JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. E-1, created 20 Aug. 1855–5 Apr. 1856; handwriting of Robert L. Campbell, , and Jonathan Grimshaw; 392 pages, plus 11 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the fifth volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This fifth volume covers the period from 1 July 1843 to 30 Apr. 1844; the remaining five volumes, labeled A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, and F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
History, 1838–1856, volume E-1, constitutes the fifth 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 July 1843 to 30 April 1844, and it was compiled in Utah Territory in the mid-1850s.
The material recorded in volume E-1 was initially compiled under the direction of church historian , who was JS’s cousin. Smith collaborated with in collecting material for the history and creating a set of draft notes that Smith dictated to Bullock and other clerks.
Robert L. Campbell, a recently returned missionary and member of the Historian’s Office staff, transcribed ’s notes into the volume along with the text of designated documents (such as letters and meeting minutes). The Church Historian’s Office journal entry for 2 May 1855 pinpoints the beginning of his work: “R. L. C. on Book D forenoon, afternoon began book E.” Campbell’s work on the volume apparently concluded on 5 April 1856; entries in the Historian’s Office journal indicate that he then moved on to other assignments while another clerk, Jonathan Grimshaw, began work on volume F-1, the last manuscript in the series. (Historian’s Office, Journal, 2 May 1855; 5 and 9 Apr. 1856.)
Volume E-1 contains 391 pages of primary text and 11 pages of addenda. The initial entry on page 1637 is a continuation of the 1 July 1843 entry that closed volume D-1. The final entry in volume E-1 is for 30 April 1844.
The 391 pages of volume E-1 document a crucial period of JS’s life and the history of the church. Important events recorded here include
• An account of JS’s 2 July 1843 meeting with several Pottawatamie chiefs.
• JS’s 4 July 1843 address regarding his recent arrest, the Legion, and Mormon voting practices.
• JS’s 12 July 1843 dictation of a revelation regarding eternal marriage, including the plurality of wives, in the presence of and .
• The 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment of and revocation of his priesthood license.
• Dispatch of the first missionaries to the Pacific Islands on 20 September 1843, led by .
• JS’s 1 October 1843 announcement of ’s appointment to a mission to Russia.
• Minutes of a 6–9 October 1843 general conference inserted under the date of 9 October at which pled his case in regard to his 13 August 1843 disfellowshipment and was permitted to continue as counselor in the First Presidency.
• Text of JS’s appeal to the Green Mountain Boys of , inserted under the date of 29 November 1843.
• A 20 January 1844 entry that includes a poem by commemorating the presentation of two copies of the Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert by .
• JS’s nomination on 29 January 1844 as an independent candidate for the presidency of the .
<April 9> their perusal, and the Saints became more open-hearted and ready to minister unto those who labored amongst them.
Elder Allen spoke on liberality and benevolence being exercised with full confidence in God, and related several anecdotes illustrative of the subject.
Elder Galley having spoken on the same subject,
Voted unanimously, That this Conference, now assembled, covenant to stand by and uphold the presidency in , by our prayers on their behalf, and also by pecuniary aid.
then addressed the Assembly on the subject of the publications, and was desirous of taking the sense of that meeting on the same; it was true that the Quorum of the Twelve had advised that the publication of the Millennial Star be stopped, and had given him authority to publish a circular as occasion might require, but he believed most sincerely that the stoppage of the Star would have a most injurious tendency.
Several having spoken to the same effect, elder Ward remarked, that if a publication was to be issued at all, it appeared trifling with the interests of the cause to change the name, inasmuch as the office had received the name of the Millennial Star office, and many letters came to them with that address.
Moved by , and voted by unanimous acclamation, ‘That this Conference request the Quorum of the Twelve to permit the continued publication of the Millennial Star’.
Moved by elder Ward, and seconded by elder Webb, that priest William Bayliss be ordained to the office of an elder. Carried.
<9> Tuesday 9. The meeting being opened by singing and prayer.
Voted that elder go to preside over the Bradford Conference, and that elder William Speakman go to preside over the Clitheroe Conference, occasionally preaching at Leeds, under the presidency of .
having spoken at great length on the organization of the priesthood, and the relative duties of each officer according to his calling, exhorting them to consider the great work in which they were engaged, and not hinder their usefulness by being too tenacious of authority, or giving heed to little trifling matters, while the great work of rolling onward the truth be entirely forgotten.
Voted that Elder Gland Roger go to labor with elder James Ure in the Sheffield conference.
The sittings of the Conference were then brought to a close by president engaging in prayer and thanksgiving, at four o’Clock, p. m. [HC 6:330]
The Mayor and received a notification to produce Docket and other papers in case of , before the circuit court at ; also a similar notification to produce papers in case of appealed before circuit Court [p. 2008]