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.
Wilford Woodruff, who was present at the meeting, noted that with respect to preaching to the Indians, “Joseph thought it wisdom not to do it He said if Lyman did any thing about it he must do it on his own responsibility but finally decided not to send any Council to him but let him act with the best wisdom he had in all things.” According to a letter Wight wrote to JS five days earlier, the Indians were eager to hear the gospel: “It will require more exertion to all appearances to check the enthusiastic ardor of these our red breathren untill the full principles of faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shall be reasoned into their minds,” he wrote, “than to urge them on to receive it.” (Woodruff, Journal, 20 Feb. 1844; Lyman Wight et al., Black River Falls, Wisconsin Territory, to the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, [Nauvoo, IL], 15 Feb. 1844, JS Collection, CHL, underlining in original.)
Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
Members of the Quorum of the Twelve met the following day, 21 February, and selected eight men for the exploring party. Several more volunteered on 23 and 24 February, and by 2 April 1844, twenty-nine men had volunteered or been assigned to join the party. This particular expedition never took place. (JS, Journal, 21, 23, and 24 Feb. 1844; Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Minutes, 21 and 23 Feb. 1844; 12 Mar. 1844.)
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Minutes, 1840–1844. CHL.
In Bennet’s previous letter, dated 24 October 1843, he described his baptism as “a glorious frolick in the clear blue ocean.” Bennet also stated his intention to run for political office in Illinois. Though Bennet’s letter was meant to be confidential, both his letter and JS’s lengthy response were quickly published in the Times and Seasons and the Nauvoo Neighbor. Richards wrote a letter of apology to Bennet on 15 December 1843, which, because of a postal routing error, did not reach Bennet until 31 January 1844. Bennet’s reply the following day, to which this journal entry refers, contained Bennet’s good-natured response that he, finding JS’s letter to be of exceptional quality, had also had it published. (James Arlington Bennet, Arlington House, Long Island, NY, to JS, Nauvoo, IL, 24 Oct. 1843; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to James Arlington Bennet, Long Island, NY, 13 Nov. 1843, JS Collection, CHL; JS, Journal, 13 and 14 Nov. 1843; “[For the Times and Seasons],” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1843, 4:371–375; “[For the Neighbor],” Nauvoo Neighbor, 6 Dec. 1843, [3]; Willard Richards, Nauvoo, IL, to James Arlington Bennet, Arlington House, Long Island, NY, 15 Dec. 1843, Willard Richards, Papers, CHL; James Arlington Bennet, Arlington House, Long Island, NY, to Willard Richards, 1 Feb. 1844, Willard Richards, Papers, CHL; “Letter from Joe Smith,” Commercial Advertiser [New York City], 7 Dec. 1843, [2].)
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
Richards, Willard. Journals and Papers, 1821–1854. CHL. MS 1490.
Commercial Advertiser. New York City. 1820–1863.
TEXT: This insertion is written sideways in the right margin of the page.