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> you shall not partake of the blessings which are laid up in store for the Saints. Many Elders seek to build themselves up and not the work of the Lord; they willsay “put gold rings on my fingers— give me what I want.” and they care nothing about the . This they should not do: I will not allow myself to do so; and when any one does this, no matter who he may be, even though he was one [HC 6:19] of the Twelve, he will not prosper. Those of the Twelve and others of the Elders who have apostatized, I have known their hearts, and their breathings; I have known their movements, although they thought I did not know much; but I knew all about them, and when I see men preaching to build themselves up and not Zion, I know what it will end in. But you may say you are young: I don’t care if you are so; are you old enough to know what you are about? if so, preach and labor for the building up of the city of Zion; concentrate your means and influence there, and not scatter abroad. Instead of which some of the Elders appear to be dumb and lazy, and care for nothing but themselves. Now, ye Elders, will you be faithful? if not, you will not be chozen, for the day of choosing is at the door. Why be afraid of a sacrifice? I have given my all many times, and am willing to do it again. I would be glad to hear the Lord say through his servant Joseph, “let my servant give again all that he has”, and I would obey it in a moment if it took the last coat off from my back.”
A hymn was sung.
arose and said;
“I get up on necessity, to say a few words. I am quite unwell, but I feel the importance of this work. I have been a member of this church twelve years; I came out of the Baptist church, and joined this with all my heart, as I was seeking after truth. I have passed through every thing but death; in fact, I have been brought into situations even worse than death. It has been my lot and privilege to sacrifice all I possessed from time to time; and we have come here to call for help to build the and . I have spent Thirty Dollars to get here, and have collected Fifteen— and that with much difficulty. We were commanded of the Lord to come, but it seems as though but few felt interested in it. Here I see four brethren going as Missionaries to the Sandwich Islands, and destitute of means to help themselves: I could weep for them. I feel interested in this great work; we are seeking to bring about a work that could never before be performed. When the time is brought about that we are to receive our inheritances, the more faithful we are, and the larger will be our reward. We have come out to reap, but do we have time to reap new grain? No: for it takes all our time to try to save that which is already reaped. We have reapers in the field, and we are trying to save the Wheat; we want to get it on the barn floor so that we may thrash it; we have come after you to warn you: you think put the flail on rather heavy, but it is nothing to be compared with the thrashing you will get in Zion; and those who have the hardest heads will of [HC 6:20] course have to be thrashed the hardest; but don’t be troubled about the chaff when it comes to the barn, for God will prepare a great winnowing Mill which will blow all the chaff away, and the wheat will be found before [p. 1724]