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.
<May 4> to enter into an argument to prove a position which is evident from an inspection of the laws themselves. I am very respectfully your friend .”
The Legion is not as has been falsely represented by its enemies, exclusively a Mormon Military association, but a body of citizen soldiers organized (without regard to political preferences or religious sentiments) for the public defence, the general good, and the preservation of law and order— to save the innocent, unoffending citizen from the iron grasp of the oppressor, and perpetuate and sustain our free institutions against misrule, anarchy, and mob violence— no other views are entertained or tolerated— The general parades of the Legion will be in the City of , but all other musters will be within the bounds of the respective Companies, Battalions, Regiments, and Cohorts. The 8th. sec of “An Act for the organization and government of the Militia of this ” in force July 2. 1833, provides, that “when any person shall enroll himself in a volunteer company, he shall forthwith give notice in writing to the commanding officer of the Company in which he was enrolled,” &c, and that the commanding officer of a regiment or battalion, may in a certain contingency, “dissolve such company”; and some of the petty, ignorant and impudent— militia officers maintain that such is still the law: but those blind leaders of the blind are informed, that the 11th. Sec. of “An Act encouraging volunteer companies. approved March 2. 1837” reads as follows, “So much of the 8th. section of an act entitled an act for the organization and government of the Militia of this , in force July 2nd. 1833, as requires a volunteer to give notice in writing to the commanding officer of the company in which he was enrolled, and authorizes commandments of regiments to disband Independent Companies, be, and the same is hereby repealed.” If officers act upon the obsolete laws of the “little book” which have been repealed years since, it will be sweet to the taste, but “make the belly bitter;” and should any civil or military officer attempt to enforce the collection of any military fines upon the members of the Legion, excepting when such fines are assessed by the Court Martial of the Legion, such persons are directed to apply to the Master in , for , for an injunction to stay the illegal proceedings. The Militia companies of , and citizens generally, are respectfully invited to unite with the Legion, and partake of its privileges. [HC 4:355] All officers are required to enforce the most rigid discipline on all days of public parade: Persons holding enrolling orders are directed to act with energy, consummate their trust, and make prompt returns to the office of the . The Lieutenant General desires that allhisFriendsshouldattach themselvesto some company, eitherin the 1st.or 2nd. Cohort. This will enable them to receive correct military instruction, under the teachings of experienced officers, according to the drill and discipline of the Army— and qualify them for efficient service in the cause of their beloved , and , in the hour of peril. The eleven companies of minute men will at all times hold themselves in readiness to execute the laws as originally instructed by the general officers— The officers and troops of the Legion are directed to treat with proper respect and decorum, all other officers and troops in the service of this , or of the . Officers are ordered to treat their troops with [p. 1200]