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 21> but sought it in vain. It is in your power to save us, our wives, and our children from a repetition of the blood thirsty scenes of , and greatly relieve the fears of a persecuted and injured people, by ordaining for their protection the following ordinance, namely;—
An Ordinance for the Protection of the People styled the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints residing on the Western Borders of the State of :
Preamble
Whereas the State of at sundry times has unconstitutionally deprived a certain portion of her citizens (called Mormons) of their rights property, lands and even of their lives; <¶> and whereas in the years 1838 and 1839 the said State of did illegally and inhumanly exile and banish for ever from her limits and jurisdiction, all the said citizens (called Mormons) that remained alive, with impunity; and whereas after being hospitably received by the citizens of , the said State of , did grant, enact and charter for the benefit and convenience of the said exiled Mormons—— the following City Charter <X> <X entitled: “An act to Incorporate the city of ”> <See Deseret News, Vol 4, page 127, No 55, Nov 9. 1854.>
City Charter
An act to Incorporate the city of
Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of , represented in the General Assembly, That all that District of country embraced within the following boundaries, to wit; beginning at the North east corner of Section thirty one in township seven, North of range eight, west of the fourth principal meridian, in the county of , and running thence west to the northwest corner of said Section; thence north to the ; thence West to the middle of the main channel of the said ; thence down the middle of said channel to a point due West of the south east corner of fractional section number twelve, in township six, north of range nine, west of the fourth principal meridian; thence east to the South east corner of said section twelve; thence North on the range line between township six north and range eight and nine West, to the Southwest corner of section six, in township six, north of range eight West; thence east to the South east corner of said section; thence North to the place of beginning, including the town plats of and , shall hereafter be called, and known, by the name of the “city of ,” and the inhabitants thereof are hereby constituted a body corporate and politic by the name aforesaid, and shall have perpetual succession, and may have, and use, a common seal, which they may change and alter at pleasure.
Section 2. Whenever any tract of land, adjoining the city of “shall have been laid out into town lots, and duly recorded, according to law, the same shall form a part of the “city of ”.
Section 3. The inhabitants of said , by the name and style aforesaid, shall have power to sue, and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, defend and be defended, in all courts of law and equity, and in all actions whatsoever; to purchase, receive, and hold property, real and personal in said , to purchase, receive, and hold real property beyond the for burying grounds, or for other [p. 1816]