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 8> Elders Quorum— — President presented them to the <Quorums of> Seventies— — President presented them to the High Priest <Quorum>. — — Counsellor presented them to the High Council — <and> The then presented them to the Presidents of all the Quorums on the Stand— <and they were> unanimously accepted.— was presented with the First Presidency as assistant president until ’s health should be restored— The Presidents and Counsellors belonging to the several quorums, were then presented to each quorum separately for approval or rejection, when the following persons were objected to, viz, , president of the Elders quorum; , Bishop; Elder , one of the Twelve <Apostles>; and — — — — High Priest. <Bishop> , — — — — moved their cases— — be laid over — — — — — — — — — — — to be tried before the<ir> several quorums. President Joseph Smith presented the building Committee of the “,” viz , and ; to the several quorums collectively, <and> were unanimously received. President Smith observed, that it was necessary that some one should be appointed to fill the quorum of the Twelve <Apostles> in the room of the late Elder ; <x> whereupon nominated Elder to that office; which was unanimously accepted. stated, that it was an office of great honor and responsibility, and he felt inadequate to the task; but inasmuch as it was the wish of the authorities of the Church, that he should take that office, he would endeavor to magnify it. — — — — — — — — — — — — Resolved that be appointed to the office of High Counsellor, in the place of , who had been chosen a Counsellor to the . — — — — — — — — — — — — — that be appointed — — — — — one of the High Council in the room of , deceased. The Choir sung a hymn, and after prayer by , the meeting adjourned for two hours.
“Conference met pursuant to adjournment. A hymn was sung by the choir. delivered a<n> <interesting> discourse on the subject of “Baptism for the dead.”
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President <Joseph> Smith followed on the same subject, threw considerable light on the doctrine which had been investigated. The choir then sung a hymn, and after prayer by Elder , Conference adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock.”
<9> Friday morning, Conference met pursuant to adjournment. The quorums reported, that they had investigated the conduct of the [HC 4:341] persons who had been objected to, and that they had rejected and . Leave was — — — given — — — <to> , to make a few remarks to the quorums respecting the charges preferred against him; after <which it was> — — — — — — resolved, that <Elder> continue his standing in the Church. Resolved that as has not appeared to answer the charges preferred against him, that his bishopric be taken from him. President Joseph Smith made some observations respecting the duty of the several quorums, in sending their members into the vineyard, and also stated that labor on the would be as acceptable to the Lord, as preaching in the world; <and that> — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — [p. 1193]