JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, , and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth 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 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.
The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.
Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed ’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)
Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.
The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include
• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.
• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, the Legion, and Mormon voting practices.
• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of and .
• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of and revocation of his priesthood license.
• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by .
• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of ’s appointment to a mission to Russia.
• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.
• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of , inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.
• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by .
• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the .
<September 10> the establishing of this our own nation, with its progress, decline, and fall; and those predictions contained in the Book of Mormon— the stick of Joseph in the hand of Ephraim— will as truly be fulfilled as those contained in the Bible— the stick and record of Judah—; and both these sticks or records contain prophecies of great import concerning the Gentile nations, and especially this land and nation, which are not yet fulfilled, but must shortly come to pass; yea, their fulfilment is nigh even at the doors.
Though the secrets which God is reveling through his servant the Prophet in these last days may be unpopular, and unbelieved in by the world, yet their unbelief will not make the truth of God of none effect, any more than it did in the days of Lot and Noah, or at the fall of Jerusalem. When Jesus Christ said there should not be left one stone upon [HC 6:24] another in the Temple, that should not be thrown down, the Jewish nation did not believe it, neither would they receive such testimony; but they looked at outward circumstances, and were ready to say, ‘who can prevail against us? What nation like unto our nation? We have held the giving of the law, the Articles, and the Urim and Thummim; the Law giver has never departed from between our feet: We have held the power of government from generation to generation; and what nation hath power now to prevail against us”?’ Through this order of reasoning they were blinded, and knew not the day of their visitation— they understood not the things that belonged to their peace— they rejected their Lord and king, contended against his word and testimony, and finally put him to death on the cross, with many who followed him. But this did not hinder the fulfillment of his predictions concerning that nation; the words of the Lord had gone forth out of his mouth, and could not return unto him void. The things that belonged to their peace were hid from their eyes, and they were counted unworthy as a nation; the kingdom was to be rent out of their hands, and given to another; the die was cast, and judgment must come.
Jerusalem was soon surrounded by the Roman Army, led on by the inspired Titus; and a scene of calamity, judgment and woe immediately overspread the inhabitants of that city, which was devoted to destruction— such a calamity as never before rested upon the nation of Israel. Blood flowed through their streets, tens of thousands fell by the edge of the sword, and thousands by famine. Women were evil towards the children of their own bosoms in the straitness of the seige, the spectacle of which shocked the Roman soldiers as they entered the city. The Jews were crucified in such numbers by their enemies that they could find no more wood for crosses, or room for their bodies; and while despair was in every face, and every heart sinking while suffering under the chastening hand of God, their enemies rushed upon them in the city to strike the last fatal blow; and as their last resort, they rushed for safety into the Temple, which was soon on fire, and they sunk in the midst of the flames with the cry of their sufferings ascending up on high, accompanied by the smoke of the crackling spires and towers. The remaining miserable few were sold as slaves, and driven like the dumb ass before his burthen, and scattered, as corn is sifted in a seive, throughout the gentile world.
Jerusalem was razed from its foundations, the ruins of the Temple [p. 1728]