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> thing to mar their peace which they can imagine, and thousands which they cannot imagine, but he that endures the threshing till all the chaff, superstition folly and unbelief is pounded out of him, and does not suffer him<self> to be blown away as chaff by the foul tongue of slander, but endures faithful [HC 4:451] to the end shall be saved. If you are prepared for all these things; if you choose rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little moment, come up hither; Come directto , and up the , for the expense is so much less, and the convenience of Water Navigation is so much greater than it is by Montreal, , or that it is wisdom for the Saints to make their general established port, and be sure to start at such times that they may arrivehereduring the cold months, for the change from the Cold climate of England, to this place, in the hot season, is too great for the health of the emigrants, till there is more faith in the Church. In this region of country there are thousands and millions of acres of beautiful prairie, unoccupied, which can be procured on reasonable terms, and we will hail the time with joy when these unoccupied lands shall be turned into fruitful fields, and the hands of those who are now idle for want of employ, shall be engaged in the cultivation of the soil. When the brethren arrive they will do well to call on some of the twelve, inasmuch as they desire counsel, for by so doing, they may escape the influence of designing men, who have crept in unawares. and would willingly subvert the truth, by conniving to their own advantage, if they have the opportunity. The Church has commenced a new city twenty miles below this, and one mile below , called , where many city lots and farms in the <vicinity> can be had on reasonable terms; and it will be wisdom for many of the brethren to stop at that place, for the opportunity for erecting temporary buildings will be greater than at this place, also the chance for providing food, will be superior to those who wish to labor for it— is at the foot of the Des Moine Rapids, and one of the best locations for mercantile purposes, there is in this Western Country. So far as the brethren have the means they will do well to come prepared with a variety of mechanic tools according to their professions, such as carpenters, joiners cabinet makers, hatters, coopers, masons, printers, binders, tanners, curriers &c and all sorts of manufactory and foundry implements -[convenientfor transportation]- so that when they arrive they may be prepared to establish themselves in business, and give employment to spinners weavers, moulders, smelters, and journeymen of every description; for all sorts of woolens, cottons, hardware &c will find a ready market in new countries, and a great field is now open to the capitalists in this vicinity, even though the capital be small, and we would urge the importance of the immediate establishment of all kinds of manufactories among us, as well for the [HC 4:452] best interests of the individuals concerned, as for [p. 1248]