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
May 3 citizens; this is a thing that we always have protested against, and we always shall, so long as that blood that fired the bosoms of our ancestors who fought, bled and died, in defence of equal rights, flows through our veins.
Concerning religion we consider that all men have a right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience; and while we allow all men freely to enjoy this privilege untrammeled by us, we look upon all men that would abridge us, or others, in their religious rights, as enemies to the constitution; recreant to the principles of republicanism; and whilst they render themselves despicable, they are striking a secret, but deadly blow at the freedom of this great republic, and their withering influence, though unseen and unobserved, by the many, is like a worm gnawing the very vitals of the tree of liberty. We shall always contend for our religious rights. In short the liberty of the press, liberty of conscience and of worship, free discussion, sailors rights, we shall always sustain”
4 At 4 P.M. heard read a letter from , shewing that he was sick and could not attend the inspection of the Nauvoo Legion, according to his appointment.
Having received a letter from in relation to his land difficulties, I went to and procured a deed for ’s farm, and settled that business
5 Told the Temple Committee that I had a right to take away any property I choose from the Temple Office or Store, and they had no right to stand in the way. It is the people that are to dictate me, and not the Committee. All the property I have belongs to the , and what I do is for the benefit of the , and you have no authority, only as you receive it from me.
Received the following:
“. 7th April 1843
Joseph Smith Esq. Dear Sir.— I received on Saturday last a letter from Mr Catlin notifying me that the equity of redemption in my property [HC 5:382] would be sold on the 12th instant and asking me whether I wished it to be purchased for me— I suppose it is quite immaterial whether I or you hold the right of redeeming, for if it should again come into my possession I wish it understood distinctly by them who have built upon it that I shall not attempt to take their buildings from them, but shall be ready at anytime to give them a lease of their lots for a very long period, and at a reasonable rent— My wish as well as my interest leads me to conciliate, and make them my friends, instead of making them my enemies. Your Obdt Servt.
.”
which I recorded in the City Record of Deeds.
“Recorder’s Office May 5th, 1843
| State of ) | SS. |
| City of ) |
I Joseph Smith Recorder in and for the said city of , Hancock County, and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the within letter was duly recorded in Book A. Page 140, and numbered 134
Joseph Smith Recorder
by, , Clerk.” [p. 1546]
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