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.
<December 19 Legislators> to have been presented to that body— Not long ago we appropriated two thousand dollars to their relief, and now they have petitioned for the pay for their lands, which we took away from them— We got rid of a great evil when we drove them from , and we have had peace there ever since, and the will always be in difficulty so long as they suffer them to live in the and the [HC 3:238] quicker they get that petition from before that body, the better”— Mr. Ashley from said the Petition was false from beginning to end, and that himself and the Mormons could not live together, for he would always be found fighting against them, and one or the other must leave the , He gave a History of the Massacre, and saw cut up with a Corn Cutter. corrected Mr. Childs, and stated facts in the petition which he was knowing to, and that Mr. Childs ought to know that there could not be the first crime established against the Mormons while in — One member hoped the matter would not be looked over in silence, for his Constituents required of him to know the cause of the late disturbance— Mr. Young of spoke very bitter against the Petition and the Mormons— An aged member from St. Charles moved a reference of the bill to a select Committee, and continued he, “as the Gentleman that just spoke, and other gentlemen want the Petition ruled out of the house, for fear their evil doings will be brought to light, and this goes to prove to me, and others, that the Petition is true”— Mr. Redman of Howard made a long speech in favor of a speedy investigation of the whole matter, said he “The ’s order has gone forth, and the Mormons are leaving; Hundreds are waiting to cross the ; and by and bye they are gone and our is blasted; her character is gone, we gave them no chance for a fair investigation, The demands of us, that we give them a speedy investigation.” Mr. Gyer from , agreed with the— gentleman from Howard “that the Committee should have power to call witnesses from any part of the , and defend them, and unless the [HC 3:239] ’s order was rescinded, he for one would leave the ”— Other gentlemen made similar remarks.
The testimony presented the Committee of investigation, before referred to, was the ’s orders, ’s report, the report of the trial at , and a lot of papers signed by no body, given to no body, and directed to no body, containing any thing our enemies were disposed to write—
<High Council> “The High Council of Zion met in Wednesday Decr. 19th. 1838 The Council was organized as follows— No.1, No. 2, . 3; , 4; , 5; , 6; , 7; , 8; 9; , 10; , 11; , 12; The Council was opened by prayer by President who presided. gave a statement of his feelings, he said his faith was as good as it ever was, notwithstanding he did not feel to fellowship all the proceedings of the brethren in He thought they did not act as wisely, as they might have done. &c.
Voted by the Council that and be or[HC 3:240]dained to the [p. 875]