History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]

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
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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, Robert L. Campbell, and
Leo Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
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; 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.
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
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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, with the assistance of
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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. After Richards’s death in 1854,
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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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,
Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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finished the third volume of the series, volume C-1, on Thursday, 3 July 1845, in
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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, Illinois. He began work on the fourth volume, D-1, the next day, beginning on page 1362 with the entry for 1 August 1842.
1
Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 and 4 July 1845.
(The pages in volumes A-1–E-1 were numbered consecutively.) Bullock continued work on the record, drawing upon
Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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’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
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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and
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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. 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
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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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,
Leo Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
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, resumed writing in D-1 on 1 July 1854, beginning with the entry for 1 March 1843.
2
Historian’s Office, Journal, 1 July 1854.

Hawkins
19 July 1834–28 May 1859. Clerk, reporter. Born in London. Son of Samuel Harris Hawkins and Charlotte Savage. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by John Banks, 23 Oct. 1848. Immigrated to U.S. with his family; arrived in New Orleans...
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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.
3
Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855.

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
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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governor
Lilburn W. Boggs
14 Dec. 1796–14 Mar. 1860. Bookkeeper, bank cashier, merchant, Indian agent and trader, lawyer, doctor, postmaster, politician. Born at Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of John M. Boggs and Martha Oliver. Served in War of 1812. Moved to St. Louis, ca...
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.

•
Emma Smith
10 July 1804–30 Apr. 1879. Scribe, editor, boardinghouse operator, clothier. Born at Willingborough Township (later in Harmony), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. Daughter of Isaac Hale and Elizabeth Lewis. Member of Methodist church at Harmony (later in Oakland...
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’s 17 August 1842 letter to
Illinois
Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...
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governor
Thomas Carlin
18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...
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, 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
Illinois
Became part of Northwest Territory of U.S., 1787. Admitted as state, 1818. Population in 1840 about 480,000. Population in 1845 about 660,000. Plentiful, inexpensive land attracted settlers from northern and southern states. Following expulsion from Missouri...
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governor
Thomas Carlin
18 July 1789–14 Feb. 1852. Ferry owner, farmer, sheriff, politician. Born in Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of Thomas Carlin and Elizabeth Evans. Baptist. Moved to what became Missouri, by 1803. Moved to Illinois Territory, by 1812. Served in War of 1812. Married...
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, and subsequent hearing in
Springfield
Settled by 1819. Incorporated as town, 1832. Became capital of Illinois, 1837. Incorporated as city, 1840. Sangamon Co. seat. Population in 1840 about 2,600. Stake of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Springfield, Nov. 1840; discontinued...
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, Illinois.

• The 7 February 1843 recovery of a volume of patriarchal blessings given by
Joseph Smith Sr.
12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...
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, which had been stolen in
Far West
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
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, Missouri.

• JS’s 21 February 1843 remarks regarding the
Nauvoo House
Located in lower portion of Nauvoo (the flats) along bank of Mississippi River. JS revelation, dated 19 Jan. 1841, instructed Saints to build boardinghouse for travelers and immigrants. Construction of planned three-story building to be funded by fifty-dollar...
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and
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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Temple
Located in portion of Nauvoo known as the bluff. JS revelation dated Jan. 1841 commanded Saints to build temple and hotel (Nauvoo House). Cornerstone laid, 6 Apr. 1841. Saints volunteered labor, money, and other resources for temple construction. Construction...
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.

• JS’s 2 April 1843 instruction at
Ramus
Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. Population in 1845 about 380. Crooked...
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, Illinois, on the nature of God and other subjects.

• JS’s 16 May 1843 remarks at
Ramus
Area settled, 1826. Founded by Latter-day Saints, 1839–1840, following exodus from Missouri. Town platted, Aug. 1840. Post office established, Sept. 1840. Incorporated as Macedonia, Mar. 1843. Renamed Webster, 23 July 1847. Population in 1845 about 380. Crooked...
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, Illinois, on the everlasting covenant and eternal marriage.

• The account of JS’s 23 June 1843 arrest and his
habeas corpus
“Have the body”; a written order from a court of competent jurisdiction commanding anyone having a person in custody to produce such person at a certain time and place and to state the reasons why he or she is being held in custody. The court will determine...
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hearing the following week at
Nauvoo
Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....
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.

Footnotes
1. 1
  Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 and 4 July 1845.
2. 2
  Historian’s Office, Journal, 1 July 1854.
3. 3
  Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855.

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<January 11> to the consideration of the brethren, the situation of our President, who has long had all his business deranged, and has been recently obliged to expand large sums of money in—— procuring his release from unjust persecution, leaving him destitute of necessaries for his family, and of means for prosecuting the History of the Church and the translations which he is anxious should be in the hands of the brethren as speedily as possible. We therefore recommend that collections be taken at the different meetings, for his benefit, and such as have not cash will recollect that provisions will be an excellent substitute whenever it is convenient to bring them in; and we hope our brethren who are farmers in , , &c and the region around, will have the opportunity of reading these few hints. A word to the wise is sufficient. The lord loveth a cheerful and bountiful giver, and will restore an hundred fold— for the laborer is worthy of his hire.

President. — Clerk— January 11. 1843.[”] [HC 5:249]

12 January 1843 • Thursday

<12> Thursday 12. At home all day

13 January 1843 • Friday

<13> Friday 13. At home till near Sun set, then went to brother with to see Sophia Marks, who was sick: heard her relate her vision or dream of a visit from her two brothers who were dead, touching the associations and relations of another world.

14 January 1843 • Saturday

<14> Saturday 14 Rode out with in the morning— At 10 a.m. attended City Council, and in the evening called the Quorum together in my to pray for Sophia Marks who was very sick.

