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 .
<April 8> kind, it was voted that Leicester and Nottingham, and the surrounding country be organized into a Conference, to be called the Leicestershire Conference, and that elder Thomas Margetts preside over the same.
Voted that elder Thomas Harris go and labor about the neighborhood of Lancaster, under the direction and presidency of elder John Banks.
also voted that elder George P. Waugh be appointed to preside over the Froomshill Conference.
Voted also that elder John Johnson be appointed to preside over the Cheltenham Conference.
Voted that priest William Walker be ordained an elder, and be appointed to labor in Hull.
Evening service.
The meeting being opened by singing and prayer, the appointment of , in connexion with elder Ward, to the presidency of the churches in this land, was read from the minutes of the Council of the Twelve, held in , when the sanction of the Conference was called for and given unanimously.
Elder Ward then proceeded to lay the state of the presidency in the British Isles before the church. He remarked that he, in connexion with , felt the greatest anxiety that the position of the presidency should be thoroughly understood, and that all the business and proceedings of the same should be conducted in such a manner as to be open to the inspection of all. They were at present laboring under considerable difficulties in consequence of so many demands made upon their resources by the authorities of , in sending over a number of families at the expense of the means arising from the emigration department. He rejoiced to state that any profits arising from business in were to be subject to the order of the authorities at , and that they had given us directions to send all the poor Saints, and that they should truly rejoice in appropriating any means in their hands for that purpose.
Elder Walker spoke on upholding the presidency, and eloquently expressed his confidence in the same.
spoke on the purchase of the various publications. He remarked that the sale of the publications was absolutely necessary in order that the work of the Lord might roll onward— that it was a great mistake to suppose that because the Saints purchased the publications, they would therefore not contribute as much for the support of those who labored amongst them; he was not afraid of this; only let the Saints be thoroughly imbued with the principles contained in the publications, and he knew that they would be prepared to act in righteousness, and would never forget that the laborer was worthy of his hire. He had found our publications hid up in a cupboard, the Saints not knowing that there were such; but he had made it a rule to take them with him to the meetings, and the consequence was, that he disposed of them. Strangers became interested in the principles of truth by [p. 2007]