History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. D-1, created 4 July 1845–4 Feb. 1846 and 1 July 1854–2 May 1855; 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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, Robert L. Campbell, 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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; 275 pages, plus 6 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fourth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fourth volume covers the period from 1 Aug. 1842 to 1 July 1843; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume D-1, constitutes the fourth 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 August 1842 to 1 July 1843, and it was compiled after JS’s death.

The material recorded in volume D-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian
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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, with the assistance 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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. After Richards’s death in 1854,
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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continued work on the volume as the new church historian with Bullock’s continued help. The process adopted by Richards and Bullock involved Richards creating a set of rough draft notes and Bullock transcribing the notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). George A. Smith followed a similar pattern, though he dictated the draft notes to Bullock and other scribes.

According to the Church Historian’s Office journal,
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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finished the third volume of the series, volume C-1, on Thursday, 3 July 1845, in
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. He began work on the fourth volume, D-1, the next day, beginning on page 1362 with the entry for 1 August 1842.
1
Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 and 4 July 1845.
(The pages in volumes A-1–E-1 were numbered consecutively.) Bullock continued work on the record, drawing upon
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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’s draft notes, until 3 February 1846—the day before D-1 and the other volumes were packed up in preparation for the Latter-day Saints’ exodus from Nauvoo. At that point he had reached page 1485 with the entry for 28 February 1843. Subsequently, apparently after the collection had arrived in Utah, Bullock added a brief comment beneath that entry: “end of W. Richard’s compiling[.] the books packed Feby. 4— 1846 in Nauvoo[.] Miles Romney— present. The records carried by T Bullock from Winter Quarters to G S L [Great Salt Lake] City in 1848.”

A notation at the top of page 1486 reports that “the books were unpacked in G. S. L. City by
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
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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. June 7. 1853. J[onathan] Grimshaw & Miles Romney present.” Vertically, in the margin, is a poignant epitaph: “Decr. 1 1853 Dr. Willard Richards wrote one line of History—being sick at the time—and was never able to do any more.” With Richards’s death on 11 March 1854, JS’s cousin
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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was called to the office of church historian. The notation on the top of page 1486 acknowledges this change in officers, noting, “commencement of George A. Smith’s compiling as Historian. April 13. 1854[.] [C]ommenced copying July 1. 1854.” From mid-April to the end of June 1854, George A. Smith, in collaboration with Thomas Bullock, worked on the draft notes for the history before a new scribe,
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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, resumed writing in D-1 on 1 July 1854, beginning with the entry for 1 March 1843.
2
Historian’s Office, Journal, 1 July 1854.

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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continued transcribing intermittently into the late fall of 1854, when he was assigned other duties in the Historian’s Office. He had reached page 1546 with the entry for 5 May 1843. Work resumed in February 1855 in the hand of Robert L. Campbell, recently returned from a mission. He concluded volume D-1 on the morning of 2 May 1855 and began writing in E-1 that afternoon.
3
Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855.

The 274 pages of volume D-1 contain a record of much that is significant in the life of JS and the development of the church he founded. Among these events are

• JS’s 6 August 1842 prophecy that the Saints would become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains.

•JS’s 8 August 1842 arrest on a warrant for being “an accessory before the fact” to an attack on former
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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governor
Lilburn W. Boggs
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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.

•
Emma Smith
10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...
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’s 17 August 1842 letter to
Illinois
Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...
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governor
Thomas Carlin
18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...
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, pleading for the humane treatment of her husband and family.

•JS’s 1 and 6 September 1842 instructions regarding the proper procedures for performing baptisms for the dead.

• JS’s 15 November 1842 “Valedictory” as he stepped down as editor of the Times and Seasons.

• The 26 December 1842 arrest of JS on a “proclamation” by former
Illinois
Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...
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governor
Thomas Carlin
18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...
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, and subsequent hearing in
Springfield
Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became capital of Illinois, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued...
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, Illinois.

• The 7 February 1843 recovery of a volume of patriarchal blessings given by
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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, which had been stolen in
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.

• JS’s 21 February 1843 remarks regarding the
Nauvoo House
Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...
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and
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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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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.

• JS’s 2 April 1843 instruction at
Ramus
Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. Population in 1845 about 380. Crooked...
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, Illinois, on the nature of God and other subjects.

• JS’s 16 May 1843 remarks at
Ramus
Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. Population in 1845 about 380. Crooked...
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, Illinois, on the everlasting covenant and eternal marriage.

