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History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
Source Note
Source Note
JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. D-1, created 4 July 1845–4 Feb. 1846 and 1 July 1854–2 May 1855; handwriting of , Robert L. Campbell, and ; 275 pages, plus 6 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fourth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fourth volume covers the period from 1 Aug. 1842 to 1 July 1843; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume D-1, constitutes the fourth of six volumes documenting the life of Joseph Smith and the early years of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The series is also known as the Manuscript History of the Church and was originally published serially from 1842 to 1846 and 1851 to 1858 as the “History of Joseph Smith” in the Times and Seasons and Deseret News. This volume contains JS’s history from 1 August 1842 to 1 July 1843, and it was compiled after JS’s death.
The material recorded in volume D-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , with the assistance of . After Richards’s death in 1854, continued work on the volume as the new church historian with Bullock’s continued help. The process adopted by Richards and Bullock involved Richards creating a set of rough draft notes and Bullock transcribing the notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). George A. Smith followed a similar pattern, though he dictated the draft notes to Bullock and other scribes.
According to the Church Historian’s Office journal, finished the third volume of the series, volume C-1, on Thursday, 3 July 1845, in , Illinois. He began work on the fourth volume, D-1, the next day, beginning on page 1362 with the entry for 1 August 1842. (The pages in volumes A-1–E-1 were numbered consecutively.) Bullock continued work on the record, drawing upon ’s draft notes, until 3 February 1846—the day before D-1 and the other volumes were packed up in preparation for the Latter-day Saints’ exodus from Nauvoo. At that point he had reached page 1485 with the entry for 28 February 1843. Subsequently, apparently after the collection had arrived in Utah, Bullock added a brief comment beneath that entry: “end of W. Richard’s compiling[.] the books packed Feby. 4— 1846 in Nauvoo[.] Miles Romney— present. The records carried by T Bullock from Winter Quarters to G S L [Great Salt Lake] City in 1848.”
A notation at the top of page 1486 reports that “the books were unpacked in G. S. L. City by and . June 7. 1853. J[onathan] Grimshaw & Miles Romney present.” Vertically, in the margin, is a poignant epitaph: “Decr. 1 1853 Dr. Willard Richards wrote one line of History—being sick at the time—and was never able to do any more.” With Richards’s death on 11 March 1854, JS’s cousin was called to the office of church historian. The notation on the top of page 1486 acknowledges this change in officers, noting, “commencement of George A. Smith’s compiling as Historian. April 13. 1854[.] [C]ommenced copying July 1. 1854.” From mid-April to the end of June 1854, George A. Smith, in collaboration with Thomas Bullock, worked on the draft notes for the history before a new scribe, , resumed writing in D-1 on 1 July 1854, beginning with the entry for 1 March 1843.
continued transcribing intermittently into the late fall of 1854, when he was assigned other duties in the Historian’s Office. He had reached page 1546 with the entry for 5 May 1843. Work resumed in February 1855 in the hand of Robert L. Campbell, recently returned from a mission. He concluded volume D-1 on the morning of 2 May 1855 and began writing in E-1 that afternoon.
The 274 pages of volume D-1 contain a record of much that is significant in the life of JS and the development of the church he founded. Among these events are
• JS’s 6 August 1842 prophecy that the Saints would become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains.
•JS’s 8 August 1842 arrest on a warrant for being “an accessory before the fact” to an attack on former governor .
• ’s 17 August 1842 letter to governor , pleading for the humane treatment of her husband and family.
•JS’s 1 and 6 September 1842 instructions regarding the proper procedures for performing baptisms for the dead.
• JS’s 15 November 1842 “Valedictory” as he stepped down as editor of the Times and Seasons.
• The 26 December 1842 arrest of JS on a “proclamation” by former governor , and subsequent hearing in , Illinois.
• The 7 February 1843 recovery of a volume of patriarchal blessings given by , which had been stolen in , Missouri.
• JS’s 21 February 1843 remarks regarding the and .
• JS’s 2 April 1843 instruction at , Illinois, on the nature of God and other subjects.
• JS’s 16 May 1843 remarks at , Illinois, on the everlasting covenant and eternal marriage.
• The account of JS’s 23 June 1843 arrest and his hearing the following week at .
Footnotes
<June 1> or proprietor of the Ferry, and the owner or Proprietor of the Ferry aforesaid, may at any time, after such forfeiture shall have accrued, enter upon and take possession of such boat or other craft, to his, or her own use without precept, and such offender shall moreover, pay to the owner or proprietor of the Ferry aforesaid <who may be aggrieved as aforesaid, the sum of fifteen dollars for each person who may be thus unlawfully carried or conveyed across said ferry as aforesaid,> to be recovered on motion, before any Alderman, or any Magistrate within said competent to try the same, upon giving to such offender five days notice of the time and place of making such motion, which notice may be served on such person or persons, either in or out of the , by delivering or tendering a copy thereof, or leaving a copy at their last residence: Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent any person, crossing said at said Ferry as aforesaid, on his or her own boat or other craft, on his or her own business; and also to take in and cross his or her neighbors, when the same is done without fee, and not with intention to injure said Ferry as aforesaid.
Section 4. And be it further ordained that the said Smith shall be governed in his rates of Toll, and in the general management of said Ferry, by ordinance of said City Council” passed June 1st. 1843.”
And also Passed “An Ordinance respecting Mad Dogs and other animals.”
I addressed the Council and criticized ’s account current, charging for room, candles, fuel, &c. &c. as extra’s.
, , and all day preparing papers for the Settlement of the Estate.
I gave the following recommend to .
“To all Saints, and honorable men of the earth. Greeting: Dear Brethren and friends; I Joseph Smith, a servant of the Lord and Trustee in Trust for the of the Lord at , do hereby certify that the bearer hereof, , an Elder and one of the Twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, has deposited with me his bond and security, to my full satisfaction according to the resolution of the Conference, held in this , on the 6th. day of April last. He therefore is recommended to all Saints and honorable people, as a legal Agent to collect funds for the purpose of building the , and of the Lord, confident that he will honor this high trust, as well as ardently fulfil his commission as a messenger of peace and Salvation, as one of the Lords noble men, I can fervently say may [HC 5:416] the Lord clear his way before him, and bless him, and bless those that obey his teachings, wherever there are ears to hear and hearts to feel. He is in the language of the Hebrews [Hebrew characters: HRA YSRAL] <-[Haw-ra-ang Yeesh raw-ale]->the friend of Israel, and worthy to be received and entertained as a man of God; yea; he has, as had the ancient Apostles. [Greek characters: ho logos ho kalos] -[o logos o kalos]- the good word; even the good word that leadeth unto eternal life Laus Deus Praise God.
Wherefore brethren and friends, while you have the assurance of the integrity, fidelity, and ability of this servant of the living God, and Trusting that your hearts and energies will be enlivened, and deeply engaged in the building of those houses [p. 1567]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
Insertion in handwriting of Thomas Bullock.
- [713]
Clayton, Journal, 1 June 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
- [714]
Letter of Recommendation for Brigham Young, 1 June 1843, JS Collection, CHL.
Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.
Insertion in handwriting of Thomas Bullock.