History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; handwriting of
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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,
Franklin D. Richards
2 Apr. 1821–9 Dec. 1899. Carpenter, businessman, newspaper editor. Born at Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Phinehas Richards and Wealthy Dewey. Raised Congregationalist. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Phinehas ...
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, Jonathan Grimshaw, and
Leo Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
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; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “
Governor
14 Dec. 1796–14 Mar. 1860. Bookkeeper, bank cashier, merchant, Indian agent and trader, lawyer, doctor, postmaster, politician. Born at Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of John M. Boggs and Martha Oliver. Served in War of 1812. Moved to St. Louis, ca...
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’s forces” at
Far West
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
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, Missouri, and concludes with the death of Bishop
Vinson Knight
14 Mar. 1804–31 July 1842. Farmer, druggist, school warden. Born at Norwich, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Rudolphus Knight and Rispah (Rizpah) Lee. Married Martha McBride, July 1826. Moved to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by 1830. Owned farm...
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at
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.

Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the handwriting of
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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and Thomas Bullock drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author.
Brigham Young
1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...
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,
Heber C. Kimball
14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...
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,
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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, and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.

The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in
England
Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...
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by the
Twelve
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to
America
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
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; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch
Joseph Smith Sr.
12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...
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; the establishment of the
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo
temple
Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...
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; the
Wisconsin “pinery”
Also known as the “pinery.” Collective term for regions in Wisconsin where lumbering operations were located, especially along Black, Chippewa, St. Croix, Wisconsin, and Wolf rivers. Latter-day Saints established lumber camps and mills on Black River to provide...
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expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.

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<December 16> has certainly done her duty, and her whole duty; and now it becomes us to show ourselves upright, honest, just— worthy of the favors bestowed by noble, generous, and magnanimous statesmen. I have said that we are a law abiding people, and we must now shew it. The has washed her hands in granting all our petitions, and if we do not shew ourselves approved, the curse must fall upon our own heads— Justice equal justice, should be our fixed object and purpose, and the Great God will prosper us; length of days will be in our right hand, and in our left glory and honor. <Yours &c .”>

The City Charter of is of my own plan and device, I concocted it for the Salvation of the Church, and on principles so broad that every honest man might dwell secure under its protective influence, without distinction of sect or party. [HC 4:249]

20 December 1840 • Sunday

<20> Sunday, I was called upon by the High Council to decide the adjourned case of . Having heard the witnesses, I decided that he be acquitted of the charges against him, which decision the Council approved.

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“Your preacher, preaches false doctrine,” exclaimed a sectarian in to one of the Saints. “Ah!” enquired the other, “wherein does he preach false doctrine? “Why, in telling the people to go to , to be sure” said the Sectarian; “and” continued he “there is nothing in the Bible that commands people to go to ,” “Ah!” replied the other, “and there is nothing in the Bible, which commands people to stop in ; so I wonder how you dare stay in so unscriptural a place another night; for certainly no one ought to live in England unless they can find Scripture for it, any more than in .”

This is a fair specimen of the wisdom of the Nineteenth Century that opposes itself to the work of the most high God—

21 December 1840 • Monday

<21> <Monday 21. The Petition of , and , under date of 28 Novr. 1840, was presented to the House of Representatives of the [HC 4:250] , referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.>

27 December 1840 • Sunday

<27> Sunday, Elders and occupied a chapel belonging to the Independants in , preached.

28 December 1840 • Monday

<28> Monday, There are ninety five Saints in Edinburgh, Scotland, <raised up by Elder > Elder is <now laboring> in that place.

30 December 1840 • Wednesday

<30> Wednesday writes from

“Beloved Brother, I write to inform you of a few particulars of my journey to . I left Novr. 25th. in company with — we visited the following places, viz— Macclesfield Burslem, Hanley, Lane End, Westbromwich, and Birmingham. We travelled by Coach and Railway, and arrived in on Monday the 30th. found in good health. He had baptized three or four persons the day before we arrived. I stayed in till the 11th. December, when I left for Herefordshire. Brothers and Williams came with me to the Railway Station. staid in . The prospect for the spread of the Gospel, brightened up while we were there. Our feelings were very clear and decisive that had better stay with . I was much interested while there, with my brethren; I pray the Lord to roll on his work in that great . I feel much for the people in that place, yea, my feelings are exquisite— for why, God knows; but I believe it is for the glory of God, and the good of souls. May his name be glorified. I arrived in Cheltenham [p. 1131]

December 16 has certainly done her duty, and her whole duty; and now it becomes us to show ourselves upright, honest, just— worthy of the favors bestowed by noble, generous, and magnanimous statesmen. I have said that we are a law abiding people, and we must now shew it. The has washed her hands in granting all our petitions, and if we do not shew ourselves approved, the curse must fall upon our own heads— Justice equal justice, should be our fixed object and purpose, and the Great God will prosper us; length of days will be in our right hand, and in our left glory and honor. Yours &c .”

20 December 1840 • Sunday

20 Sunday, I was called upon by the High Council to decide the adjourned case of . Having heard the witnesses, I decided that he be acquitted of the charges against him, which decision the Council approved.

[1 line blank]

This is a fair specimen of the wisdom of the Nineteenth Century that opposes itself to the work of the most high God—

21 December 1840 • Monday

21 Monday 21. The Petition of , and , under date of 28 Novr. 1840, was presented to the House of Representatives of the [HC 4:250] , referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

see Addenda book page 4

27 December 1840 • Sunday

27 Sunday, Elders and occupied a chapel belonging to the Independants in , preached.

28 December 1840 • Monday

28 Monday, There are ninety five Saints in Edinburgh, Scotland, raised up by Elder Elder is now laboring in that place.

30 December 1840 • Wednesday

30 Wednesday writes from

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
ID #
7513
Total Pages
562
Handwriting on This Page
- Thomas Bullock
Footnotes
1. 845
  See 20 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
2. 846
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 20 Dec. 1840.
  
  Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
3. 847
  “False Doctrine,” LDS Millennial Star, Dec. 1840, 1:209–210.
  
  Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
4. 848
  See 27 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
5. 849
  Woodruff, Journal, 27 Dec. 1840; “News From The Elders,” LDS Millennial Star, Jan. 1841, 1:240.
  
  Woodruff, Wilford. Journals, 1833–1898. Wilford Woodruff, Journals and Papers, 1828–1898. CHL. MS 1352.
  Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.
6. 850
  See 28 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
7. 851
  See 30 Dec. 1840 entry in History Draft.
8. 852
  “News From The Elders,” LDS Millennial Star, Jan. 1841, 1:239–240.
  
  Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. Manchester, England, 1840–1842; Liverpool, 1842–1932; London, 1932–1970.