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 29> pursued by the mob, conflicts ensued, deaths occurred on each side, and finally a force was organized under the authority of the of the State of , with orders to drive us from the , orexterminateus. Abandoned and attacked by those to whom we had looked for protection, we determined to make no further resistance, but submit to the authorities of the and yield to our fate however hard it might be. Several members of the Society were arrested and imprisoned on a charge of treason against the ; and the rest amounting to above 14.000 Souls, fled into the other States, principally into ; where they now reside.
“Your Memorialists would further State, that they have heretofore petitioned your honorable body praying redress for the injuries set forth in this Memorial, but the Committee to whom our Petition was referred, reported, in substance, that the general government had no power in the case; and that we must look for relief to the courts and the Legislature of . In reply your Memorialists would beg leave to State, that they have repeatedly appealed to the authorities of in vain, that though they are American citizens, at all times ready to obey the laws and support the institutions of the , none of us would dare enter , for any such purpose, or for any purpose whatever. Our property was seized by the mob, or lawlessly confiscated by the , and we were forced at the point of the bayonet to sign deeds of trust relinquishing our property, but the exterminating order of the of is still in force, and we dare not return to claim our just rights— the widows and orphans of those slain, who could legally sign no deeds of Trust, dare not return to claim the inheritance left them by their murdered parents. It is true the Constitution of the gives to us in common with all other native or adopted citizens, the right to enter and settle in , but an executive order has been issued to exterminate us if we enter the , and a part of the Constitution becomes a nulity so far as we are concerned.
“Had any foreign State or power committed a similar outrage upon us, we cannot for a moment doubt that the strong arm of the general government would have been stretched out to redress our wrongs, and we flatter ourselves that the same power will either redress our grievances or shield us from harm in our efforts to regain our lost property, which we fairly purchased from the General government. Finally your Memorialists, pray your honorable body to take their [HC 6:87] wrongs into consideration, receive testimony in the case and grant such relief as by the constitution and Laws you may have power to give.
“And your Memorialists will ever pray &c.”
Eleven copies were also made for circulation and signature, by , one of my Clerks.
4 p.m.
“A meeting of the citizens in the Assembly room when was chosen chairman of the Meeting, and Clerk.
The object of the meeting was briefly explained by the ; followed by Judge Phelps, which was to Petition Congress for redress of grievances in relation to the persecutions. [p. 1784]