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> took the yawl and went up to , to learn the news and see if there was any excitement. They found all peace; then returned to the boat, got up steam and went up to , landing about midnight. Saturday July 1. About 8 A.M. left ; after steaming about 8 miles. and another messenger came in a skiff with a letter from , saying that Joseph had arrived in , and was going to be tried before the Municipal Court; and for us to hurry home as quick as possible. On reaching the Engineer, Benjamin Crum (who was not a member of the ) got dead drunk, when the first Pilot turned Engineer, and the second pilot took the wheel and run the boat over the rapids, to .
returned from in the evening, and reported that on his arriving at , he found that and had filed their affidavits, that he () had with armed force taken me out of their hands at the head of Elleston Grove; and that they had also got up a Petition which was signed by the inhabitants of , and sent it to by the hands of and , requesting him to raise a posse commetatus and they would come to and take me; they were to start by the mail early this morning and requested to go with the mail to and request him to suspend all proceedings until documents would be got to shew the true state of the case On going to the Stage proprietor, he engaged and paid for a passage for one man, on their finding who was going. and objected to him going, and that objection was accepted by the Stage proprietor, altho’ he had received the passage money, he then hired a horse from for him to ride.
<3> I directed the to call [HC 5:484] a special to choose to go into the different counties of to preach the Gospel and disabuse the public mind with regard to my arrest.
Elders , , , , , , and met at the with the Elders, and it was decided that the following Elders go on a special mission to the following counties in the State of .
Elijah Reed and , and Pike.
Salmon Warner and Jeremiah Curtis, Calhoun and Jersey.
, , and , .
and Harvey Green, LaSalle and De Calb [DeKalb].
, Luther A. Jones and , Joe Davies.
. Vermillion.
, Schuyler. . .
, and Jesse W Crossby, Cook.
, Fulton. , Hamilton.
, Wayne.
James Twist, Bureau.
G[eorge] P. Dykes and St. Clair. Pardon Webb. Will.
E[dward] M. Webb, Grundy. , Warren. H. T. Eldridge, Mason. Thomas Dobson Tazwell
Menard. , Morgan. , and J. C. Wright, Scott.
, White. J. M. King Mercer. , Rock Island.
U C. Nickerson. Henry. , Putnam. Priddy Meeks, McCoupin.
Abel Butterfield and J H. Vanatta, Winnebago.William Nelson, Iroquois. Samuel Russell, Boone. , Franklin.
William Meeks, Green. and George Chamberlin, .
Jacob Wiley, Edwards.William S. Court, Stark.
M. F. Bartlett and , Bond.
, Alexander, Cheney G. Van Buren, Brown. , Carroll. [p. 1657]