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 10> whenever God was about to bring a judgment upon the world or accomplish any great work, the first thing he did was to raise up a Prophet, and reveal unto him the secret, and send him to warn the people so that they may be left without excuse. This was the case in the days of Noah, and Lot: God was about to bring judgments upon the people, and he raised up those prophets who warned the people of it; yet they gave no heed to them, but rejected their testimony; and the judgments came upon the people so that they were destroyed, while the prophets were saved by pursuing the course marked out by the Lord. Jesus Christ testified to the Jews of the things that awaited them as a nation— the fall of Jerusalem, and their dispersion among the Gentile world; but they did not believe it. Yet the secrets of all these things were was revealed to the Prophets and Apostles; they believed it, and looked for its fulfilment; and it came to pass as it was predicted, though contrary to the expectation of the Jewish nation. In like manner do we look for the certain fulfilment of those tremendous events upon the heads of the Gentile world, which have been spoken of, and pointed out by all the Holy Prophets and Apostles since the world began, they having spoken as they were moved upon by the power of God and the gift of the Holy Ghost:— events which more deeply [HC 6:23] concern the Gentile world, than the overthrow of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews did the Jewish nation; for while they stumbled at the Stone they were broken, but when it falls upon the heads of the gentile world it will grind them to powder. The full set time is come for the Lord to set his hand to accomplish these mighty events, and as he has done in other ages, so has he done now— he has raised up a prophet, and is revealing unto him his secrets; through that prophet he has brought to light the fulness of the everlasting Gospel to the present generation, and is again once more for the last time establishing his Church upon the foundation of the ancient Apostles and prophets, <which is revelation,> Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone. In the Church is now found Judges as at the first, and Councillors as at the beginning; also Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers, with gifts and graces, for the perfecting of the Saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ. The Lord has raised up his servants, and sent them into the vineyard to prune it once more for the last time— to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to warn the nations that they may be left without excuse in the day of their visitation; also to gather the honest in heart, and the meek of the earth, that Zion may be built up, and the sayings of the prophets fulfilled.
One of the secrets that God has revealed unto his prophet in these days is the book of Mormon; and it was a secret to the whole world until it was revealed unto Joseph Smith, whom God has raised up as a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, unto his people. This record contains an account of the Ancient inhabitants of this continent, and of the cities with which they overspread this land from sea to sea, the ruins of which still remain as standing monuments of the arts, science, power and greatness of their founders. It also points out [p. 1727]