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.
<January 24 Joseph to the Legislature> upon the result of the criminal charges preferred against them, your Hon. body will excuse them for manifesting the deep concern they feel in relation to their trials for a crime so enormous as that of treason— It is not our object to complain— to asperse any one. All we ask, is, a fair and impartial trial. We ask the sympathies of no one, we ask sheer justice, ’tis all we expect— and all we merit, but we merit that— We know the people of no County in this to which we would ask our final trials to be sent are prejudiced in our favor. But we be[HC 3:247]lieve, that the State of Excitement existing in most of the Upper Counties is such, that a jury would be improperly influenced by it. But that excitement, and the prejudice against us in the Counties comprising the fifth judicial Circuit, are not the only obstacle we are compelled to meet. We know that much of that prejudice against us is not so much to be attributed to a want of honest motive among the Citizens, as it is to wrong information— But it is a difficult task to change opinions once formed, The other obstacle which we candidly consider one of the most weighty, is the feeling, which we believe is entertained by the Hon. against us, and the consequent incapacity to do us impartial justice. It is from no disposition to speak disrespectfully of that <high> officer, that we lay before your Hon. body the facts we do, but simply that the Legislature may be apprised of our real condition. We look upon as like all other mere men, liable to be influenced by his feelings, his prejudices, and his previously formed opinions. We consider his reputation as being partially, if not entirely committed against us. He has written much upon the subject of our late difficulties, in which he has placed us in the wrong— These letters have been published to the world— He has also presided at an excited public meeting as Chairman, and no doubt sanctioned all the proceedings. We do not complain of the Citizens who held that meeting— They were entitled to that privilege— But for the before whom the very men were to be tried for a capital offence, to participate in an expression of condemnation of these same individuals is to us at least apparently wrong, and we cannot think, that we should after such a course on the part of the Judge have the same chance of a fair and impartial trial— as all admit we ought to have— We believe that the foundation of the feeling against us, which we have reason to think entertains, may be traced to the unfortunate troubles which occurred in some few years ago— in a battle between the Mormons and a portion of the Citizens of that , the Brother in Law of was killed. It is natural that the should have some feeling against us, whether we were right or wrong in that controversy. We mention these facts not to disparage — We believe that from the relation he bears to us, he would himself prefer that our trials should be had in a different circuit, and before a different court— Many other reasons, and facts we might mention but we forbear.” [p. 879]