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 .
<December 4> in the Memorial. I have already had 38 vexatious law suits— and have paid $150.000 for land. I borrowed $500— of in , to pay the expenses of the party that accompanied me, and had to borrow of others.
and his , were kidnapped from the neighborhood of , by a Company of Missourians assisted by some Anti-Mormons of this , and carried into .
<5> Tuesday 5 6 P.M. met the , also , and , in Council in the on important business. [HC 6:99]
Advised the Twelve to raise money to send to who is East, for him to get paper to print the Doctrine and Covenants and get new type and metal for stereotyping the same.
<6> Wednesday 6 At home and took the following affidavit.
State of , City of ss. On the sixth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty three, came Dellmore Chapman before me Joseph Smith Mayor of said , and after being duly sworn, Deposeth and saith, that on the nineteenth day of November 1843 a man named Richardson came to one of his neighbors, living in Bear creek precinct in the County of Hancock named , and enticed him to the at by false pretences, and from thence by a company he was forced over the , and taken to Monticello Jail; and that on the second day of December, some of the same party and others came to the aforesaid Bear creek and Kidnapped the father of the aforesaid , and by force of arms hurried him also across the said into the State of to aforesaid Jail at Monticello— Lewis County— where your said affiant verily believes they are both now incarcerated illegally, and inhuman<ly> in prison. and further report says that some of them are to come to next, to kidnap Nelson Turner. and further your affiant saith not. <¶> Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 6th. day of December 1843.
Joseph Smith Mayor
Dellmore Chapman
upon which I wrote to
“His Excellency . < Decr. 6th. 1843>. Sir, The enclosed affidavit is forwarded to your for instructions to know what shall be done in the premises. I shall act according to the best of my judgment constitutionally till I receive your instructions. and in the mean time shall forward, as soon as they can be had, all the facts relative to the case, as a suitable person will go [HC 6:100] immediately to the place and get the necessary affidavits. Send your instructions by the bearer, Respectfully, I have the honor to be your obedt. Servt.
Joseph Smith Lieutt. Genl. of N. L.
P. S. Shall any portion of the Legion be called out?
N. B. An express has just reached me that will make another demand for me— I rely on the Honor of — for no writ can legally issue against me. I have suffered from their insatiable thirst for my blood long enough and want the peace of my family to remain undisturbed. [p. 1793]