History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. C-1, created 24 Feb. 1845–3 July 1845; 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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,
Franklin D. Richards
2 Apr. 1821–9 Dec. 1899. Carpenter, businessman, newspaper editor. Born at Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Phinehas Richards and Wealthy Dewey. Raised Congregationalist. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Phinehas ...
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, Jonathan Grimshaw, 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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; 512 pages, plus 24 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the third volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This third volume covers the period from 2 Nov. 1838 to 31 July 1842; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, D-1, E-1 and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction

This document, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842],” is the third of six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church” (in The Joseph Smith Papers the “Manuscript History” bears the editorial title “History, 1838–1856”). The completed six-volume collection covers the period from 23 December 1805 to 8 August 1844. The narrative in this volume commences on 2 November 1838 with JS and other church leaders being held prisoner by the “
Governor
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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’s forces” at
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, and concludes with the death of Bishop
Vinson Knight
14 Mar. 1804–31 July 1842. Farmer, druggist, school warden. Born at Norwich, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Rudolphus Knight and Rispah (Rizpah) Lee. Married Martha McBride, July 1826. Moved to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., New York, by 1830. Owned farm...
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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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, Illinois, on 31 July 1842. For a more complete discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to this history.

Volume C-1 was created beginning on or just after 24 February 1845 and its narrative was completed by 3 May 1845, although some additional work continued on the volume through 3 July of that year (Richards, Journal, 24 and 28 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 3 May 1845; 3 and 4 July 1845). It is in the 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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and contains 512 pages of primary text, plus 24 pages of addenda. Additional addenda for this volume were created at a later date as a supplementary document and appear in this collection as “History, 1838-1856, volume C-1 Addenda.” Compilers
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 drew heavily from JS’s letters, discourses, and diary entries; meeting minutes; church and other periodicals and journals; and reminiscences, recollections, and letters of church members and other contacts. At JS’s behest, Richards maintained the first-person, chronological-narrative format established in previous volumes, as if JS were the author.
Brigham Young
1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...
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,
Heber C. Kimball
14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...
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,
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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, and others reviewed and modified the manuscript prior to its eventual publication in the Salt Lake City newspaper Deseret News.

The historical narrative recorded in volume C-1 continued the account of JS’s life as prophet and president of the church. Critical events occurring within the forty-five-month period covered by this text include the
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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Mormon War; subsequent legal trials of church leaders; expulsion of the Saints from Missouri; missionary efforts in
England
Island nation consisting of southern portion of Great Britain and surrounding smaller islands. Bounded on north by Scotland and on west by Wales. Became province of Roman Empire, first century. Ruled by Romans, through 447. Ruled by Picts, Scots, and Saxons...
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by the
Twelve
Members of a governing body in the church, with special administrative and proselytizing responsibilities. A June 1829 revelation commanded Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to call twelve disciples, similar to the twelve apostles in the New Testament and ...
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and others; attempts by JS to obtain federal redress for the Missouri depredations; publication of the LDS Millennial Star in England; the migration of English converts to
America
North American constitutional republic. Constitution ratified, 17 Sept. 1787. Population in 1805 about 6,000,000; in 1830 about 13,000,000; and in 1844 about 20,000,000. Louisiana Purchase, 1803, doubled size of U.S. Consisted of seventeen states at time ...
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; missionary efforts in other nations; the death of church patriarch
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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; the establishment of the
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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city charter; the commencement of construction of the Nauvoo
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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; the
Wisconsin “pinery”
Also known as the “pinery.” Collective term for regions in Wisconsin where lumbering operations were located, especially along Black, Chippewa, St. Croix, Wisconsin, and Wolf rivers. Latter-day Saints established lumber camps and mills on Black River to provide...
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expedition that facilitated temple construction; the introduction of the doctrine of proxy baptism for deceased persons; the dedicatory prayer by
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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on the Mount of Olives in Palestine; publication of the “Book of Abraham” in the Nauvoo Times and Seasons; publication of the JS history often referred to as the “Wentworth letter;” the organization of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo; and the inception of Nauvoo-era temple endowment ceremonies.

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<August 31> and setting in order many of the branches, and ordaining many to the Ministry, who are diligent in preaching, as they have opportunity on the Sabbath in the surrounding villages.

1 September 1839 • Sunday

<September 1> Sunday September 1. I attended meeting and spoke concerning some errors in s writings &c &c This week sickness much decreased.

