See also source note for JS History, circa 1841, draft.
Historical Introduction
was a recent convert to Mormonism when he visited in 1840. There he was immediately engaged by JS as a clerk at his office. Coray later reminisced in his autobiography that after he completed his initial assignment, JS requested that he “undertake, in connection with , the compilation of the Church History.”
At the time received his charge, JS’s and the church’s “history” had been an ongoing project for a decade. Several early attempts had apparently fallen short and been abandoned. However, JS and ’s 1838 effort initiated with , and JS’s ensuing collaboration with , had begun to bear fruit. Unfortunately, Mulholland had died 3 November 1839 after inscribing fifty-nine pages of text in a large record book subsequently designated as volume “A-1” of the manuscript history of the church. was appointed “general church clerk” in October 1840 and succeeded Mulholland as scribe for A-1.
Meanwhile, JS assigned and to draft additional historical material, using sources JS provided. Woolley eventually withdrew from the project and was replaced by a “Dr. Miller,” who remains unidentified. Their work evidently resulted in two different kinds of drafts. According to Coray’s later reminiscences, the first grew out of instructions “not only to combine, and arrange in cronological order, but to spread out or amplify not a little, in as good historical style as may be.” No manuscript matching this description has survived, but their work may have provided the basis for material subsequently copied into the history by other scribes.
did, however, produce an edited version of the narrative inscribed in the large history volume (A-1). According to Coray’s later account, JS was directly involved in this reworking of the history, reading aloud and dictating revisions from the large volume. Two drafts of this work have survived. However, the main history endeavor continued in the large history volume, and there is no indication that either draft was used in subsequent compiling or in publication of the history. Though a short-lived effort, Coray’s manuscript represents the intention to revise the history, suggesting that JS had not yet settled on a final historical product even after he had directed scribes to begin inscribing the history in the large, more permanent volume in 1839.
’s history draft includes departures from the material recorded in A-1 which, though minor, show an intention to refine the story. Coray deleted passages that seemed to be defensive, to plead the cause of the Saints, or to play on the reader’s sympathies—a list of grievances, for example, or complaints against individuals. The draft often softened wording about the persecution of JS and employed more moderate language in describing opposition, avoiding the word “mob” and glossing over accounts of violence.
’s work on JS’s history was not located until 2005, when two manuscripts in Coray’s hand were identified among documents in the possession of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These two manuscripts consisted of a lightly edited draft of the material and had written in the large history volume, and a fair or clean copy of that material that incorporated the revisions Coray made in his earlier draft. The first draft was published in volume 1 of the Histories series of the The Joseph Smith Papers. (See History Drafts, 1838—ca. 1841.) The second or “fair copy” of the two drafts is the document herein featured. An inscription in Coray’s handwriting at the bottom of the first page of this document identifies it as the second copy. In 1869 Coray signed a statement that was later attached to the paper wrapper that enclosed the two drafts: “These hundred pages of History were written by me, under Joseph the Prophet’s dictation. Dr Miller helped me a little in writing the same.”
All those who humble themselves before God and desire to be baptized and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits and witness before the church that they have repented of all their sins and willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ having a determination to serve him to the end and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be recieved by baptism into his church. 8 The duty of the elders, priests teachers deacon’s and members of the Church of Christ.
An apostle is an elder and it is his calling to baptize and to ordain other elders priests teachers and deacons and to administer bread and wine—; the emblems of the flesh and blood of Christ; and to confirm those who are baptized into the church by the laying on of hands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, according to the scriptures.
And to teach expound exhort baptize and watch over the church and to confirm those who are baptized into the church by the laying on of hands and the giving of the Holy Ghost and to take the lead of all meetings. 9 The elders are to conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost according to the commandments and Revelations of God. 10 The priest’s duty is to preach teach expound exhort and baptize and administer the sacrament and visit the house of each member and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties: and also ordain other priests teachers and deacons— and he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no other present but when there is an elder present he is only to preach teach expound exhort and baptize and visit the house of each member exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. In all these duties the priests are to assist the elders if occasion requires. 11 The teachers. duty is to watch over the church always and be with and strengthen them and see that there is [p. 56]