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 .
<February 7.> to have their prayers granted: and give liberty to the captive; by paying the southern gentlemen gentleman a reasonable equivalent for his property, that the whole nation might be free indeed! When the people petitioned for a national bank, I would use my best endeavors to have their prayers granted <answered>; and answered <establish> one on national principles to save taxes, and make them the controllers of its ways and means; and when the people petitioned to possess the territory of or any other contiguous territory: I would lend the influence of a chief magistrate to grant so reasonable a request, that they might extend the mighty efforts and enterprize of a free people from the East to the West sea; and make the wilderness blossom as the rose; and when a neighboring realm petitioned to join the union of the sons of liberty, my voice would be, come: yea come : come Mexico: come ; and come all the world— let us be brethren; let us be one great family; and let there be a universal peace. Abolish the cruel custom of prisons, (except certain cases,) penitentiaries,—— court-martials for desertion; and let reason and friendship reign over the ruins of ignorance and barbarity: yea I would, as the universal friend of man, open the prisons; open the eyes; open the ears and open the hearts of the all [HC 6:208] people, to behold and enjoy freedom, unadulterated freedom: and God, who once cleansed the violence of the earth with a flood; whose Son laid down his life for the salvation of all his father gave him out of the world; and who has promised that he will come and purify the world again with fire in the last days, should be supplicated by me for the good of all people.
With the highest esteem, I am a friend of virtue, and of the people.
Joseph Smith.
, Illinois, February 7. 1844. [HC 6:209]
<* -[Last paragraph of the 8th. to come in here on the 7th]->
<8.> Thursday 8. Held Mayor’s court, and tried two negroes for attempting to marry white women; fined one $25. and the other $5. In the evening there was a political meeting in the Assembly room, when publicly read for the first time, my “views of the powers and policy of the General Government.” I addressed the meeting as follows:—
“I would not have suffered my name to have been used by my friends on any wise, as president of the , or Candidate for that office, if I and my friends could have had the privilege of enjoying our religious and civil rights as American citizens, even those rights which the Constitution guaranteed guarantees unto all her citizens alike, but this we as a people have been denied from the beginning. Persecution has rolled upon our heads from time to time, from portions of the , like peals of thunder, because of our religion, and no portion of the government as yet has stepped forward for our relief; and under view of these things, I feel it to be my right and privilege to obtain what influence and power I can lawfully in the for the [HC 6:210] protection of injured innocence, and if I loose my life in a good cause I am willing to be sacrificed on the alter of virtue, righteousness and truth, in maintaining the laws and constitution of the if need be for the general good of mankind.”
I was followed by Elders and , and a unaminous [p. 1886]