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.
<November 15> example we have set before you, and give liberally of your abundance, even if it be but a penny, and it shall be returned unto you good measure, pressed down and running over, shall the Lord return into your Store house. Cultivate the spirit of patience, long suffering forbearance, and charity among yourselves, and ever be as unwilling to believe an evil report about a brother or a sister, as though it were about yourself; and as you dislike to be accused, be slow to accuse the brethren, for the measure you meet shall be measured to you again, and the Judge condemneth no man who is not accused. [HC 4:450] Keep all the commandments, <nothing fearing,> nothing doubting, for this is virtue, this is wisdom, and the wise, the virtuous, and meek shall inherit the earth and the fulness thereof. In all things follow the Counsel which you shall receive from the President and Council who are among you; and inasmuch as you uphold Elders , , and , by the prayer of faith, you shall receive right Counsel. Remember that those whom John saw on Mount Zion were such as had come up through great tribulation; and do not imagine that you can ever constitute a part of that number without sharing a part of their trials. You must necessarily pass through perils, and trials, and temptations, and afflictions by sea and land, in your journeyings hither, and if you cannot settle it in your hearts to endure unto the end as good soldiers, you may as well remain where you are to be destroyed, as to suffer all the privations and hardships you will be obliged to suffer before the walls of Zion shall be built, no more to be thrown down, and after all to turn away and be destroyed. The ancient Prophet has said they shall wear out the Saints of the most High. This has already been fulfilled to some extent, for many, through the abundance of their persecutions, have become exhausted, and laid their bodies down to rest, to rise no more, till the morn of the first resurrection; and although the people of these States are at peace with us, yet, there are those who would gladly wear out and destroy the weak in faith, through the influence of their foolish lies. When you arrive on our shores, and while sailing up our rivers, you need not be surprised if your ears are saluted, by the false and filthy language of wicked and designing men, who are ever ready to speak evil of the things they understand not, and who would gladly blast the character of the prophet of the Most High God, and all connected with him, with their foul anathemas, beyond any thing which you ever thought of. We would not dishearten you, neither would we have you ignorant of the worst that awaits the righteous.
If the Saints are not prepared to rejoice and be glad, when they hear the name of the Prophet, and their own name, cast out as evil, as gluttonous, wine bibber, friend of publicans and sinners, Beelzebub, thief, robber, and murderer, they are not prepared for the gathering. The wheat and tares must grow together till the harvest; at the harvest the wheat is gathered together into the threshing floor, so with the Saints. the stakes are the threshing floor, Here they will be threshed with all sorts of difficulties, trials, afflictions, and every [p. 1247]