• The account of JS’s 23 June 1843 arrest and his
habeas corpus
“Have the body”; a written order from a court of competent jurisdiction commanding anyone having a person in custody to produce such person at a certain time and place and to state the reasons why he or she is being held in custody. The court will determine...
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hearing the following week 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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.

Footnotes
1. 1
  Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 and 4 July 1845.
2. 2
  Historian’s Office, Journal, 1 July 1854.
3. 3
  Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855.

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<February 2> presiding and brother <Benjn. L.> Clapp Chief Speaker, reporting that Joseph and had attempted to take away the rights of the Citizens, re[HC 5:263]ferring to the election of the last City Council, I corrected the error and returned home.

“The Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered;” It would be better thus “The Spirit maketh intercession for us with striving which cannot be expressed.”

3 February 1843 • Friday

<3> Friday 3. This morning read German; at 11 walked out in the , returned at a ¼ past 12, read proof of Doctrine and Covenants, which is now being Stereotyped

Brother John Mayberry sent me a Cow to assist in bearing my expences to .

4 February 1843 • Saturday

<4> Saturday 4. At home till one o clock <in the> afternoon, when I attended the General City Election Caucus at the , where all things were amicably settled, and mutual good feelings restored to all parties. Brother [Benjamin] Clapp made a public Confession for the Speech which he made at a former Caucus. I returned home about four oclock, and was visited by— . I told him that I had restored to his former standing in the Quorum of the Twelve <Apostles,> and that I had concluded to make brother a Counsellor to the First Presidency. In the evening presided in the Municipal Court.

5 February 1843 • Sunday

<5> Sunday 5. At home reading German.

6 February 1843 • Monday

<6> Monday 6. Spent the forenoon at the Election of Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors for the , to serve <during> the next two years, at brother s Office— dined at home, one o clock afternoon Thomas Moore came in and enquired about a home. I blessed him and said God bless you for ever and ever, may the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob rest upon you for ever; and may you sit on thrones high and lifted up, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen: When I returned to the Election, Joseph Smith was elected Mayor by unanimous vote. [HC 5:264], , and were elected Aldermen. , , , , , , , and were elected Councillors.

7 February 1843 • Tuesday

<7> Tuesday 7. This forenoon attended a Council of the Twelve <Apostles> at the house of President . This afternoon I sent a search Warrant to ’s for the purpose of obtaining the book of Patriarchal blessings given by Father , which was stolen from — The warrant was issued on the Affidavit of , and the book obtained. In the evening came to my house for an explanation, and I informed him that the book was the property of the Church, that it had been Stolen, and after passing through various hands, had been secured by while acting as Agent for the Church, at , and should have been given up by him. I have since been informed that Sister Sarah, ’s Wife had procured the book of her brother, Son of , for the purpose of returning it to the Church, but being under a pledge to her brother not to give up the book until he had seen her again, she had neglected to mention it to me. ¶. Elder arrived home from this evening.

8 February 1843 • Wednesday

<8.> Wednesday 8. This morning I read German, and visited with a brother and sister from who thought that “a Prophet is always a Prophet”, but I told them that a Prophet was a Prophet only, when he was acting as such— after dinner brother came in, we had conversation on various subjects— at 4 <in the> afternoon I went out with my little to exercise myself, by sliding on the Ice. [HC 5:265] <The public papers say that Point Petre in Guadaloupe is <was> totally destroyed, and 10,000 persons to have been killed, by an Earthquake.>

9 February 1843 • Thursday

<9> Thursday 9. Part of the forenoon I spent at the conversing with Mr. Rennick of and trying to effect a settlement <with him.> He promised to let me have some Notes on a Paper Maker in Louisville— towards paying me, and then went off contrary to promise— I also had conversation with Master [Jonathan] Nye, and read several letters, one from , and directed the following in reply

<Hon:> City of [p. 1464]

February 2 presiding and brother Benjn. L. Clapp Chief Speaker, reporting that Joseph and had attempted to take away the rights of the Citizens, re[HC 5:263]ferring to the election of the last City Council, I corrected the error and returned home.

“The Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered;” It would be better thus “The Spirit maketh intercession for us with striving which cannot be expressed.”

3 February 1843 • Friday

3 Friday 3. This morning read German; at 11 walked out in the , returned at a ¼ past 12, read proof of Doctrine and Covenants, which is now being Stereotyped

Brother John Mayberry sent me a Cow to assist in bearing my expences to .

