Footnotes
This serialized history drew on the journals herein beginning with the 4 July 1855 issue of the Deseret News and with the 3 January 1857 issue of the LDS Millennial Star.
The labels on the spines of the four volumes read respectively as follows: “Joseph Smith’s Journal—1842–3 by Willard Richards” (book 1); “Joseph Smith’s Journal by W. Richards 1843” (book 2); “Joseph Smith’s Journal by W. Richards 1843–4” (book 3); and “W. Richards’ Journal 1844 Vol. 4” (book 4). Richards kept JS’s journal in the front of book 4, and after JS’s death Richards kept his own journal in the back of the volume.
“Schedule of Church Records, Nauvoo 1846,” [1], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
“Inventory. Historian’s Office. 4th April 1855,” [1]; “Contents of the Historian and Recorder’s Office G. S. L. City July 1858,” 2; “Index of Records and Journals in the Historian’s Office 1878,” [11]–[12], Historian’s Office, Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904, CHL; Johnson, Register of the Joseph Smith Collection, 7.
Historian’s Office. Catalogs and Inventories, 1846–1904. CHL. CR 100 130.
Johnson, Jeffery O. Register of the Joseph Smith Collection in the Church Archives, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1973.
Footnotes
Historical Introduction to JS, Journal, Dec. 1841–Dec. 1842.
Source Note to JS, Journal, 1835–1836; Source Note to JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838.
See Appendix 3.
TEXT: “1844” is centered and written in a larger, stylized hand.
JS’s letter to Ford responded to Ford’s 12 December 1843 letter to JS. Ford’s letter, in turn, responded to a letter JS wrote on 6 December 1843 informing the governor of the kidnapping of Philander and Daniel Avery from Bear Creek Precinct, Illinois, and of rumors that some Missourians were planning another kidnapping in Nauvoo. After presenting evidence of the Avery kidnappings and of the possibility of further kidnappings, JS asked Ford in his 6 December letter if “any portion of the Legion” should be called out. In his 12 December response, Ford told JS that the situation did not justify calling out the Nauvoo Legion and that he would be obligated to surrender to Missouri authorities anyone charged with leaving Nauvoo to “invade Missouri for the purpose of rescuing persons there in jail.” In his 1 January 1844 response to Ford, JS stated he had not asked about calling out the legion with the intent of invading Missouri and rescuing people from jail, but with the intent of preventing another kidnapping in Nauvoo. “I have always said I should act constitutionally,” he wrote. “I know I have no power to call out men to go to Missouri.” JS also informed Ford of Orrin Porter Rockwell’s recent release in Missouri and assured him that the Saints would act against the Missourians only in self-defense. (JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Thomas Ford, Springfield, IL, 6 Dec. 1843; Delmore Chapman, Affidavit, Hancock Co., IL, 6 Dec. 1843, JS Office Papers, CHL; Thomas Ford, Springfield, IL, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 12 Dec. 1843; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Thomas Ford, [Springfield, IL], 1 Jan. 1844, JS Collection, CHL; see also JS, Journal, 7 Dec. 1843.)