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 .
I insert the following from the Neighbor, as a specimen of the respect which the mob has for law or justice:—
“Disgraceful affair at .
On Tuesday last, , one of our officers went to for the purpose of arresting Milton Cook, on the charge of bastardy, and bringing him before , Justice of the Peace of this , before whom affidavit had been made to that effect. He found the accused in Bartlett’s grocery, () and arrested him. Cook had a gun that he said he had loaded for the purpose, and would make a hole through the if he molested him, and swore he would not be taken. and others, then stepped forward to his assistance, and said that they had sworn to stand by him, and that he should not go. He then returned with his process to the , and told him what had ocourred. Mr. then summoned eleven men to go along with the , and assist <him> in bringing the delinquent. They went out and drove to the grocery where they expected to find him, but he was not there; they then went out for a short time without making known their business, when they saw an armed force gathering. [HC 6:171]
They shortly afterwards returned to the grocery, and saw him there, where he swore he would not be taken— there was also an armed force standing in the door, who also swore he should not be taken. The officer having the process; Mr. Markham, and , stepped forward and wished to reason the case with them; the officer, at the same time demanding their assistance; they were met with an armed force of about twenty, four of whom stood in the doorway; two with guns and bayonets, and two with pistols. The two having the bayonets charged directly at Mr. Markham and swore they would run him through and rushed upon him with their bayonets. He however warded off their blows with his arm, and the bayonet glanced and struck Mr in the abdomen, the bayonet went through his clothes scratched his body, and glanced off without doing any further injury, other than giving him a slight cut in the hand. Those having the pistols then attempted to shoot, when Mr. Markham seized the hand of one of them that held the pistol, and prevented him from firing— The other put his pistol to ’s breast, and swore he would shoot him. The company at that time used all their force, and crowded the officers, and their assistants some distance back, and carried off and secreted the prisoner. The officer and his company then went to the tavern to stay all night. The next morning about eight o’Clock the constable and Mr. Markham went to the grocery and searched, and Bartlett said that he was gone— that he had taken his horse and gone out of town. They then saw a company of men gathering at ’s store, armed with guns, bayonets, pistols, clubs and other missiles. Mr. Markham went to the store, where he found the constable and the prisoner. There were fifty, in and about [p. 1858]