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
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 .
<June 30> justice to the State of , and I do hereby authorize and direct said to convey said Joseph Smith Jr, from the State of , and deliver him to the custody of the Sheriff of in the State of .
L.S.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused to be affixed the great seal of the State of .
Done at the city of this 13th. day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three. By the Governor. . James L Minor Secretary of State.” [HC 5:464]
“, Governor of the State of , to all Sheriffs and Constables of any County of the , and to , of the County of , greeting: Whereas it has been made known to me by the Executive authority of the State of , that one Joseph Smith, Junior, stands charged with the crime of treason, against the State of , and alleged that Joseph Smith Junior has fled from the justice of the said State of , and taken refuge in the State of .
Now therefore I, , Governor of the State of , pursuant to the Constitution and Laws of the and of this , do hereby command you to arrest and apprehend the said Joseph Smith, Junior, if he be found within the limits of the aforesaid, and cause him to be safely kept and delivered to the custody of , Esq., who has been duly constituted the agent of the said State of to receive the said fugitive from the justice of said , he paying all fees and charges for the arrest and apprehension of said Joseph Smith, Junior, and make due returns to the Executive department of this , of the manner in which this writ may be executed. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the to be affixed. L.S. Done at the city of this 17th. day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and forty-three, and of the Independence of the the sixty seventh. By the Governor , Thompson Campbell Secretary of State.”
refused to submit to the Writ, but submitted to the and I was delivered into the hands of the of the . I told the Court I had an appointment to preach to the people and requested the privilege from the court which they granted and adjourned until 8 o’Clock to morrow morning ¶ at 5 p.m. I went to the and delivered an address to the public of which the following is a brief synopsis as reported by Dr. and .
“The congregation is large; I shall require attention. I discovered what the emotions of the people were on my arrival at this , and I [HC 5:465] have come here to say “how do you do?” to all parties, and I do now at this time say to all “How do you do?” I meet you with a heart full of gratitude to Almighty God; and I presume you all feel the same. I am well— I am hearty. I hardly know how to express my feelings— I feel as strong as a giant. I pulled sticks with the men coming along, and I pulled up with one hand the strongest man [p. 1596]