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> and they frankly give it as their opinion, that it is in answer to the prayers of the Mormons they have on board. ”
We have thus far been treated with great kindness by officers, passengers and crew.— The Captain is a frank open-hearted man, but I expect he has no bump of reverence, and has hardly seen the inside of a meeting house in his life. He has thus far given us no privilege of preaching on the Sabbath, but religious controversies are common every day with passengers and crew. The sailors are rather a wild set, but still there is some hope. Doctor Winslow is quite a Gentleman, and I should think a man of skill in his profession, but rather sceptical in his religious views. He converses with us very freely on religious topics, and on the whole thinks our religion a pretty good one. His wife is a lady of refinement and taste and I think an excellent woman, and is very familiar and free in conversation, they have three very pretty children, Charles is the oldest, four years old, Lizzy his sister is two years and a half old. The other is an infant. They have a large terrapin or land tortoise on board, he was brought from the Gallipagos Islands in the same ship. Children if you look on the atlas I sent you by , you will see them on the equator west of Quito, this tortoise is very docile and strong, he measures fourty-four inches in circumference. In pleasant weather these two children will get on to his shell and ride him about deck; it is an odd sight, and I think it would please you. They have an irish maid of about thirty. She is a Catholic. Mr. Lincoln and wife are the other passengers, he is a carpenter. They are Baptists and perhaps may be Mormons yet. They are quite liberal in sentiment, and think the church ought to enjoy the gifts now as well as anciently. They were all very kind to Brother Hanks and daily sent him nice cakes &c. As to our health, Brothers and were some sea sick at first, but now their appetites are good. As for myself I never knew what sea sickness was. When in , I weighed 156 lbs. At Winchester I weighed 159 lbs. At New Bedford I weighed 174, and have been on the gain ever since. Surely the Lord is with us for we are favored at his hand. My mind has been buoyed above desponding feelings far beyond my expectations. We have a little room to ourselves and can pray, sing, read, and talk when we please, and time glides away pleasantly. As I expect the children have received the atlass from Brother ere this— I will give them some lessons on it. We expect to stop, or as sailors call it touch, at one of the Cape De Verde Islands, called the Isle of Sal, in English it would be the Isle of Salt. We expect to get Salt there to Salt fish with; then we shall touch at Bonavista, there we expect to get Oranges, pine apples, raisins, figs, grapes and wine. These are in Latitude 17 North, and Longitude 25 West; look on the map of Africa and you will find them.
From there we shall steer a South course till we make or see the Isle of Tristan de Acunha, this is in South Latitude 38, West Longitude 130.Then we shall steer for the Cape of Good hope; then for the islands of St. Pauls and Amsterdam. These are in east Longitude 88, South Latitude 39, here we expect to catch the fish to use our salt on; there are innumerable multitudes of them [p. 1765]