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 .
<November> we accordingly divided the night into watches of 3 hours each and kept it up: he continued regular till the first of November, then his cough took a different turn, it was hard for him to raise and his lungs seemed stuffed up. I had no fearful apprehensions of him till the 2nd, at low 12— I was called by to relieve him and stand my regular watch with Brother Hanks. I then had fearful apprehensions his dissolution was near at hand. At 10 o’Clock, A.M. his extremities were cold, and the large drops of cold sweat covered his emaciated system. It was with great difficulty he could raise strength enough to throw off from his lungs the rattling phlegm that was continually threatening to strangle him, at that moment as I stood watching him, he made a violent struggle to throw up the obstacle, but through weakness was not able, and in the struggle he lost his breath, his eyes rolled up in his head, and I thought he had left us forever. I flew to (who from unwearied attention had laid down to take a little repose) but before he could spring to his feet, Brother Hanks caught his breath again and revived a little; soon after some of the cabin passengers came in to see him. Doct.Winslow recommend a little wine and water, after taking that, he revived so much that he wished to be shaved and his hair combed; after this was done, I talked with him some time about his departure; his mind was clear, calm and perfectly resigned; I told him it was a great satisfaction to me that he had visited the place of my nativity he had been in the house my father had built, was acquainted with his companion, (my mother) was acquainted with the surviving brothers and sisters of those that had gone to the world of spirits before them; he had seen the portrait of my brother Marshall, I asked him if he thought he should know him, he said if he looked like that, he should. I told him it was taken very correctly. I sent word by him to those I had been baptized for, and those I intended to be baptized for when I returned to . He then adjusted some of his temporal affairs: between 12 and 1 o’Clock P.M. he had another strangling turn, this reduced his strength, he could only speak in whispers after, between eight and ten he fell into a drowse.
After he awoke he whispered to me and said, I dreamed a dream, do you wish to hear it? I told him I did. He said, ‘I dreamed I went to the spirits in prison, it was an immense space; I looked to the East and to the west, and saw immense multitudes of people that looked just like people in real life. I said can these be spirits? I was assured they were. I looked to the North and saw a stand, somebody had just been preaching there and they were dispersing from around it. I saw no children among them. I looked to see if there were anybody that I knew, but saw none. I thought they were coming together again in a few minutes and I should be there; then I should see people I knew: I then awoke.’ About 11 o’Clock he had another dream, he heard the last trump sound, and saw the multitude which John saw, that no man could number, small and great, stand before God, (they were small and great in capacity) for there were no children there, he awoke before he saw any further. As I thought it my last opportunity with him, I sat up about 6 hours, I then [p. 1763]