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.
<October 9> to know all the facts. I have done all that I could on my part. I will still do all that I can. I will not leave one Stone unturned. Now the facts are these. I sent my Brother and with means in their hands— say— not money— but with power to obtain every property or money which was necessary to enable them to fulfil the contract I made with . My brother was under the necessity of returning to this place on account of his ill health, leaving the business in the hands of , with the fullest expectation that he would make over the property or money to , and make every thing square, so far as the interest is concerned, if not the principal. He was instructed to pay the interest that had accrued, and should accrue up to the fall of 1842 so as to be in advance of our indebtedness. [HC 4:430] I had also made arrangements with the Eastern Churches, and had it in my power to deed over lands for the whole debt, and had expected that an arrangement of that kind would have been entered into. I am well assured that did not lack for any means whatever, to pay the interest at any rate, if not the principal, and why he has not done according to my instructions God only knows. I do not feel to charge him with having done wrong, until I can investigate the matter and ascertain to a certainty where the fault lies. It may be that through sickness or disaster, this strange neglect has happened. I would to God the thing had not happened. When I read ’ letter I learned that he was dissatisfied. I thought that he meant to oppress me, and felt accordingly mortified and sorrowful in the midst of affliction to think that he should distrust me for a moment, that I would not do all that was within my power. But upon having an explanation of the whole matter, my feelings are changed; and I think that you all have had cause for complaining; But you will, in the magnanimity of your good feelings certainly not blame me, when you find that I have discharged an honorable duty on my part. I regret exceedingly that I did not know some time since what I now know, that I might have made another effort before it got so late— Cold weather is now rolling in upon us— I have been confined here this Season by sickness and various other things that were beyond my control. such as having been demanded by the of , of the of this , and he not having moral courage enough to resist the demand, although it was founded in injustice and cruelty. I accordingly was taken Prisoner, and they put me to some ten or eleven hundred dollars expence and trouble such as Lawyers fees. Witnesses &c &c before I could be redeemed from under the difficulty. But I am now clear of them once more, and now in contemplating the face of the whole subject, I find that I am under the necessity of asking a little further indulgence, say till next Spring, so that I may be enabled to recover myself, and then if God spares my life, and gives me power to do so, I will come in person to your Country, and will never cease my labors until the whole matter is completely adjusted to the full satisfaction of all of you. The subject of your debt was fairly presented before our General Conference (held on the first of this month consisting of some ten thousand people) for their decision on the wisest and best [p. 1233]