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
November 5 some Indians, who were accompanied by a negro interpreter. They expressed great friendship for the Mormon people, and said they were their friends. After considerable conversation and partaking of victuals, they departed evidently highly gratified with their visit. I told , the would be frozen over in less than a month, altho’ the weather was then warm and pleasant
6 Sunday 6 At home all day. My brother preached afternoon received a visit from Dr .
7 Monday 7 Spent the forenoon in Council with brother , and some of the Twelve, and in giving instructions concerning the contemplated Journey to on the 15th. of December next, and what [HC 5:183] course ought to be pursued in reference to the case of Bankruptcy. In the afternoon Esqre. arrived, and I called upon some of the Twelve and others, to testify before what they knew in reference to the appointment of Trustee in Trust &c, showing also from the—— Records that I was authorized by the Church to purchase and hold property in the name of the Church, and that I had acted in all things according to the Council given to me.
8 Tuesday 8. This morning called upon Windsor P. Lyons and others to make Affidavits concerning the frauds and irregularities practised in the Post Office in . A petition was drawn and signed by many, and sent by to , with a request that the latter should present the same to the Postmaster General, and use his influence to have the present removed, and a new one appointed, I was recommended for the appointment. In the afternoon officiated in Court as Mayor at my house.
9 Wednesday 9 Paid Erie Rhodes $436.93 it being the amount of three notes due for the North west quarter of Sec 9. 6 N. 8 W. and presided in City Council, a special meeting to investigate the Writ of Habeas Corpus.
10 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10. 11. 12. Presided at adjourned Sessions of the City Council at my house.
13 Sunday 13. I was at home through the day
“Ship Sidney Novr. 13. 1842 Dear Brother— We have had a passage of fifty six days— fine weather, with a kind captain and crew, who allowed us every reasonable privilege. There have been five deaths out of the Company, and one sailor who fell from the yard arm and was killed— Brother [Christopher]Yates’ eldest child, sister Cannon, brother Brown’s child, and two children belonging to a man not in the Church. [HC 5:184] We stuck upon the bar at the mouth of the river thirty four hours; about two hours after we got off, the “Medford” came on the bar, where she stuck thirty hours. We landed here on the 11th. instant, and the “Medford” arrived today, 13th.; she lies about ten yards from us. They have had two deaths; upon the whole a good passage— We have taken one of the largest and best steam boats in this port; we pay 2 ½ dollars per head, and 25 cents per cwt above the weight allowed each person, which is 100 . We are all going up together. Yours truly, .”
14 Monday 14. Presided in City Council when was passed “An Ordinance regulating the proceedings on Writ’s of Habeas Corpus.”
Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of that if any person or persons shall be, or stand committed, or detained for any criminal or supposed criminal matter, it shall and may be lawful for him her, or them, to apply to the Municipal Court, when in Session, or to the Clerk thereof in vacation, for a writ of Habeas Corpus, which application shall be in writing, and—— signed by the Prisoner, or some person on his, her, or their behalf, setting forth the facts [p. 1415]
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