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 hearing the following week at .
Footnotes
May 14 Edmund Brazier aged 18 was drowned in the , by the upsetting of a skiff. Samuel Karnes was preserved from a similiar fate by Captain .
15 having arrived at last night from with the carriage we rode home together, on our way we stopped a short time at Brother [Asahel] Perry’s. Brother and rode in my buggy. I was asked if the horse would stand without tying. I answered Yes, but never trust property to the mercy or judgment of a horse.
see below * Extract from ’s journal. *See above The following is from the Journal of
At noon stopt at the house of Mr. Mc Mahon a notorious anti-Mormon at Green Plains and waited sometime for Mac to come in Joseph and myself spent this time in conversation on the grass plot South of the house, Joseph asked my opinion of as an Editor. I told him that I considered the sixth part of an Editor, that was the Satirist, when it came to the cool discretion necessarily entrusted to an Editor in the control of public opinion the soothing of enmity, he was deficient, and would always make more enemies than friends but for my part if I were able I would be willing [HC 5:390] to pay for Editing a paper, Provided nobody else should have the privilege of reading it but myself. Joseph laughed heartily, said I had the thing just right, says he, makes such a severe use of language, as to make enemies all the time; at the close of the conversation Joseph wrapped his arms round me and squeezed me to his bosom, and said, . I love you as I do my own life; I felt so affected I could hardly speak, but replied, I hope brother Joseph that my whole life & actions will ever prove my feelings and the depth of my affection towards you”
A great Hail storm in Gettysburg , the stones were from six to eight inches in circumference, much damage done.
16 At 11 o’clock I with , , & Lydia Partridge, and J.M. Smith, started for , where we tarried about half an hour conversing with different individuals; when we started for , arrived about 3½ P.M. and stayed at William G. Perkins’ for the evening; then went to ’s with to sleep, before retiring I gave and some instructions on the Priesthood, and putting my hand on the knee of I said your life is hid with Christ in God, and so are many others, nothing but the unpardonable sin can prevent him from inheriting eternal glory, for he is sealed up by the power of the Priesthood, unto eternal life, having taken the step which is necessary for that purpose. except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity, while in this probation; by the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood; they will cease to increase when they die, that is, that they will not have any children after the resurrection; but those who are married by the power and authority of the Priesthood in this life, and continue without committing the sin against the Holy Ghost, will continue to increase and have children in the celestial glory. The unpardonable sin is to shed innocent blood, or be accessory thereto. all other sins will be visited with judgment in the flesh, and the Spirit [HC 5:391] being delivered to the buffetings of Satan until the day of the Lord Jesus. The way I know in whom to confide, God tells me in whom I may place confidence. In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees, and in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the Priesthood, and if he does not, he can not obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom, he can not have an increase.
The Twelve met in the office to see Mr. Brown, but he did not appear; and they voted that be requested to repair immediately to and preach till they arrive
17 Partook of breakfast at brother [Andrew] Perkins’, after which we took a pleasure ride through .
At 10 A.M. Preached from 2nd. Peter 1 ch: and shewed that knowledge is power, and the man who has the most knowledge, has the greatest power [p. 1551]
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Document Information
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Footnotes
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652
See 15 May 1843 entry in History Draft.
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653
JS, Journal, 15 May 1843, in JSP, J3:17.
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Insertion in handwriting of Thomas Bullock.
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654
TEXT: The following insertion written at the bottom of the page.
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655
“History of George Albert Smith,” 15 May 1843, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL.
“History of George Albert Smith,” ca. 1857–1858. George Albert Smith, Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322, box 1, fd. 1.
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656
“Great Hail Storm,” Times and Seasons, 15 June 1843, 4:239.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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657
See 16 May 1843 entry in History Draft.
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658
Clayton, Journal, 16 May 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
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659
JS, Journal, 16 May 1843, in JSP, J3:18.
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660
See 17 May 1843 entry in History Draft.
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661
Clayton, Journal, 17 May 1843.
Clayton, William. Journals, 1842–1845. CHL.
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652
