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> a National Bank, in Mr. Blair’s remarks, is, that the Mother bank should be located at .
This is correct, for as a city, collectively or individually, cannot be reproached with dishonor, crime, corruption or bribery.— Neither has a Swartout or Price mingled his millions with the majesty of mona[r]chs by walking out of the unwalled and ungated . The blood of Commodores and Congressmen, shed by the heaven-daring, hell-begotten, earth-disgracing practice of duelling, has never stained the virtuous soil or city of . Nor does a slave raise his rusting fetters and chains, and exclaim, O liberty where are thy charms? Wisdom, freedom, religion, and virtue, like light, love, water and air, ‘spread undivided, and operate unspent,’ in the beloved ; while the gay world, and great politicians may sing, and even the ‘great Globe’ itself may chime the melodious sounds:—
Hail Columbia, “free and equal—”
Lo, the Saints, the Mormons, bless ye!
Felt thy glory most severely,
When gave them jesse.
Hail Columbia, ‘free and equal—’
Negro slaves, like common cattle,
Bought and sold for cash at auction;
Prayers and chains together rattle!
Hail Columbia, ‘free and equal—’
“Liberty”, as patriots won it;
Crown’d the “head” of freemens money:
Now the goddess sits upon it!
Hail Columbia, ‘free and equal—’
“Gold and silver” is thy ‘tender;’
Treasury notes, (aside from Biddle,)
Foreign loans, and fallen splendor!
As the “world is governed too much”’ and as there—— is not a nation or dynasty, now occupying the earth, which acknowledges Almighty God as their law giver, and as, ‘crowns won by blood, by blood must be maintained’, I go emphatically, virtuously, and humanely, for a Theo-democracy, where God and the people hold the power to conduct the affairs of men in righteousness. And where liberty, free trade, and sailors rights, and the protection of life and property shall be maintained inviolate, for the benefit of all. To exalt mankind is nobly acting the part of a God; to degrade them is meanly doing the drudgery of the devil. Unitas, libertas, caritas— esto perpetua!
With the highest sentiments of regard for all men, I am an advocate of unadulterated freedom.