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 .
<July 23> It is a time-honored adage that love begets love; let us pour forth love— shew forth our kindness unto all mankind, and the Lord will reward us with everlasting increase— cast our bread upon the waters, and we shall receive it after many days increased to a hundred fold. Friendship is like in his blacksmith shop welding iron to iron; it unites the human family with its happy influence.
I do not dwell upon your faults, and you shall not upon mine. Charity, which is love, covereth a multitude of sins, and I have often covered up all the faults among you; but the prettyest thing is to have no faults at all. We should cultivate a meek, quiet and peaceable spirit.
Have the Presbyterians any truth? Yes. Have the Baptists, Methodists &c. any truth? Yes, they all have a little truth mixed with error. We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up or we shall not come out pure Mormons.
Last Monday morning certain men <brethren> came to me and said. “Brother <they would hardly consent to receive as a Prophet and for me to re[HC 5:517]sign, but I told them I only said it to try your faith and it is strange brethren but you have been in the Church so long and not yet understand the Melchisdeck Priesthood.[”]>Joseph, is no prophet— he can’t lead the church; you must lead the church; if you resign all things will go wrong.” you must not resign; if you do the church will be scattered.” I felt curious, and said; have we not learned the Priesthood after the order of Melchisedic, which includes both Prophets, Priests and kings; see Rev. 1 ch. 6 v. and I will advance your Prophet to a priest, and then to a king; not to the kingdoms of this earth, but of the most high God, see Rev. 5 ch. 10 v. “thou hast made us unto our God, kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the earth.”
If I should be exalted would there not be a great many of my enemies disappointed in , when they wake up and find themselves in hell, see what they might have obtained, and realize what they have lost, by not listening to my voice, and obeying my instructions?
Math. 5 ch. 17 and 18 v. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you. Till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
And again, Math. 11 ch. 12 & 13 v. “And from the days of John the Baptist, until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” says Christ, he was the rock &c.
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gave the power
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See Exodus 30 ch. 30 & 31 v. “And thou shalt anoint Aaron, and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priests office. And thou shall speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.” Also Exodus 40 ch. 15 v. “And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, (Aaron) that they may minister unto me in the priests office; for this anointing shall surely [p. 1681]