, “Brief History,” Manuscript, ca. 6 April 1838– ca. 26 January 1839; handwriting of and an unidentified scribe; seventy pages numbered 20–90, plus three unnumbered pages; John Fletcher Darby Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
, a careful observer, had enjoyed a close association with Mormon leaders, and consequently his account provides valuable insights into the development and structure of the early church. He summarized many of the doctrines taught by JS and provided a detailed description of the conflict between the Latter-day Saints and other settlers. But his chronicle also related the story of a personal spiritual journey into and then out of the church as came to disapprove of the church’s course in 1838 in Missouri. Yet despite his estrangement from the church and his excommunication in 1839, he retained a degree of sympathy for the Saints and maintained some contact.
apparently began compiling portions of his account while serving as an officially appointed church historian in . He probably completed his narrative by 11 February 1839, when he secured a copyright with the district federal copyright office. He arranged for Thomas Watson & Son of to print A Brief History. The entire print run may have included up to twelve hundred copies.
The document presented here, ’s circa 1838–1839 rough draft of his history, is incomplete. It includes the title page, copyright notice, and preface but is missing twenty-one pages, including the nineteen pages that constitute chapters 1 through 6. The manuscript is almost entirely in Corrill’s handwriting, though some of the chapter summaries (added after he drafted the narrative) were written in a different hand, possibly that of the printer.
’s published version of A Brief History receives comprehensive treatment in volume 2 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers and is available on this website as part of the history series.
Page 41
had two counsellors who with himself formed a court to try transgressors. If two members had a difficulty they were to settle it between <themselves> or by the assistance of another, according to the scriptures; but if they could not do this, then it went before the bishop’s court for terial, but if either party was dissatisfied with the bishop’s decision, he could appeal it to the High council. There was also a traveling High council consisting of twelve high prests called the twelve Apostles, or the twelve, whose duty it was to travel and preach the Gospel to all the world. They were also to regulate the church in all places where it was not properly organized. One of their member presided over the rest in their councils. There were other bodies formed called the seventies, consisting of seventy elders each, (not High preests), seven of whom presided over the rest in their councils. These seventies were to travel and preach in all the world, under the direction of the twelve, who was <were> to open or lead the way, and then call upon the seventies for assistance. There were three of these bodies formed, called the first, second and third seventies. The first presidency, the High council, the twelve, and each of the seventies were equal in power. That is to say, each had a right to discipline their own member, and transact othr business of the church within their calling, and a decision of either one of these bodies, when [p. 41]