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> and learned professions, to be called the “University of the city of ”, which institution shall be under the control and management of a Board of Trustees, consisting of a Chancellor, Registrar, and twenty three Regents: which Board shall thereafter be a body corporate and politic with perpetual succession, by the name of the “Chancellor and Regents of the University of the city of ,” and shall have full power to pass, ordain, establish and execute all such laws and ordinances as they may consider necessary for the welfare and prosperity of said University, its officers, and students; Provided that the said laws and ordinances shall not be repugnant to the Constitution of the , or of this ; and Provided, also that the Trustees shall at all times be appointed by the city council, and shall have all the powers and privileges for the advancement of the cause of education which appertain to the Trustees of any other College or University of this .
Section 25. The city Council may organize the inhabitants of said , subject to Military duty, into a body of Independent military men to be called the “ Legion”, the court Martial of which shall be composed of the commissioned officers of said Legion, and constitute the law making department, with full powers and authority to make, ordain, establish, and execute, all such laws and ordinances as may be considered necessary for the benefit, government and regulation of said Legion; Provided, said court martial shall pass no law or act repugnant to, or inconsistent with, the Constitution of the , or of this ; and Provided, also, that the officers of the Legion shall be commissioned by the Governor of the . The said Legion shall perform the same amount of Military duty as is now, or may be hereafter, required of the regular Militia of the , and shall be at the disposal of the Mayor in executing the laws and ordinances of the city Corporation, and the laws of the , and at the disposal of the Governor for the public defence, and the of the laws of the , or of the , and shall be entitled to their proportion of the public arms; and Provided, also, that said Legion shall be exempt from all other Military Duty.
Section 26. The Inhabitants of the “City of ”, are hereby exempted from working on any road beyond the limits of the , and for the purpose of keeping the Streets, lanes, avenues, and alleys in repair, to require of the male inhabitants of said , over the age of twenty one, and under fifty years, to labor on said streets, lanes, avenues, and alleys, not exceeding three days in each year; and any person failing to perform such labor when duly notified by the supervisor, shall forfeit and pay the sum of one dollar per day for each day so neglected or refused.
Section 27. The City Council shall have power to provide for the punishment of offenders by imprisonment in the County or city Jail, in all cases when such offenders shall fail or refuse to pay the fines and forfeitures which may be recovered against them.
Section 28. This act is hereby declared to be a public act, and shall take effect on the first Monday of February next.