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.
<March 24> and continued to preach daily in different parts of , and on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, (August 2nd.) the meetings were attended by Miss , who was visiting her friends in , and on Friday she requested baptism, which was attended to by after which she was confirmed at the water side, by Elders and it being the first confirmation in a foreign land in these last days. The day following returned home to her friends, and informed her Father, the Revd. J[ohn] Richards <an Independent Minister> at Walker fold, Chaidgley, whom she had found at , and what she had done, and requested him to send for to preach in his Chapel; Mr. Richards complied with his daughter’s request. arrived at Walker-fold Saturday eve, August 12th., and the day following preached three times in Mr. Richards pulpit to crowded assemblies; also twice during the week, and twice the Sunday following, being most kindly and cordially entertained by Mr. and Mrs. [Ellin Charnock] Richards for nine days, during which time baptized several in the Neighborhood. After a short visit to , where continued to preach and baptize, returned to Walker-fold and continued to receive the hospitality of Mr. Richard’s house for some days, while the work spread in the neighborhood, and from thence the work went forth to Clitheroe, Waddington, Downham, Chatburn, Thornley and Ribchester, through the labors of brothers and . Elders Goodson and arrived in Bedford on the 2nd. of August, and having letters of introduction to the Rev. Timothy R. Matthews, from brother , (Mrs. Matthews brother) they immediately waited on Mr. Matthews, who expressed great joy at their arrival, and manifested his sincerity by walking arm in arm with the [HC 4:316] elders through the Streets of Bedford, calling on the members of his Church, and inviting them to attend the lectures of the elders at his chapel vestry that evening. Mr. Matthews had previously been apprised of the Saints in , through the medium of the Revd. James Fielding, of , and the letters from before referred to. In the evening, his Church assembled in the vestry, and Elders Goodson and continued to lecture and testify of the work of God, on that and the three following evenings in the same place, with the entire approbation of Mr. Matthews, who, at the close of the lectures publicly bore testimony to the truths advanced, and called upon his people to know why they did not come forward for baptism; while they in return, wished to know why he did not set them the example. After this, Mr. Matthews engaged another house in the neighborhood for the Elders to preach in, under the pretence that some of the proprietors of the chapel might not be pleased with the Elders occupying the vestry, and Mr. Matthews continued to attend the preaching of the Elders, and also spent a great share of his time, from day to day, in conversation with them. Mr. Matthews told the Elders that he had received two ordinations, one from Bishop West, whom he had proved to be an Imposter; and another from the Church of England, which he acknowledged to be descended from the Church of Rome, and he further acknowledged that he had no authority from God for administering in the ordinances of God’s house. On the 10th. Mrs. Braddock and four others [p. 1176]