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 .
<August 26> some few who were employed in cooking for the rest. Here I will notice, that the most profound silence and good order that I ever saw in any congregation what ever, small or great, was observed. All that is wanting to make them the happiest people in the world is the Gospel, a perfect knowledge of it and to feel its power, their sectarian creeds and ceremonies would go to the Moles and bats soon. Although they labor with as much energy of body and mind and have as much zeal as the Shaking quakers, yet it is heathen worship like all other sectarian Societies. Their idea of the Supreme being is much more consistent than <many of> the holy enlightened Methodists <Sectarians>.— For the Indians believe in the great Shamingto as having body and parts like unto a man [blank].
Thursday 18th. This morning we started for , a long and tedious journey to perform lay before us. we had no compass. to steer our course by only by the sun as it rose <rising> in the morning, to tell us <was our principal guide>. Our course was due east, this course we intended to follow as near as we could. The place we left, (Belle vue) or Mosquito creek— is in the same latitude of therefore on our return our course must be East. And this direction we followed until we came to the Keosoqua on the Desmoines river. We travelled fifteen miles <unto> an other another Indian village, staid all night and in the morning a council was called, and we staid all day. Friday 19th. At this village we got some provisions cooked and the chief’s brother was sent as a delegate from this band. Our company now consisted of four Indians, one squaw, one Interpreter, and myself, seven in number. The Interpreter was a white man half English, and half French, formerly from , and since the last war has lived with the Pottawatamies— married a squaw, sister to the chief, where we now are. We came to the conclusion to stay all day on Friday, because two of our horses went back to where we first started. Saturday 20th. of August, left this village at 10 o’Clock traveled all day until dark, encamped on the Battle ground where the Sioux and Potawatamies and sixteen of the Oneidas fought. I took up [HC 5:548] one of their blankets to ride on. We started the next morning as soon as it was light enough to see to follow the trail.
Sunday 21st Came to the Naama river or creek at 12 o’Clock, stopped and took dinner on a high bank, <on> this stream on either side is a quantity of timber, where we crossed is a beautiful Mill seat &c.— Travelled until dark and encamped in the weeds, all night— Monday 22 we started at day break, went until 12 o’Clock, stopped on the East bank of <White Breast Creek> and took dinner, here we found plenty of Red Plums, though not fully ripe, but my comrades dined heartily upon them; this was a good hit for me, when we came to eat dinner they could eat but little, by this means I made out to get nearly enough to satisfy hunger, for I had eat nothing since the night before— we passed on until we came to English creek staid all night. Tuesday 23d. started about sunrise without breakfast, travelled until 2 o’Clock crossed the Desmoines river at Eddyville; there I bought a loaf of Wheat bread, a loaf of sweet cake and an apple pie, and went up on the side hill to the Indian Spring and there [p. 1703]