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.
<April 6> and borne off by , the Cornet, to the appropriate position in the line; after which, the Lieutenant General with his suit<e> passed the lines in review. At 12 M. the procession arrived upon the ground, inclosing the same in a hollow square, with Lieutenant General Smith, , Brigadier Generals and , their respective staffs, guard, field officers, distinguished visitors, choir, band, &c, in the centre, and the ladies and gentlemen citizens, surrounding, in the interior. The superior officers, together with the banner, architects, principal speaker &c. were duly conducted to the stand at the principal corner stone, and the religious services were commenced by singing from page 65 of the new hymn book. President then addresses the assembly and remarked that the circumstances under which he addressed the people were of no ordinary character, but of peculiar and indescribable interest— that it was the third occasion of a similar nature wherein he had been called upon to address the people, and to assist in laying the corner stones of houses to be erected in honor of the God of the Saints— various scenes had transpired since the first was laid— he, with some who were with him on that occasion, had waded through scenes, that no other people had ever been, not cursed, but blessed [HC 4:327] with— had seen the blood of the innocent flow, and heard the groans of those dying for the witness of Jesus— in all those scenes of tribulation, his confidence, his courage, and his joy had been increasing instead of diminishing— now the scene had changed; persecution had in a measure subsided; peace and safety, friendship and joy crowned their assembling; and their endeavors to serve God were respected and viewed with interest— that the Saints had assembled, not to violate law and trample upon equity and good social order; not to devastate and destroy; but to lift up the standard of liberty and law, to stand in defence of civil and religious rights, to protect the innocent, to save mankind, and to obey the will and mandate of the Lord of glory; to call up to remembrance the once crucified, but now exalted and glorified Savior— to say that he is again revealed, but he speaks from the heavens, that he reigns; in honor of him to tell the world that he lives, and speaks, and reigns, and dictates— that not every people can build a house to him, but this only whom he himself directs— that the present military display is not to usurp; but to command as they are commanded and directed; to honor, not the world, but Him that is alive and reigns, the all in all, the invisible, but beholding and guiding, and directing— that the Saints boast of their King; of his wisdom, his understanding, his power and his goodness— that they honor a God of unbounded power and glory— that he is the Chief corner Stone in , also the top stone— that he cannot be conquered— that he is working in the world to guide to conquer, to subdue— that as formerly, so now he works by revelation— that this is the reason why we are here, and why we are thus— that the Saints have sacrificed all things for the testimony of Jesus Christ, that some from different parts of Europe and from Canada, as well as the different parts of the are present, and among all a unanimity of purpose and feeling prevails, and why? because the same God over all had spoken [HC 4:328] from the heavens, and again [p. 1184]