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 10> to correspond with your Revr. council, giving you our views concerning matters and things and requesting your counsel on the same. This Committee views it inexpedient to purchase standing timber on so rapid and unnavigable a stream for the purpose of making lumber to gain wealth— The Lamanites owning this land, notwithstanding their great anxiety to receive the Gospel and the book of Mormon have a strong desire if counseled by us so to do, to go South West where game is more plenty as their only resource here for a living is the pitiful annuities and proceeds from their pine timber which timber is the only inducement to the Government to purchase their lands. This Committee is therefore led to take a brief view of the South and Western part of North America together with the Floridas, , West India Islands and the adjacent Islands to the gulf of Mexico, together with the Lamanites bordering on the United Territories from Green Bay to the Mexican Gulf all crying with one voice through the medium of their chiefs. give us an understanding of your doctrine and principles for we perceive that your ways are equal and your righteousness far exceeds the righteousness of all the Missionaries, that we have yet become acquainted with, that your conduct with one another is like that of ours and that all your feasts and attendant ceremonies are precisely like ours.
Your Servants the Committee have viewed the Colorado River with all its beautiful hills and vallies and fertile soil with deep regret when viewing the countless thousands of inhabitants on either side thereof, without the knowledge of God or the doctrine of the church of Jesus [HC 6:258] Christ of Latter day Saints, and say in their hearts, would it be expedient to form a Mission of those true and full blooded Ephraimites who from principle and love of the truth have borne the most extreme burdens fatigue and hunger to prosecute the Mission to procure lumber sufficient to build the two houses, to open the door to all the regions which we have named, which regions have never yet had an oppurtunity to hear the Gospel and to be made acquainted with the plan of salvation; or shall they continue to suffer the fatigues of hunger wet and cold in a rigid inclement climate for the pittiful sum that it shall avail them after undergoing those hazard<ous> perils, or shall they, like Timothy and Titus, with Paul hazard the perils of sea and land through the Southern States and West India Islands and all the Lamanite world, go forth and proclaim to them the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and teach them to build up Zion—
Are there not thousands of the rich planters who would embrace the Gospel and, if they had a place to plant their slaves, give all the proceeds of their yearly labor, if rightly taught, for building up the kingdom, being directed by the President of the whole church to make the right application? We answer yes, we believe they would— Your servants the Committee are of the opinion that a concert and [p. 1926]