History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
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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 , Robert L. Campbell, and ; 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.
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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 , with the assistance of . After Richards’s death in 1854, 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, finished the third volume of the series, volume C-1, on Thursday, 3 July 1845, in , Illinois. He began work on the fourth volume, D-1, the next day, beginning on page 1362 with the entry for 1 August 1842. (The pages in volumes A-1–E-1 were numbered consecutively.) Bullock continued work on the record, drawing upon ’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 and . 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 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, , resumed writing in D-1 on 1 July 1854, beginning with the entry for 1 March 1843.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.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 governor .• ’s 17 August 1842 letter to governor , 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 governor , and subsequent hearing in , Illinois.• The 7 February 1843 recovery of a volume of patriarchal blessings given by , which had been stolen in , Missouri.• JS’s 21 February 1843 remarks regarding the and .• JS’s 2 April 1843 instruction at , Illinois, on the nature of God and other subjects.• JS’s 16 May 1843 remarks at , Illinois, on the everlasting covenant and eternal marriage.• The account of JS’s 23 June 1843 arrest and his habeas corpus hearing the following week at .
Footnotes
April 25 In the in the morning, and heard read the proceedings of the Twelve Apostles yesterday.
and other Masons came to see me concerning , when I was told that Grand Master G.M. [Jonathan] Nye was dead; which caused the following remark When Nye was here trying to pull me by the nose, and trample on me, I enquired of the Lord if I was to be led by the nose and cuffed about by such a man’ I received for answer “wait a minute.” Nye is dead, and any man or mason who attempts to ride me down, and oppress me, will run against the boss of Jehovah’s buckler, and will be quickly moved out of the way. Nye was a hypocritical Presbyterian preacher, and was known to have committed adultery, in this and violated his oath as a Master Mason. He started an opposition Lodge, on the hill, called the Nye Lodge, on which subject I said they will do us all the injury they can, but let them go ahead, altho’ it will result in a division of the lodge.
Nye fearing the penalty of the city ordinances on adultery, speedily fled from , and soon after died suddenly in .
At 3¼ P.M. Rain fell in torrents, and wind blew strong from N. W. several barns [HC 5:370] were blown down; so dark for 15 minutes, could not see to write, considerable hail fell. The creeks rose very high, the land covered with water.
26. Wednesday. At home. Squally and cold weather.
Received of a deed of N. ½ of lot 4, block 12 on ’s 2nd addition; valued at $50 on Tithing.
27 At 11 A.M. Sat in Mayor’s Court, when Jonathan Ford proved a stolen horse.
Visited at bro. ’s with .
The Nye Lodge was installed on the hill.
English State Documents show an annual loss of £3,000,000, and 1000 lives on the coast of Portsmouth, for want of harbors of refuge.
28 At home.
29 Rode out to the Prarie with my brothers and , and John Topham, and apportioned a lot between Sister Mulholland and
Elders , , , , and rode to , Iowa.
30 The brethren held a Meeting at , and had a good time, about 200 Saints were present; is a flourishing little town, there are three saw mills, & two flour mills having excellent water privileges.
At 10 A.M. A trial commenced before the First Presidency, Graham Coltrin vs Anson Matthews, being an appeal from the High Council on complaint. “First— For a failure in refusing to perform according to contract respecting the sale of a piece of land by him sold to me. Second.— For transferring his property in a way to enable him to bid defiance to the result and force of law, and evade the aforesaid contracts thereby wronging me out of my just claim to the same, and also for lying.” &c &c.
Witnesses for plaintiff— , N.G. Blodgett, , [HC 5:371]
Witnesses for defence— 2 Affidavits of Geo Reads, Mrs Matthews, bro Daniel Browett, Saml Thompson Richard Slater.
Decision of the Council is, that the charges are not sustained [p. 1541]
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