall be elected to fill their places, and whose duties shall be defined and prescribed by the by-laws of the corporation; and said trustees shall also appoint such agents and other persons as may be necessary to conduct the proper business, and accomplish the declared objects of said corporation, and shall likewise have power to fill any vacancy occasioned by the death, resignation or removal of any officer of said Corporation. Sec. 10 This act shall be construed as a public act and continue in force for the period of twenty years. And the trustees apponted under the provisions of this act, shall hold their first meeting at the city of on the first monday of April. A. D. 1841.
Wm. L. D. Ewing— Speaker of the House of Representatives.
S. H. Anderson— Speaker of the Senate.
Approved Feb. 27. 1841.
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State of )
<Ss>
Office of Secretary of State)
I Lyman Trumbull Secretary of State, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true and perfect copy of the enrolled law on file in my office— Given under my hand and seal of State, , March 10. 1841.