4 February 1843 • Saturday

4 Saturday 4. At home till one o clock in the afternoon, when I attended the General City Election Caucus at the , where all things were amicably settled, and mutual good feelings restored to all parties. Brother [Benjamin] Clapp made a public Confession for the Speech which he made at a former Caucus. I returned home about four oclock, and was visited by— . I told him that I had restored to his former standing in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and that I had concluded to make brother a Counsellor to the First Presidency. In the evening presided in the Municipal Court.

5 February 1843 • Sunday

5 Sunday 5. At home reading German.

6 February 1843 • Monday

6 Monday 6. Spent the forenoon at the Election of Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors for the , to serve during the next two years, at brother s Office— dined at home, one o clock afternoon Thomas Moore came in and enquired about a home. I blessed him and said God bless you for ever and ever, may the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob rest upon you for ever; and may you sit on thrones high and lifted up, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen: When I returned to the Election, Joseph Smith was elected Mayor by unanimous vote. [HC 5:264], , and were elected Aldermen. , , , , , , , and were elected Councillors.

7 February 1843 • Tuesday

7 Tuesday 7. This forenoon attended a Council of the Twelve Apostles at the house of President . This afternoon I sent a search Warrant to ’s for the purpose of obtaining the book of Patriarchal blessings given by Father , which was stolen from — The warrant was issued on the Affidavit of , and the book obtained. In the evening came to my house for an explanation, and I informed him that the book was the property of the Church, that it had been Stolen, and after passing through various hands, had been secured by while acting as Agent for the Church, at , and should have been given up by him. I have since been informed that Sister Sarah, ’s Wife had procured the book of her brother, Son of , for the purpose of returning it to the Church, but being under a pledge to her brother not to give up the book until he had seen her again, she had neglected to mention it to me. ¶. Elder arrived home from this evening.

8 February 1843 • Wednesday

8. Wednesday 8. This morning I read German, and visited with a brother and sister from who thought that “a Prophet is always a Prophet”, but I told them that a Prophet was a Prophet only, when he was acting as such— after dinner brother came in, we had conversation on various subjects— at 4 in the afternoon I went out with my little to exercise myself, by sliding on the Ice. [HC 5:265] The public papers say that Point Petre in Guadaloupe was totally destroyed, and 10,000 persons to have been killed, by an Earthquake.

9 February 1843 • Thursday

9 Thursday 9. Part of the forenoon I spent at the conversing with Mr. Rennick of and trying to effect a settlement with him. He promised to let me have some Notes on a Paper Maker in Louisville— towards paying me, and then went off contrary to promise— I also had conversation with Master [Jonathan] Nye, and read several letters, one from , and directed the following in reply

Hon: City of [p. 1464]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
ID #
7624
Total Pages
298
Handwriting on This Page
- Leo Hawkins
Footnotes
1. 364
  See 3 Feb. 1843 entry in History Draft.
2. 365
  JS, Journal, 3 Feb. 1843.
3. 366
  See 4 Feb. 1843 entry in History Draft.
4. 367
  JS, Journal, 4 Feb. 1843.
5. 368
  See 5 Feb. 1843 entry in History Draft.
6. 369
  JS, Journal, 5 Feb. 1843.
7. 370
  See 6 Feb. 1843 entry in History Draft.
8. 371
  JS, Journal, 6 Feb. 1843.
9. 372
  See 7 Feb. 1843 entry in History Draft.
10. 373
  JS, Journal, 7 Feb. 1843; Jonathan Holmes, Affidavit, Nauvoo, IL, 7 Feb. 1843, JS Collection, CHL.
  
  Smith, Joseph. Collection, 1827–1846. CHL. MS 155.
11. 374
  See 8 Feb. 1843 entry in History Draft.
12. 375
  JS, Journal, 8 Feb. 1843.
13. 376
  “Terrible Earthquake in the West Indies–10,000 Lives Lost ,” Times and Seasons, 15 Mar. 1843, 4:134.
  
  Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
14. 377
  See 9 Feb. 1843 entry in History Draft.
15. 378
  JS, Journal, 9 Feb. 1843; Clayton, Journal, 9 Feb. 1843.
  
  Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
16. 379
  JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Richard M. Young, 9 Feb. 1843, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 244–245.

History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]

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