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 .
<March 7> been told you or not. I apologize for not coming sooner. I have had so much on my mind since I saw you that I hardly know where to begin or what to say; but one of the grand objects I had in view in calling this meeting was, to make a few remarks relative to the laws and ordinances of the , and the building of the . The reason I want to speak of the city ordinances is, that the officers have difficulty in administering them. We are republicans, and wish to have the people rule; but they must rule in righteousness. Some would complain with what God himself would do. The laws or ordinances are enacted by the City Council on petition of the people, and they can all be repealed if they wish it and petition accordingly. At all events the people ought not to complain of the officers, but if they are not satisfied, they should complain to the law makers by petition. I am instructed by the City Council to tell this people, that if there is any law passed by us which you dislike, we will repeal it; for we are your servants. Those who complain of our rights and charters are wicked and corrupt, and the Devil is in them.
The reason I called up this subject is,— we have a <gang of> simple—— fellows here who do not know where their elbows or heads are; if you preach virtue to them, they will oppose that; or if you preach a Methodist God to them, they will oppose that; and the same if you preach anything else; and if there is any case tried by the authorities of they want it appealed to to the circuit Court. Mr. ’s case had to go to ; our lawyers will appeal anything to the Circuit Court. [HC 6:237] I want the people to speak out, and say whether such men should be tolerated and supported in our midst; and I want to know if the citizens will sustain me when my hands are raised to heaven for and in behalf of the people. From this time I design to bring such characters who act against the interests of the , before a Committee of the whole, and I will have the voice of the people, which is republican, and is likely to be the voice of God; and as long as I have a tongue to speak, I will expose the iniquity of the lawyers and wicked men. I fear not their boiling over, nor the boiling over of hell— their thunders nor the lightning of their forked tongues. If these things cannot be put a stop to, I will give such men into the hands of the mob; the hands of the officers of the city falter and are palsied by their conduct.
There is another person I will speak about— he is a Mormon— a certain man who lived here before we came here— the two first letters of his name are ; when a man is baptized and becomes a member of the church, I have a right to talk about him, and reprove him in public or private <whenever it is necessary or he deserves it>. When the passed an ordinance to collect wharfage from steamboats, he goes and tells the Captains of the steamboats that he owned the landing, and that [p. 1908]