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 , 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.
-
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
August 8 of no force of effect, and the Prisoner or Prisoners shall be released and discharged therefrom
Sec 3. And be it also further ordained, that in the absence, sickness, debility, or other—— circumstances disqualifying or preventing the Mayor from officiating in his office, as Chief Justice of the Municipal Court, the Alderman present shall appoint one from—— amongst them to act as Chief Justice, or president pro tempore.
Sec. 4. This ordinance to take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Passed August 8. 1842. Vice Mayor and President pro tempore— Recorder—
A disgraceful and bloody riot occurred at this evening, in and about the “Sans Souci House.” [HC 5:88]
9 Tuesday 9. In company with and , preparing for the return of the Sheriff; prepared a Writ of from the Master in .
10 Wednesday 10. The Deputy Sheriff returned to , but I was absent, and he did not see me, or . He endeavored to alarm my , and the brethren with his threats, if I was not forthcoming, but they understood the law in such cases and his threats proved harmless.
11 Thursday 11. This forenoon Brother entered into conversation with , upon the illegality of the whole proceedings in reference to the arrest. when the acknowledged that he believed Joseph was innocent and that ’s course which he had pursued was unjustifiable and illegal. I spent the day at Uncle ’s in and sent word that I wished to see —— , brothers , and others, with instructions to meet me on the between and . After dark, , , , , , and met at the Water side near the and proceeded in a Skiff between the , until they arrived near the lower [HC 5:89] end; and then hailed to shore. after waiting a very little while the skiff arrived from the opposite shore, and in it were myself and brother . A council was then held in the Skiffs, and various statements set forth in regard to the State of things. It was reported that the of had issued a warrant for my apprehension—— and that of and that the Sheriff of , was expected down—— immediately. very strong evidence was also manifested that of was no acquainted with these proceedings. That had made oath before a Justice of the Peace or a Judge, and that the Judge had made the requisition, and not . also that the Writ issued by was illegal and unjustifiable. It is absolutely certain that the whole business is—— another glaring instance of the effects of prejudice against me as a religious teacher and that it proceeds from a persecuting Spirit, the parties having signified their determination to have me taken to whether by legal or illegal means. It was finally concluded that I should be taken up the in a skiff and be landed below Wiggin’s farm, so called, and that I should proceed from thence to brother ’s and there abide for a season. This being concluded upon we separated, myself and being rowed up the by and the remainder crossed over to . It was agreed that brother should proceed up the in shore unto the place where the Skiff should stop, and there light up two fires as a signal for a stopping place. After the Boat had proceeded some distance above the , a fire was discovered on shore. We concluded that it was the Signal, and immediately rowed towards shore. When near the shore one of the company [p. 1364]
View entire transcript |
Cite this page
Cite this page
-
Document Information
-
Footnotes
-
Insertion in unidentified handwriting.
-
17
See 9 Aug. 1842 entry in History Draft.
-
18
JS, Journal, 9 Aug. 1842.
-
19
See 10 Aug. 1842 entry in History Draft.
-
20
JS, Journal, 10 Aug. 1842.
-
21
See 11 Aug. 1842 entry in History Draft.
-
22
JS, Journal, 11 Aug. 1842.
-
Insertion in handwriting of Leo Hawkins.
-
Insertion in handwriting of Leo Hawkins.
-
Insertion in handwriting of Leo Hawkins.
-
Insertion in handwriting of Leo Hawkins.
-
Insertion in handwriting of Leo Hawkins.
-
