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> course in relation to meeting your demands. The “twelve” as they are denominated in the “Times and Seasons” were ordered by the Conference to make arrangements in the Eastern branches of the Church, ordering them to go to you and turn over their [HC 4:431] property as you and they might agree, and take up our obligations, and bring them here, and receive property here for them; And I have been ordered by the Conference to write this letter to you, informing you of the measures which are about to be taken to make all things right. I would inform you that has not returned to the Western Country as yet. He has a considerable amount of money in his hands which was to have been paid to you, as we intended. He is on his way, for aught we know, and is retarded in his journey by some misfortune or other. He may return, however, as yet, and give a just and honorable account of himself. We hope this may be the case. I am sorrowful on account of your disappointments. It is a great disappointment to me as well as to yourselves. As to the growth of our place, it is very rapid, and it would be more so, were it not for sickness and death. There have been many deaths which leave a melancholy reflection, but we cannot help it. When God speaks from the heavens to call us hence, we must submit to his mandates. And as for your sincerity and friendship, Gentlemen, we have not the most distant doubt. We will not have any. We know it is for your interest to do us good, and for our welfare and happiness to be punctual in the fulfilment of all our Vows. And we think for the future you will have no cause for complaint. We intend to struggle with all our misfortunes of life, and shoulder them up handsomely like men. We ask nothing therefore, but what ought to be required between Man and Man, and by those principles which bind man to man, by kindred blood, in bearing our own part in every thing which duty calls us to do, as not inferior to any of the human race; and we will be treated as such, although we differ with some in matters of opinion in things (viz Religious Matters) for which we only feel ourselves amenable to the Eternal God. And may God forbid that pride, ambition, a Want of humanity, or any degree of importance, unjustly, should have any dominion in our bosoms. We are the Sons of Adam. We are the free bornsonsof ; and having been trampled upon and our rights taken from us, even our Constitutional rights, by a great many who boast themselves of being valiant in freedom’s cause, while their hearts possess not a spark of its benign and enlivening influence, it will afford a sufficient excuse, we hope, for any harsh remarks that may have been dropped by us, when we thought there was an assumption of Superiority designed to gall our feelings. We are very sensitive as a people— we confess it— But we want to be pardoned for our sins, if any we have committed. With regard to the [HC 4:432] time when the first payment of interest should be called for, it appears that we misunderstood each other, But suffice it to say, that it shall not prevent our making arrangements concerning the wholematter— It is still however my firm conviction that my understanding concerning the interest was correct— I remain Gentlemen, with sentiments of respect— Yours &c Joseph Smith”—
<10.> <The Twelve met for the purpose of Council, and spent most of the day in visiting the sick.>
<Elder writes from Northbridge, Mass: He had been laboring in and vicinity four weeks, organized a branch of 30 Members, and the prospects are flattering.> [p. 1234]