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> spoke— confessed he was wrong, in one thing in , that is he left alive, and left them alive, and asked forgiveness, and promised never to do so again.
offered to deliver the president’s appeal to the “green Mountain boys” to all the large towns in if he could have a copy,— The President offered a copy, and it was voted that [HC 6:93] shall have this mission granted him, and voted in addition that he go to all the towns in .
The spoke.
The Mayor spoke: said he rose to make a confession, that he used all his influence to prevent the brethren from fighting when mobbed in , if I did wrong, <I will not do so any more,> it was a suggestion of the head, he would never do so again, but when the Mobs come upon you, kill them, I never will restrain you again but will go and help you.
The spoke again, acknowledged his wrong, said he would never put his hand on brother ’s shoulder again to hold him back when he was abused.
spoke of , said he would never submit to such treatment again.
Mayor spoke again if I do not stand with those who will stand by me in the hour of trouble and danger, without faltering I give you leave to shoot me—
Mayor read a <letter in> reply to one he wrote to .
stated that the history of the persecution was put into the hand of , [HC 6:94]
Motioned <by Joseph Smith> that every man in the meeting who could wield a pen write an address to his mother country—— carried.
Mayor read the Memorial to Congress— The State rights doctrines is <are> what feed mobs, they are a <dead carcass>, a stink, and they shall ascend up as a stink offering in the nose of the Almighty.
They shall be oppressed as they have oppressed us, not by Mormons but by others in power, they shall drink a drink offering, the bitterest dregs— not from the Mormons but from a meaner source than themselves. God shall curse them.
Adjourned till next Monday evening— early candle light.” [p. 1790]