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.
another and honor our brother or make honorable mention of his name and not backbite and devour our brother Why will not man learn wisdom by precept at this late age of the world when we have such a cloud of witnesses and examples before us and not be obliged to learn by sad experience every thing we know. Must the new ones that are chosen to fill the places of those that are fallen of the Quorum of the Twelve begin to exalt themselves until they exalt themselves so high that they will soon tumble over and have a great fall and go wallowing through the mud and mire and darkness Judas like to the buffettings of Satan as several of the Quorum have done. or will they learn Wisdom and be wise (O God give them wisdom and keep them humble I pray) When the Twelve or any other witnesses stand before the Congregations of the earth and they preach in the power and demonstration of the Spirit of God and the people are astonished and confounded at the Doctrine and say that man has preached a powerful discourse a great sermon, then let that man or those men take care that they do not ascribe the glory unto themselves, but be careful that they are humble and ascribe the praise and glory to God and the Lamb for it is by the Power of the Holy Priesthood and Holy Ghost they have power thus to speak. What art thou O man but dust and from whom dost thou recieve thy power and Blessings but from God. Then O ye Twelve notice this Key and be wise for Christ’s sake and your own souls sake Ye are not sent out to be taught but to teach, let every word be seasoned with grace, be vigilant, be sober, It is a day of warning and not of many words. act honest before God and man, beware of GentileSophistry such as bowing and scraping unto men in whom you have no confidence. be honest open and frank in all your intercourse with mankind O ye Twelve and all saints profit by this important Key that in all your trials troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death see to it that you do not betray Heaven that you do not betray Jesus Christ that you do not betray your Brethren that you do not betray the Revelations of God whither in the BibleBook of Mormon or Doctrines and Covenant or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come, Yea in all your kicking and flounderings see to it that you do not this thing lest innocent blood be found in your shirts and you go down to Hell, all other sins are not to be compared to sinning against the Holy Ghost and proving a traitor to thy brethren.
I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom It is an eternal principle that has existed with God from all eternity that that man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the church, saying that they are out of the way while he himself is righteous then know assuredly that that man is in the high road to apostacy and if he does not repent will apostatize as God lives. The principle is as correct as the one that Jesus put forth in saying that he who seeketh a sign is an adulterous person and that principle is eternal undeviating and firm as the pillars of Heaven for whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an adulterous man [p. 10 [addenda]]