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 .
<September 9> but it is one of the decrees of the Lord that all persons shall act upon their Agency, which was the case even with the Angels who fell from heaven.
Now will you help us to build the and ? if so, you will be blessed; if not, we will build it without you; and if you don’t hearken you will not have the Spirit of the Lord; for the Spirit of the Lord is on the move. The apostles tried to gather the people together in their day; Christ said he would gather the Jews oft as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but they would not. Neither God nor Angels care whether men hear or forbear, they will carry on their work, for the full set time is come for God to set up his kingdom; and we go about it— we must build a house, and get an endowment, preach the Gospel, [HC 6:13] warn the people, gather the Saints, build up Zion, finish our work, and be prepared for the coming of Christ.
Now we want to send four Missionaries to the Pacific Islands, and we want a little clothing, and beds, and money to pay their passage. Can you do something for them? This is not all; we want you to give us all you have to spare towards building the . We shall be able to build it if we have to work with a sword in one hand. But perhaps you are afraid you will not have enough for yourself when you get there; yet how easy it is for the Lord to take it away from you by fire or otherwise. had an ivory cane; I asked him for it, but he declined making me a present of it, not long after he had it stolen from him in a crowd, and it now does neither of us any good. Perhaps your purse may slip through your pocket or you may lose your property; for the Lord can give and take away. Jacob with his faith obtained all the best cattle his father-in-law had. If I had a wife and ten children I would give all my money to build the and , and I would trust in God for their support; yet I will be richer for it; for God would prosper me in business. Men are apt to serve God on Sunday, and neglect him all the week. Who blesses you and all the people? God; but do the people acknowledge the hand of God in all these things? No, they turn away from him, and do not acknowledge him or realize from whom their blessings flow. They know not who blesses them; it never comes into their heart. So with the farmer, the blessings are constantly flowing to him, and he considers not whence they come. Let me tell you a secret, when the Lord shakes the earth, and every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, he will bring gold for brass, silver for iron, brass for wood, and iron for stones. Then you will have no use for gold, for money, and Gods as you now have; you will not care so much about it; but the Lord will think as much of it then as now. But now we want some of the Gods of the Gentiles— some of the Gold and silver to build the , and for the accommodation of the kings, Princes and Nobles of the earth, when they come to enquire after the wisdom of Zion— that they may have a place for their entertainment, and for the weary traveller to be refreshed. Let us have your Gold to take to for this purpose. Is there wisdom in Zion? We think so, and the world begins [p. 1719]