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 15> fail to convince the moral and enlightened people of the of the necessity of a national bank, and of their duty to make him President.
Before we close, we have a few suggestions to make. We propose, then, that Joe Smith (Mr. Biddle being out of the way) be made president and George Poindexter cashier, of the new Whig national bank that is not to be; that the mother bank be established at , with branches over all creation; that the honorable Mr. Mitchell be appointed counsel, and that Mr. Webster have unlimited power to draw, with Governor Doty of as his security. With this arrangement, we should have the perfection of a whig system of finance.”
I made the following reply:—
“The Globe.
The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the promotion of fools.— Solomon’s Proverbs.
In the daily Globe of March 14th. Mr. Blair notices my ‘Views on the Powers and Policy of our Government.’ under the head of ‘A new advocate for a national bank,’ with remarks and extracts. as it does not bespeak a gentleman to tell all he knows, nor indicate wisdom to murmur at the oddities of men, I rarely reply to the many remarks, sayings and speculations upon me and my plans, which seem to agitate the world, for like the showers upon the verdure of the earth, they give me vigor, beauty, and expansion; but when a man occupies a station in his country, which ought to be honored as an exaltation; which ought to be sustained with dignity; and which should be filled by a friend and a patriot of the nation, too wise to be cozened by counterfeit principles; too great to blur his fame with sophistry; too proud to stoop to the vanity that is momently wasting the virtue of the government; and too good to act the hypocrite to accumulate wealth— or to frustrate the ends and aims of justice; I feel it my duty to bring forth the truth, that the man and his measures, if right may be sustained; and if wrong, may be rebuked.
Without reference to men, parties, or precedents, the plan of banking, suggested in my ‘Views,’ is assumed upon the all-commanding, and worthily considered, omnipotent petition of the people, and whether, as a ‘fiscal agent’ ‘great financier, prophet, priest or king’, I act wisely and righteously, so as to answer their virtuous prayers, without fear, favor, or partiality; and produce union; give satisfaction to twenty millions of freemen, rather than sport with their holy supplications to boost a few hungry, crafty, hypocritical demagogues into office to gamble for the ‘loaves and fishes’— no matter whether the game is played ‘upon the tables of the living, or the coffins of the dead,’— or whether I raise the honor and credit of the nation [p. 2018]