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 .
<January 5> Mayor:— Did Warren Smith or any other policeman give you to understand that I had authorized him to believe there was any difficulty between me and or ?
:— No! He did not think Warren Smith would transcend his official duties towards or , felt at the time and were in danger; <did not think they were in danger> if they did not rise up against the authorities.
Did not say he had any instruction— said to ‘you have enemies.’ My impression was that somebody had been to Joseph to make a bad impression on his mind— Warren Smith did mention ’ name, I think. [HC 6:167]
Thirty Policemen— all who were present— sworn;— testified that Genl. Smith had never given them any private instruction concerning the case before the Council.
Warren Smith said asked his opinion who was the Judas. I said from rumor I would suspect — does not believe he mentioned ’ name. My opinion was founded on rumor. Brother said was in a bad situation— was kicking,— and if he did not mind he would go over the board; if he had his property in available means and was away, he would feel better. Have heard it talked of that was not going to stand. did not tell what he was kicking at— I understood a Brutus to mean a treacherous man.
George W Crouse sworn;— Does not recollect any conversation between Warren Smith and at his store relative to the case in question— had a discussion about the duties of policemen.
said it was customary in all cities for policemen to go armed in time of danger.
confirmed ’s observation.
Counselor spoke— told a story of the old Dutch man and the ox.
makes me think of an old Dutchman, who had an ox the <first> animal he ever owned in his life, and he broke him to ride, then he filled a sack with rocks and laid it on the ox’s back and got on himself and told his son to hide by <the> roadside and when he came along to jump out and holloa boo, as he wanted to know how well his ox was broke, The Son did accordingly; the ox was frightened and throwed <threw> the old man off. “Father” said the son “I done <did> as you told me”. “Yes” said the old man “but you made too big a boo.”
sworn:— Have received the impression from rumor that , and probably one or two others could not subscribe to all things in the church, and there were some private matters that might make trouble— don’t know of any one’s being in danger. No one told me the police had received any private instruction— Could not tell who he had received these rumors from.
spoke:— said he had no personal feeling against Warren Smith. Some two or three years since he sued brother Warren, and stayed [p. 1855]