15 January 1843 • Sunday

<15> Sunday 15. I spent at home with my family.

16 January 1843 • Monday

<16> Monday 16. I was about home, and directed a letter to be written as follows

“ January 16. 1843— Esqre.— Dr. Sir— I now sit down to inform you of our safe arrival home on Tuesday last, after a cold and troublesome journey of four days. We found our families well and cheerful. The news of our arrival was soon generally known, and when it was understood that justice had once more triumphed over oppression, and the innocent been rescued from the power of Mobocracy, gladness filled the hearts of the Citizens of , and gratitude to those who had so nobly and manfully defended the cause of justice and innocence was universally manifest, and of course I rejoiced with them and felt like a free man at home. Yesterday a letter was received by Esqre. from which was handed to me this morning[.] From that letter it appears that was at a few days after we left there, and that he is determined if possible to keep up the persecution against me[.] I herewith transmit a copy of his letter and shall rely upon your Council, in the event of any further attempt to oppress me, and deprive me of liberty; but I am in hopes that will not gratify the spirit of oppression and mobocracy so glaringly manifest in the conduct of .” The following is a copy of his letter

“ Ill. Jany. 10. 1843 Mr. and . Dear Friends— It is a long time since I have written <to> you, and I [HC 5:250] should now much desire to see you, but I leave to night for to meet the messenger charged with the arrest of Joseph Smith, , and others for murder, burglary, treason &c &c who will be demanded in a few days on new indictments, found by the grand jury of a called court on the original evidence, and in relation to which a was entered by the district Attorney. New proceedings have been gotten up on the old charges— and no [p. 1454]

January 11 to the consideration of the brethren, the situation of our President, who has long had all his business deranged, and has been recently obliged to expand large sums of money in—— procuring his release from unjust persecution, leaving him destitute of necessaries for his family, and of means for prosecuting the History of the Church and the translations which he is anxious should be in the hands of the brethren as speedily as possible. We therefore recommend that collections be taken at the different meetings, for his benefit, and such as have not cash will recollect that provisions will be an excellent substitute whenever it is convenient to bring them in; and we hope our brethren who are farmers in , , &c and the region around, will have the opportunity of reading these few hints. A word to the wise is sufficient. The lord loveth a cheerful and bountiful giver, and will restore an hundred fold— for the laborer is worthy of his hire.

President. — Clerk— January 11. 1843.” [HC 5:249]

12 January 1843 • Thursday

12 Thursday 12. At home all day

13 January 1843 • Friday

13 Friday 13. At home till near Sun set, then went to brother with to see Sophia Marks, who was sick: heard her relate her vision or dream of a visit from her two brothers who were dead, touching the associations and relations of another world.

14 January 1843 • Saturday

14 Saturday 14 Rode out with in the morning— At 10 a.m. attended City Council, and in the evening called the Quorum together in my to pray for Sophia Marks who was very sick.

15 January 1843 • Sunday

15 Sunday 15. I spent at home with my family.

16 January 1843 • Monday

16 Monday 16. I was about home, and directed a letter to be written as follows

“ January 16. 1843— Esqre.— Dr. Sir— I now sit down to inform you of our safe arrival home on Tuesday last, after a cold and troublesome journey of four days. We found our families well and cheerful. The news of our arrival was soon generally known, and when it was understood that justice had once more triumphed over oppression, and the innocent been rescued from the power of Mobocracy, gladness filled the hearts of the Citizens of , and gratitude to those who had so nobly and manfully defended the cause of justice and innocence was universally manifest, and of course I rejoiced with them and felt like a free man at home. Yesterday a letter was received by Esqre. from which was handed to me this morning. From that letter it appears that was at a few days after we left there, and that he is determined if possible to keep up the persecution against me. I herewith transmit a copy of his letter and shall rely upon your Council, in the event of any further attempt to oppress me, and deprive me of liberty; but I am in hopes that will not gratify the spirit of oppression and mobocracy so glaringly manifest in the conduct of .” The following is a copy of his letter

“ Ill. Jany. 10. 1843 Mr. and . Dear Friends— It is a long time since I have written to you, and I [HC 5:250] should now much desire to see you, but I leave to night for to meet the messenger charged with the arrest of Joseph Smith, , and others for murder, burglary, treason &c &c who will be demanded in a few days on new indictments, found by the grand jury of a called court on the original evidence, and in relation to which a was entered by the district Attorney. New proceedings have been gotten up on the old charges— and no [p. 1454]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]
ID #
7624
Total Pages
298
Handwriting on This Page
- Leo Hawkins
Footnotes
1. 315
  TEXT: Diagonal line drawn through blank line.
2. 316
  See 12 Jan. 1843 entry in History Draft.
3. 317
  JS, Journal, 12 Jan. 1843.
4. 318
  See 13 Jan. 1843 entry in History Draft.
5. 319
  JS, Journal, 13 Jan. 1843.
6. 320
  See 14 Jan. 1843 entry in History Draft.
7. 321
  JS, Journal, 14 Jan. 1843; Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 14 Jan. 1843, 131–147
  
  Nauvoo City Council Minute Book / Nauvoo City Council. “A Record of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Nauvoo Handcock County, State of Illinois, Commencing A.D. 1841,” ca. 1841–1845. CHL. MS 3435.
8. 322
  See 15 Jan. 1843 entry in History Draft.
9. 323
  JS, Journal, 15 Jan. 1843.
10. 324
  See 16 Jan. 1843 entry in History Draft.
11. 325
  JS, Journal, 16 Jan. 1843; JS, Nauvoo, IL, to Justin Butterfield, 16 Jan. 1843, in JS Letterbook 2, pp. 343–344

History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843]

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