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 .
<1843 <Sepr. 6>> to escape the tyranny and oppression of this modern Caligula.
He has caused the writ of to be issued by the Municipal Court of the city of , in a case not provided for in the Charter of that , and indeed contrary to the letter of that instrument; and, himself a prisoner, arrested under grave charges made by a neighboring , brought before said Court, tried, and acquitted:— Thereby procuring his own rescue from the custody of the law.
Citizens from the adjoining counties have been denied the right to regain property stolen and taken to , even after they have discovered both the thief and the property; and themselves, under the most frivolous pretences, arrested, fined, and other property rifled from them, to satisfy the mock judgments and costs of his cormorant officers.
Persons upon whom stolen property has been found in the city of , have been brought before this religio-political chief, and he in the capacity of Mayor of the city has refused to convict—— where the cases have been most clear and palpable.
We have had men of the most vicious and abominable habits, imposed upon us, to fill our most important offices, by his dictum, in order as we verily believe, that he may the more certainly control our destinies, and render himself, through the instrumentality of these base creatures of his ill-directed power as absolute a despot over the citizens of this , as he now is, over the serfs of his own servile clan.
And to crown all, he claims to merge all religion, all law, and both moral and political justice, in the knavish pretension that he receives fresh from heaven, divine instructions, in all matters pertaining to these things; thereby making his own depraved will, the rule by which he would have all men governed.
He has caused large bodies of his ragamuffin soldiery to arm themselves, and turn out in pursuit of officers, legally authorized to arrest himself; he being charged with high crimes and misdemeanors committed in the State of and those officers arrested by the vilest hypocrisy, and placed in duress, that he might enable himself, to march triumphantly into , and bid defiance to the laws of the land.
In view of the above grievances, this meeting feel, that it is their bounden duty, to resist, by every laudable means, all such unwarrantable attacks upon their liberties, Therefore,
Resolved, 1st. That inasmuch, as we honestly believe that the combination of people, calling themselves Mormons, or latter day saints, have given strong indications, in their recent movements, that they are unwilling to submit to the ordinary restraints of law; we are therefore forced to the conclusion, that the time is not far distant, when the citizens of this will be compelled to assert their rights in some way.
Resolved 2nd. That while we would deprecate anything like lawless violence, without justifiable cause; yet we pledge ourselves in the most solemn manner, to resist all the wrongs, which may be here after, attempted to be imposed on this community by the Mormons, to the utmost of our ability; peace [p. 5 [addenda]]