9 September 1839 • Monday

<9> Monday 9. and greater part of the week I spent in visiting the sick and attending to the Settlement of our new Town. [HC 4:7]

11 September 1839 • Wednesday

<11.> Wednesday 11

“, Ill: 11th. Septr. 1839— Dear — We have had the great pleasure of receiving your favor of the 24th. July, and learning thereby that you and your family had arrived at Chillicothe in safety and in health. We perceive that you have had rather a narrow escape from <a> serious accident, and doubtless the hand of the Lord is to be acknowledged in the matter, although unperceived by mortal eye. Time and experience will teach us more and more, how easily falshood gains credence with mankind in general, rather than the truth, but especially in taking into consideration the plan of Salvation; the plain simple order of the gospel of Jesus Christ, never has been discerned or acknowledged as the truth except by a few, among whom were “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,”— whilst the majority have contented themselves with their own private opinions, or have adopted those of others according as their address, their philosophy, their formula, their policy or their finesse may have attracted their attention or pleased their taste. But Sir of all the other criterions whereby we may judge of the vanity of these things, one will be always found true, namely; that we will always find such characters glorying in their own wisdom, and their own works, whilst the humble Saint, gives all the glory to God the Father, and to his son Jesus Christ, whose yoke is easy and whose burthen is light, and who told his disciples that unless they became like little children, they could not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. As to the situation of the Church here, matters go with us as well as can reasonably be expected, we have had considerable sickness amongst us, but very few deaths, and as the greater part are now recovering, we yet hope to have shelters provided before the winter shall set in. Since you left here we have purchased out all interest hereabouts— his farm we have laid out additional to our Town, , and the Town of we also hope to build up. Some of the “Twelve” and others have already started for Europe, and the remainder of that Mission we expect will go now in a few days— According to intelligence received since you left, the work of the Lord rolls on in a very pleasing manner, both in this, and in the old Country. In England many hundreds have of late been added to our numbers; but so— even so, it must be, for, “Ephraim he hath mixed himself among the people.” And the Savior he hath said “my sheep hear my voice” and also “he that heareth you, heareth me”. And “Behold I will bring them again from the North Country, and gather them from the Coasts of the Earth &c and as John heard the voice saying “come out of her [HC 4:8] my people”, even so must all be fulfilled, that the People of the Lord may live, when “Babylon the great [p. 966]

August 31 and setting in order many of the branches, and ordaining many to the Ministry, who are diligent in preaching, as they have opportunity on the Sabbath in the surrounding villages.

1 September 1839 • Sunday

September 1 Sunday September 1. I attended meeting and spoke concerning some errors in s writings &c &c This week sickness much decreased.

9 September 1839 • Monday

9 Monday 9. and greater part of the week I spent in visiting the sick and attending to the Settlement of our new Town. [HC 4:7]

11 September 1839 • Wednesday

11. Wednesday 11

“, Ill: 11th. Septr. 1839— Dear — We have had the great pleasure of receiving your favor of the 24th. July, and learning thereby that you and your family had arrived at Chillicothe in safety and in health. We perceive that you have had rather a narrow escape from a serious accident, and doubtless the hand of the Lord is to be acknowledged in the matter, although unperceived by mortal eye. Time and experience will teach us more and more, how easily falshood gains credence with mankind in general, rather than the truth, but especially in taking into consideration the plan of Salvation; the plain simple order of the gospel of Jesus Christ, never has been discerned or acknowledged as the truth except by a few, among whom were “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble,”— whilst the majority have contented themselves with their own private opinions, or have adopted those of others according as their address, their philosophy, their formula, their policy or their finesse may have attracted their attention or pleased their taste. But Sir of all the other criterions whereby we may judge of the vanity of these things, one will be always found true, namely; that we will always find such characters glorying in their own wisdom, and their own works, whilst the humble Saint, gives all the glory to God the Father, and to his son Jesus Christ, whose yoke is easy and whose burthen is light, and who told his disciples that unless they became like little children, they could not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. As to the situation of the Church here, matters go with us as well as can reasonably be expected, we have had considerable sickness amongst us, but very few deaths, and as the greater part are now recovering, we yet hope to have shelters provided before the winter shall set in. Since you left here we have purchased out all interest hereabouts— his farm we have laid out additional to our Town, , and the Town of we also hope to build up. Some of the “Twelve” and others have already started for Europe, and the remainder of that Mission we expect will go now in a few days— According to intelligence received since you left, the work of the Lord rolls on in a very pleasing manner, both in this, and in the old Country. In England many hundreds have of late been added to our numbers; but so— even so, it must be, for, “Ephraim he hath mixed himself among the people.” And the Savior he hath said “my sheep hear my voice” and also “he that heareth you, heareth me”. And “Behold I will bring them again from the North Country, and gather them from the Coasts of the Earth &c and as John heard the voice saying “come out of her [HC 4:8] my people”, even so must all be fulfilled, that the People of the Lord may live, when “Babylon the great [p. 966]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]
ID #
7513
Total Pages
562
Handwriting on This Page
- Thomas Bullock
Footnotes
1. 356
  See 1 Sept. 1839 entry in History Draft.
2. 357
  JS, Journal, 1–7 Sept. 1839.
3. 358
  See 9 Sept. 1839 entry in History Draft.
4. 359
  JS, Journal, 8–14 Sept. 1839.
5. 360
  See 11 Sept. 1839 entry in History Draft.
6. 361
  Letter to Isaac Galland, 11 Sept. 1839.

History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842]

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