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
October 20 up, and there the matter rested. This, he repeated, showed the necessity of the greatest caution where reciprocal rights of surrender were granted between States.”
It is not to be presumed that the of this would, know[HC 5:178]ingly, lend his aid in dragging one of our Citizens, who is not a fugitive from justice, into a foreign State, for trial. The has, undoubtedly, been misled by the evasive affidavit which accompanied the requisition. I would advise that Mr. Smith procure respectable and sufficient affidavits to prove, beyond all question, that he was in this , and not in , at the time the crime, with which he is charged, was committed, and, upon these Affidavits, apply to the to countermand the warrant he has issued for his arrest. If he should—— refuse so to do, I am clearly of the opinion that upon the above state of facts, the Supreme Court will discharge him upon Habeas Corpus.
Respectfully your obedient servant,
.
The foregoing letter of ( Attorney for the district of ) shows in a very lucid manner what our rights and privileges are, pertaining to the Habeas Corpus, and fully sustains the proceedings and views of the City Council, and the Municipal Court; it is sustained by the usages of all enlightened Courts, and accords with the opinion of every intelligent man. The opinions of , of , and to the contrary notwithstanding. [HC 5:179]
21. Friday 21. This evening I returned, in company with to ’s, judging it wisdom to keep out of the way of my enemies a while longer, at least; although all is peace and quiet, and a prospect that my enemies will not trouble me much more at present.
23 Sunday 23. This day the Temple Committee laid before the Saints the propriety and advantages of laying a temporary floor in the that the brethren might henceforth meet in the to Worship instead of meeting in the . This was my instructions, and the Saints seemed to rejoice at this privilege very much.
24 Monday 24 took fire which was extinguished with difficulty.
25 Tuesday 25. Ship Emerald sailed from with 250 Saints for .
28 Friday 28. Soon after day light this morning I returned home again to visit my family— I found worse , the remainder of the family well. In the afternoon I rode out into the , and took a little exercise. From the appearance of things abroad we are encouraged to believe that my enemies will not trouble me much more at present.
This day the brethren finished laying the temporary floor, and seats in the , and its appearance is [HC 5:180] truly pleasant and cheering. The exertions of the brethren during the past week to accomplish this thing are truly praiseworthy
29 Saturday 29 About 10 in the forenoon I rode up and viewed the . I expressed my satisfaction at the arrangements, and was pleased with the progress made in that . After conversing with several of the brethren, and shaking hands with numbers who were very much rejoiced to see their Prophet again, I returned home; but soon afterwards went over to the , where a number of brethren and Sisters were assembled who had arrived this morning from the neighborhood of . [p. 1413]
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