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.> President said “Those who have not paid their property tithing we shall call upon, and take dinner; and we had rather be saved that trouble, and have them come up and pay; you will want a blessing in the when it is done.”
President Joseph Smith remarked;
“In relation to those who give in property for the ; we want them to bring it to the proper source, and to be careful into whose hands it comes, that it may be entered into the church books, so that those whose names are found in the church books shall have the first claim to receive their endowments in the . I intend to keep the door at the dedication myself, and not a man shall pass who has not paid his bonus.
As to politics, I care but little about the Presidential Chair; I would not give half as much for the office of President of the as I would for the one I now hold as Lieutt. General of the Legion. We have as good a right to make a political party to gain power to defend ourselves, as for demagogues to make use of our religion to get power to destroy us; in other words, as the world has used the power of Government to oppress and persecute us, it is right for us to use it for the protection of our rights; We will whip the mob by getting up a Candidate for President. When I get hold of the eastern papers, and see how popular I am, I am afraid myself that I shall be elected; but if I should be, I would not say “your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you”.
What I have said in my views in relation to the annexation of is with some unpopular; the people are opposed to it. Some of the Anti-Mormons are good fellows— I say it however in anticipation that they will repent. They object to on account of slavery; why it is the very reason she ought to be received, so that we may watch over them; for of the two evils we should reject the greatest. of says, “if you refuse to receive us into the , we must go to the British Government for protection” This would certainly be bad policy for this nation; the British are now throughout that whole country trying to bribe all they can; and the first thing they would do if they got possession would be to set the negroes and Indians to fight, and they would use us up. British officers are now running all over to establish British influence in that country. It will be more honorable for us to receive , and set the negroes [HC 6:243] free, and use the negroes and Indians against our foes. Don’t let go, lest our mothers, and the daughters of the land should laugh us in the teeth; and if these things are not so, God never spoke by any prophet since the world <began>. How much better it is for the nation to bear a little expense than to have the Indians and British upon us, and destroy us all. We should grasp all the Territory we can. I know much that I do not tell. I have had bribes offered me, but I have rejected them. The Government will not receive any advice or counsel from me— they are self-sufficient; but they must go to hell, and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
The South holds the balance of power; by annexing I can [p. 1913]