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> in pursuance of this act, bonds with penalty and security, for the faithful performance of their respective duties, such as may be deemed expedient; and also, to require all officers appointed as aforesaid to take an Oath for the faithful performance of the duties of their respective offices.
Section 11. The city Council shall have power and authority to make, ordain, establish, and execute all such ordinances, not repugnant to the Constitution of the or of this , as they may deem necessary, for the peace, benefit, good order, regulation, convenience, and cleanliness of said ; for the protection of property therein from destruction by fire or otherwise, and for the health, and happiness thereof; they shall have power to fill all vaccancies that may happen by death, resignation, or removal in any of the offices herein made elective: to fix and establish all the fees of the officers of said corporation not herein established; to impose such fines, not exceeding one hundred dollars for each offence, as they may deem just, for refusing to accept any office in or under the corporation, or for misconduct therein; to divide the into Wards; to add to the number of Aldermen and Counsellors; and apportion them among the several Wards, as may be most just and conducive to the interest of the .
Section 12. To license, tax, and regulate Auctions, Merchants, Retailers, Grocers, Hawkers, Pedlars, Brokers, Pawnbrokers, and Money changers.
Section 13. The city Council shall have exclusive power within the , by ordinance, to license, regulate, and restrain the keeping of ferries, to regulate the police of the ; to impose fines, forfeitures and penalties, for the breach of any ordinance, and provide for the recovery of such fines and forfeitures, and the enforcement of such penalties, and to pass such ordinances as may be necessary and proper for carrying into the powers specified in this act: Provided such ordinances are not repugnant to the Constitution of the , or of this ; and, in fine, to exercise such other legislative powers as are conferred on the City Council of the city of , by an act entitled “An act to incorporate the city of ,” approved February third, one thousand eight hundred and forty.
Section 14. All ordinances passed by the city Council shall, within one month after they shall have been passed, be published in some Newspaper printed in the , or certified copies thereof be posted up in three of the most public places in the .
Section 15. All ordinances of the city may be proven by the seal of the Corporation, and when printed or published in book or pamphet form, purporting to be printed or published by authority of the Corporation, the same shall be received in evidence in all courts or places without further proof.
Section 16. The Mayor and Aldermen shall be conservators of the peace within the limits of said , and shall have all the powers of Justices of the peace therein, both in civil and criminal cases, arising under the laws of the : they shall as Justices of the Peace, within the limits of said , perform the same duties, be governed by the same laws, give the same bonds and security, as other Justices of the Peace, and be commissioned as Justices of the Peace in and for said by the Governor. [p. 1818]