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 17.> , want peace; want to abide by the ’s advice; want to have a character abroad grow out of their character at home; and really mean to follow the Savior’s golden rule: “To do unto others as they would wish others to do unto them.” they will be still, now, and let their own works praise them in the gates of justice, and in the eyes of the surrounding world. Wise men ought to have understanding enough to conquer men with kindness.
“A soft answer turns away wrath.” says the wise man, and it will be greatly to the credit of the Latter Day Saints to shew the love of God, by now kindly treating those who may have, in an unconscious moment, done them wrong: for truly said Jesus: pray for thine enemies. Humanity towards all; reason and refinement to enforce virtue; and good for evil, are so eminently designed to cure more disorders of society than an appeal to “arms,” or even argument untempered with friend[HC 6:219]ship, and the “one thing needful,” that no vision for the future: guide-board for the distant: or expositor for the present, need trouble any one with what he ought to do. His own good, his family’s good, his neighbor’s good, his country’s good, and all good, seem to whisper to every person; the has told you what to do: now do it. The Constitution expects every man to do his duty, and when he fails the law urges him”: or should he do too much the same master rebukes him. Should reason, liberty, law, light, and philanthropy now guide the destinies of with as much sincerity as has been manifested for her notoriety, or welfare: there can be no doubt that peace, prosperity, and happiness will prevail, and that future generations as well as the present one, will call apeacemaker. The Latter Day Saints will, at all events, and profit by the instruction: and call upon honest men to help them cherish all the love; all the friendship; all the courtesy; all the kindly feelings, and all the generosity that ought to characterize clever people, in a clever neighborhood, and leave candid men to judge which tree exhibits the best fruit, the one with the most clubs and sticks thrown into its boughs, and the grass trodden down under it; or the one with no sticks in it, some dead limbs, and rank grass growing under it; for by their signs ye can know their fruit; and by the fruit ye know the trees. Our motto then, is peace with all. If we have joy in the love of God, let us try to give a reason of that joy, which all the world cannot gainsay or resist. And may be, like, as when Paul started with recommendations to Damascus, to persecute the Saints, some one who has raised his hand against us with letters to men in high places, may see a light at noon-day above the brightness of the sun, and hear the voice of Jesus saying: “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
Intelligence is sometimes the messenger of safety; and willing to aid the in his laudable endeavors to cultivate peace and honor the laws: believing that very few of the citizens of will be found in the negative of such a goodly course; and considering his views a kind of manifesto, or olive leaf, which shews that this <there> is rest for the soles of the Saints’ feet, we give it a place in the Neighbor, wishing it God speed, and saying, God bless good men and good measures, and, as has been, so it will continue to be, a good city, affording a good market to a good country, and let those who do not mean to try the way of transgressors, say, Amen.” [p. 1894]