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 11> ever stepped aside but I have known it; I know the result of their actions, and they cannot help themselves. If you find out my heart you are welcome to it. If any of the Twelve take a wrong path, or a course by themselves I know the path, and know the end of it; thy are soon in the ditch crying for help. I sit down and let others run. I strike with a crooked stick to hit the whole. Now the Twelve must be helped home, and there must be something for the and the . We have got a plot of the city of for Lithographing: if any one wishes to advance the money to lithograph, and have a few thousands struck off, <they> shall be paid till they are satisfied; there was not wealth enough in , and the regions round about.
(He here exhibited the Map of ) He concluded with a few remarks relative to the circumstances of , who had just returned from his mission to . Elder spoke as follows:
In the middle of last April, I arrived at houseless, and with a large family. Brother Joseph said to me, ‘, stay at home and build a house.’ I was behind hand in instructions and information, while others had been at home learning the great things of God. I have now come East principally on business, though I always have a mission wherever I am. I speak for my brethren; they have an absolute claim— it belongs to them and they want it— it is justly theirs; I ask for nothing for myself.
Elder said:
I suppose you all understand what [HC 6:29] has said, and I consider his counsel good; he is my superior and my head in the council of the Twelve. If I go astray it will be through ignorance, we must be subject to the powers that be, and there are no powers but are ordained of God; and if we reject their council we shall be damned. Some of our finest looking and smartest men have fallen. I consider those trees in the forest which have the largest and highest tops are in the greatest danger— they are blown down, and there is no way of restoring them but to cut off; let the stump go back, and new sprouts come out. Those who have most responsibility are in most danger; we must be careful how we treat God’s officers. No man ever fell unless it was through rejecting Counsel: I as well as my brethren see this. My superior knows more than I because he is nearer the fountain: to get knowledge, begin at the foot of the stream, and drink all up till you get to the fountain, and then you get all the knowledge. It is necessary for the people here to obey counsel. God has sent me forth through his servants to take my part in this great work, and the work is true. I know there are but few in this church who will be able to walk in this narrow path. We must keep the celestial law in the flesh. The more simple we teach the better for us.
It is a wrong idea of Elders whipping sects; try and win the people; salt both sheep and shepherd too; get them up so that they will lick the salt out of your hands (An infidel here handed money to , who prophesied that he would be a Saint and an Elder, and all his family should be Saints.) Give them good Salt; gain the affections of the Shepherd and the whole flock will come. Now we get sheep up to lick, and [p. 1732]