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.
<March 20 Letter of Joseph Smith in > a millstone had been hanged about their necks, and they drowned in the depth of the sea. Wo unto all those that discomfort my people, and drive and murder, and testify against them saith the Lord of Host, a generation of vipers shall not escape the damnation of hell, behold mine eyes seeth and knoweth all their works and I have in reserve a swift judgment in the season thereof for them all, for there is a time appointed to every man, according as his work shall be, and now Beloved Brethren we say unto you that inasmuch as God hath said that he would have a tried people, that he would purge them as gold, now we think that this time, he has chosen his own crucible wherein we have been tried, and we think if we get through with any degree of safety and shall have kept the faith that it will be a sign to this generation altogether sufficient to bear them without excuse, and we think also, it will be a trial of our faith equal to that of Abraham, and that the Antients will not have, whereof, to boast over us in the day of Judgment, as being called to pass through heavier afflictions, that we may hold an even weight in the balances with them, but now after having suffered so great sacrifice and having passed through so great a season of sorrow, we trust that a Ram may be caught in the thicket <speedily to relieve the sons and Daughters of Abraham> from their great anxiety, and to light up the lamp of salvation upon their [HC 3:294] countenances that they may hold on now, after having gone so far unto everlasting life— Now— brethren concerning the places for the location of the Saints we cannot counsel you, as we could, if we were present with you, and as to the things that were written heretofore we did not consider them any thing very binding, therefore we now say, once for all, that we think it most proper that the general affairs of the Church which are necessary to be considered while your humble servant remains in bondage should be transacted by a general conference of the most faithful and the most respectable of the authorities of the Church, and a minute of those transactions may be kept and forwarded from time to time to your humble servant and if there should be any corrections by the word of the Lord, they shall be freely transmitted, and your humble servant will approve all things whatsoever is acceptable unto God, if any thing should have been suggested by us, or any names mentioned, except by commandment, or thus saith the Lord, we do not consider it binding, therefore our hearts shall not be grieved if different arrangements should be entered into, nevertheless we would suggest the propriety of being aware of an aspiring Spirit which Spirit has oftentimes urged men forwards, to make foul speeches and influence the Church to reject milder Councils, and has eventually been the means of bringing much death and sorrow upon the Church, we would say be aware of pride also, for well and truly hath the wise man said, that pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall, and again outward appearance is not always a criterion for us to judge our fellow man, but the lips betray, the haughty and over bearing imaginations of the heart, by his words and his deeds, let him be scanned— flattery also is a [p. 904[a]]