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 .
<July 2> About 6 p.m. The Maid of Iowa returned to here landing at the , the Company who had been on the expedition on board of her, formed in a procession and walked up to my , where they formed a hollow square and sent in a deputation to me, as soon as I had bid them welcome. I opened the window of my and requested that no man would leave the ground until I had spoken to them. My Brother and I went into the hollow square and directed them not to allow their ranks to be broken. I then shook hands with each man, blessing them and welcoming them home. I then took off my hat and related to them how I was brought home to the midst of my friends, and how I regained my liberty. I feel by the Spirit of the Lord that if I had fallen into your hands that you would either have brought me safe home, or that we should all have died in a heap together; at this time, a well dressed man, a Stranger, who had a Cloak around him broke through the South line of the ranks, when the orderly Sergeant took the strange man by the nape of the neck and kicked him outside the ranks telling him not to come in again; as soon as quiet was resumed, I continued my address to the company. and had scarce spoken 15 minutes, when the same stranger again broke the ranks, which annoyed me, and I stopt speaking; the first Lieutanant then marched out of the ranks and struck at him with the barrel of his gun, but he retired escaping the blow.
About dusk I dismissed the company, blessing them in the name of the Lord
My brother then blest them also, commending them for their diligence and attention to the instructions given by him before their departure.
The following is the report of their doings, as reported by Daniel M Burbanks. [HC 5:481]
Sunday June 25. The Brethren were collecting through the night on the maid of Iowa, and commenced making preparations for the trip, all hands uniting in loading the boat with firewood.
26th. About 8½ A.M. Prest. in company with came on board, and instructed us to watch for the Steamboats that may run up the , and if any persons were running brother Joseph down the river, under any pretext whatever, as the Amaranth had carried the news to that Joseph Smith was going to be tried at Ottoway, and it had been reported that a company of men were armed in , and had chartered a steam boat to run up to Ottawa there to seize Joseph and kidnap him to , and if we saw such a boat we were to rescue Joseph at all hazards and bring him to . then blessed the company in the name of the Lord and the “little Maid” started at 9¼ a.m. down the with the following persons on board, viz: Captain of boat, Daniel M Burbank first Pilot, , Mate, Captain of Company, George W Langley Lieutenant, Chaplain, , Surgeon, John S. Higbee, , , Enoch M King, , , , , Ben Rolfe, , James Aiken, , , William Meeks, Calvin Reed, Robert C Moore, , Urban V Stewart, , William S Yocum, Thomas Briley, Henry J Young , George W Thatcher, H. M. Alexander, , Benjamin L Clapp, , A. Young, , , , , E J. Sabin, , H. B. M Jolley, J. F. Lane. . H. P. Palmer. , Robert C. Egbert. . R. A. Allred, . [p. 1655]