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
March 24 The Republican says, “At Pointa Pike, West Indian Islands, 2000 persons run together in the public square, when the earth opened, and swallowed the whole mass”
The papers report that Gen. Napier, with 3700 English troops, gained a brilliant victory over the Belochee Army of 22,000 men on the 17th ultimo.
25 In the at 8 A.M., heard a report from concerning thieves, whereupon I issued the following:
Proclamation
To the Citizens of .
Whereas it appears by the republication of the foregoing proceedings, and declaration, that I have not altered my views on the subject of stealing: And [HC 5:310] whereas it is reported that there now exists a band of desperadoes, bound by oaths of secrecy, under severe penalties in case any member of the combination divulges their plans of stealing and conveying properties from station to station up and down the , and other routes: And whereas it is reported that the fear of the execution of the pains and penalties of their secret oath, on their persons, prevents some of the members of said secret association, (who have, through falsehood and deceit, been drawn into their snares,) from divulging the same to the legally Constituted authorities of the land:
Know ye therefore, That I, Joseph Smith, Mayor of the City of , will grant and ensure protection against all personal mob violence, to each and every citizen of this , who will freely and voluntarily come before me, and truly make known the names of all such abominable characters as are engaged in said secret combination for stealing, or are accessary thereto in any manner; and I would respectfully solicit the co-operation of all ministers of Justice, in this and the neighboring States, to ferret out a band of thievish outlaws from our midst
Given under my hand at City, this, 25th day of March, A.D. 1843
Joseph Smith,
Mayor of said .
Received a letter from Grand Master , requesting the loan of cannon, to celebrate the organization of the new County of ; which I granted.
Also received a letter from Senator Young, with a bond for a quarter section of land,
I baptized Mr Mifflin of .
Issued a writ for the arrest of A. Fields, for disorderly conduct; he was brought in drunk about noon; and abused the court;—— I ordered him to be put in irons till he was sober.
The High Council, with my presiding sat , on an appeal of Benjamin Hoyt, from the decision of David Evans, Bishop; which was that Bro Hoyt cease to call certain characters witches or wizards, cease to work with the divining rod, and cease burning a board or boards to heal those [HC 5:311] whom he said were bewitched; on hearing the case, the council decided to confirm the decision of Bishop Evans.
The Gazette reports “an Awful Gale” within the last 6 weeks. 154 vessels were wrecked on the Coast of , and 190 lives lost; on the coast of Ireland 5 vessels and 134 lives; on the coast of Scotland 17 vessels. 39 lives; and on the coast of France 4 vessels and 100 lives, value of vessels and cargoes roughly estimated $4,125,000.
The Thames Tunnel completed, opened for foot passengers, when 30,000 persons passed thro’ the first day.
Elder William Henshaw who has encountered considerable opposition since he commenced preaching in South Wales, organized the Pen-y-darran branch, and ordained William Rees Davis, Priest, who commenced preaching in the Welsh language, which caused opposition to increase and a considerable number to receive the gospel; while he established that branch of the Church, Bro. Henshaw supported himself by work in the Coal Mines. [p. 1502]
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Document Information
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Footnotes
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508
JS, Journal 2 Apr. 1843.
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509
See 25 Mar. 1843 entry in History Draft.
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510
JS, Journal, 25 Mar. 1843; JS, “Proclamation,” Times and Seasons, 1 May 1843, 4:184.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
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511
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 25 Mar. 1843.
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
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512
“Thames Tunnel,” Nauvoo Neighbor, 7 June 1843, [1].
Nauvoo Neighbor. Nauvoo, IL. 1843–1845.
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Insertion in handwriting of Thomas Bullock.
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513
William R. Davies, Fort Harmony, Washington, Co., [Utah Territory], to George A. Smith, [Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory], 12 May 1855, George Albert Smith, Papers, CHL.
Smith, George Albert. Papers, 1834–1877. CHL. MS 1322.
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Insertion in handwriting of Thomas Bullock.
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508
