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 25> the Lord, and said that he thought at first that a cohort of angels had come to visit him, it was such heavenly music to him.
At home all day. About noon gave council to some brethren who called on me from Morley Settlement, <and> told them to keep law on their side, and they would come out well enough.
At two o’clock, about 50 couple sat down at my table to dine, while I was eating my called, requesting me to solemnize the marriage of his brother Dr. and , but as I could not leave I referred him to Prest. who married them.
A large party supped at my house, and spent the evening in music, Dancing &c. in a most cheerful and friendly manner. During the festivities, a man with his hair long and falling over his shoulders, and apparently drunk, came in, and acted like a Missourian. I requested the Captain of the Police to put him out of doors, a scuffle ensued, and I had an opportunity to look him full in the face, when to my great surprize and joy untold, I discovered it was my long tried, <warm but cruelly persecuted friend> [HC 6:134] , just arrived from nearly a year’s imprisonment without conviction in .
The following is his statement of his experience and sufferings by that accursed people.
“I was on my way from to , and while at on the 4th. March 1843 was arrested by a Mr Fox, on oath of Elias Parker, who swore I was the advertized in the papers, as having attempted to assassinate — <and was taken> before a Magistrate in . I was then put into <the County> Jail and kept 2 days with a pair of Iron Hobbles on my ankles; about midnight was taken into the Stage Coach in charge of Fox, and started for . there were 9 Passengers, 2 of them women. I sat on the middle seat— one of the men behind me commenced gonging me in the back— I spoke to him, and told him that it was dark and I could not see him but <that> he was no gentleman, one of the Ladies whispered to him, and he ceased the operation. The next night the driver being drunk, run against a Tree, and broke the king bolt, and not knowing what to do, ironed as I was, I crawled into the Boot, and found an extra bolt, and in the dark fixed the coach, got it off the Tree, and we started on, soon after run against a Bank and could not move. I was asleep at the time, but the bustle awoke me, when I told them if they would take off my Irons I would get off and drive, as the driver was too drunk, to manage the horses; they refused. I however got hold of the lines and by the help of other passengers lifting at the wheels, got it righted, and I drove to the next stand <near the Osage River>— the roads were very bad & the load heavy so we got along slowly.
There was an officer of the U.S. army in the coach, was <We were> 2 days and 2 nights <from> in reaching , where I was lodged in the Jail 2 days and 2 nights. the U.S. officer went on. Started on for still in charge of Fox, at Boonville overtook the U.S. officer. We three were all that were in the coach all the way, <from Boonville> to . told me afterwards that when he looked into the stage that he took me for the guard and the officer for the prisoner, for he looked like the guilty one. Was about 4 Days going to , arrived there just at night, a large crowd gathered around making many remarks, some [HC 6:135] were for hanging me at once. I was then placed in the Jail, in 2 or 3 days under went a shame trial before a Justice of the Peace, the was crowded and the men were armed with Hickory clubs— they set on boys from 10 to 12 years of age to kick and punch me which they did repeatedly: while in court Fox was the main witness introduced and he swore falsely, <Fox swore that I had stated to him that I had not been in the Country for 5 years. I informed the Court that Fox swore falsely, in proof thereof, that the people of knew that I had travelled thro several times, during that time, for the people were all well aware of my having visited this place, which fact alone should satisfy them that Fox was swearing for money, which I afterwards learned that he obtained and divided with Parker. The Magistrate committed me to prison, for my safe preservation, as he was afraid the people would kill me, but he could find no crime against me, this was told the officer, who conveyed me to prison—> I was re-committed to Jail still wearing the Iron hobbles <and> was kept in the upper part in the day time, and in the dungeon at night with a little dirty [p. 1827]