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.
<June 23. 1842> stolen this opportunity. I therefore subscribe myself in haste, your most obedient brother in the fulness of the Gospel— Joseph Smith. P.S. having been with me for a long time can give you any information which you need and will tell you all about me. I shall be very anxious for his return, he is a great prop to me in my labors. (see page 1346)
<April 26. 1839— Page 931.> Son of and Clarissa Smith, was born, June 26. 1817 in St. Lawrence County, New York. When nine years old, he received a blow on the head, which deprived him of his senses about three weeks; five noted physicians decided that he must be trepanned or he would not recover; his father dismissed them on this decision, believing that God would heal his Son, and he firmly believes that He did heal him, in answer to the prayer of faith. He was early trained by his parents, who were Presbyterians, to religious habits, and to a regular attendance in the Sabbath School; hence he had early and anxious desires to know the way of life, but was not satisfied with the sects around. In the Summer of 1830, when my , and my brother , visited our relatives in , became convinced of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and from that time defended the cause against those who opposed it. His Mother was baptized in August 1831; his was baptized on the 9th. of January 1832. and ordained an Elder, having been given up by the doctors to die of consumption; the weather was extremely cold and the ice had to be cut; from that time he gained health and strength; was baptized on the 10th. of September 1832, and on the first of May 1833, his and family took leave of their old home, and removed to , Ohio; spent the season in laboring on the , altho’ much afflicted with inflamation in the eyes. On the 5th. of May 1834 he started for in the and acted his part well as my armor bearer, altho’ still much afflicted with sore eyes. On the 28th. he was attacked by the Cholera, but was delivered by faith. He was ordained into the first Seventy, under my hands, on the first of March 1835 being 17 years old. He left on the 5th of June, in company with , for the State of to preach the gospel without purse or scrip; travelled 2000 miles, baptised 8, held 80 meetings, and returned on the 2nd. of November— Spent the winter in school, much afflicted with rheumatism. In the Spring, Summer, and Fall of 1836 preached in different parts of with good success; returned and went to School in the winter— On the 6th. of June 1837, he took leave of me and started with my blessing for the South: after a successful mission of 10 months, mostly in , returned and assisted his in moving to , Missouri— He was ordained a High Counsellor at , and sent on a Mission to the South, returned about the 25th. of December. He visited me while I was in , when I made known to him, that he was appointed to fill the place of in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles— He assisted in moving the Saints out of , and returned with the Twelve to fulfil the revelation concerning the foundation stone of the at — see page 931. [p. 7 [addenda]]