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.
<April 4 Joseph’s Epistle from > and virtuous and honest. We have reason to believe that many things were introduced among the Saints before God had signified the times, and notwithstanding the principles and plans may have been good, yet aspiring men, or in other words men who had not the substance of Godliness about them, perhaps undertook to handle edge<d> tools, children, you know, are fond of tools while they are not yet able to use them. Time and experience however is the only safe remedy<s> against such evils, there are many teachers but perhaps not many Fathers. There are times coming when God will signify many things which are [HC 3:301] expedient for the well being of the Saints but the times have not yet come, but will come as fast, as there can be found place, and receptions for them. And again we would suggest for your consideration the propriety of all the Saints, gathering up a knowledge of all the facts and suffering and abuses put upon them by the people of this , and also of all the property and amount of damages which they have sustained both of character and personal injuries as well as real property, and also the names of all persons that have had a hand in their oppressions as far as they can get hold of them and find them out. and perhaps a committee can be appointed to find out these things, and to take statements and affidavits, and also to gather up the libelous publications that are afloat, and all that are in the magazines and in the Encyclopedia’s, and all the libelous histories that are published and are writing, and by whom, and present the whole concatenation of diabolical rascality, and nefarious and murderous impositions, that have been practised upon this people, that we may not only publish to all the world, but present them to the heads of government, in all their dark and hellish hue as the last effort, which is enjoined on us by our Heavenly Father, before we can fully and completely claim that promise, which shall call him forth from his hiding place, and also the whole nation may be left without excuse before he can send forth the power of his mighty arm. It is an imperious duty that we owe to God, to Angels with whom we shall be brought to stand, and also to ourselves, to our wives and children, who have been made to bow down with grief, sorrow, and care, under the most damning hand of murder, tyranny and oppression supported and urged on, and upheld by the influence of that Spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the Fathers who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the Children, and filled the world with confusion and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the very main spring of all corruption, and the whole Earth groans under the weight of its iniquity. It is an Iron yoke, it is a strong band, they are the very hand cuffs and chains, and shackles and fetters of hell. Therefore it is an imperious duty that we owe not only to our own wives and children, but to the widows and fatherless, whose husbands [HC 3:302] and fathers have been murdered under its iron hand, which dark and blackening deeds are enough to make hell itself shudder and to stand aghast and pale and the hands of the very Devil tremble and palsy, and also it is an imperious duty that we owe to all the rising [p. 910]