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.
<August 31> and locating of Emigrants in person, and at present we will appoint no agents for that purpose, out of our own body. Voted that Elder be requested to locate himself for a season at or vicinity, for the purpose of selling Lots on the Town plot of , counselling the brethren, and attending to such other business as may be necessary relating to the Church. -[the foregoing vote was taken, after hearing a favorable report <from> Elders , and of the Quorum, for building the Town called , <they> having— — — — — visit<ed> the location, accompanied, by Mr. . and other proprietors of the Plot]- Resolved unanimously that we deeply feel for our beloved President Joseph Smith, and his ’s family on account of the great losses they have sustained in their properties by the unparalleled persecutions in , as well as the other many persecutions they have sustained since the rise of the Church, which has brought them to their present destitute situation. Therefore voted unanimously, that we for ourselves, and the Church we represent approve of the proceedings of President Smith, so far as he has gone, in making over certain properties to his , Children, and friends for their support, and that he [HC 4:412] continue to deed and make over certain portions of Church property which now exist or which may be obtained by exchange, as in his wisdom he shall judge expedient, till his own and his ’s household shall have an inheritance secured to them in our midst, agreeably to the vote of the General Conference of the Church held at in October 1839. Resolved that on account of the peculiar situation of the Church hitherto, it has been expedient and necessary that the Deeds Bonds and Properties of the Church should be, and have been taken and holden by Committees of the Church, and private individuals, but that we now have a Trustee in Trust, viz. President Joseph Smith, appointed according to the Laws of the Land. Therefore voted unanimously, that we advise the “Trustee in Trust” To gather up all deeds bonds and properties belonging to the Church, and which are now held either by Committees, or individuals, and take the same in his own name as Trustee in Trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as soon as such arrangements can be made consistently with his various and multiplied cares and business; and that we individually and collectively, will use all diligence to render him every assistance possible to accomplish this desirable object— Voted that Elder proceed on his mission to England without delay. Voted that Elder proceed immediately on his mission to Jamaica, West Indies; and Elder to South America, according to their appointment on the 16th. and that they accompany each other to . It was proposed that Elder go on a Mission to Germany— but the vote being taken it was decided that his Mission be suspended for the present. After much deliberation on the situation of the Church at home and abroad, Temporally and spiritually, and in view of the poverty and distress of many who had been robbed of all by unrelenting mobbers and of others who had sacrificed all they possessed to assist those who had thus been [p. 1224]