Appendix

Early Church Historical Documents Published in BYU Studies

Compiled by Marny K. Parkin

This appendix contains a briefly annotated list of documents that have been published or analyzed in BYU Studies that relate to events in the early history of the Church (to about 1850) as well as general characterizations of prominent early Church members. The appendix is listed in approximate chronological order. Dates given are usually the date of the document unless the document is describing events considerably removed in time, in which case both the date of the event and the date of the document are given. I have included both oral and written accounts.

circa 1810, dictated in 1838–39
“Joseph Smith’s Own Story of a Serious Childhood Illness.” By Reed C. Durham Jr. BYU Studies Volume 10, no. 4 (1970): 480–82. Account of Joseph’s leg surgery from his history book A-1.

1820, written in 1831–39
“The Early Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision.” By Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 9, no. 3 (1969): 275–94. Accounts from a letterbook, penned by Frederick G. Williams, from the “large journal,” penned by Warren A. Cowdery, and from the A-1 history book, penned by James Mulholland.

1820, written in 1831–39
“Circumstantial Confirmation of the First Vision through Reminiscences.” By Richard Lloyd Anderson. BYU Studies Volume 9, no. 3 (1969): 373–404. Compares Cowdrey’s account and other contemporary (1830s) accounts.

1820, written in 1842
Joseph Smith Jr. “The Wentworth Letter.” Reprint. BYU Studies Volume 9, no. 3 (1969): 295–96. Account of the First Vision printed in the March 1, 1842, Times and Seasons.

1820s
“Joseph Smith’s New York Reputation Reappraised.” By Richard Lloyd Anderson. BYU Studies Volume 10, no. 3 (1970): 283–314. Comparison of collections of affidavits and interviews from 1834, 1867, 1881, and 1888.

September 1823–1838/9
“Joseph Knight’s Recollection of Early Mormon History.” By Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 17, no. 1 (1976): 29–58. Knight’s undated “Manuscript of the Early History of Joseph Smith,” written sometime after Knight left Missouri in 1833, including the translating and printing of the Book of Mormon and the organization of the Church.

1823
“View of the Hebrews: Substitute for Inspiration?” By Spencer J. Palmer and William L. Knecht. BYU Studies Volume 5, no. 2 (1964): 105–13. Comparison with the Isiah passages in 2 Nephi.

1823–30, written in 1858
“Solomon Chamberlain—Early Missionary.” By Larry C. Porter. BYU Studies Volume 12, no. 3 (1972): 314–18. Account of Chamberlain meeting Joseph Smith, the “gold bible,” and missionary work.

1826
“Joseph Smith and the 1826 Trial: New Evidence and New Difficulties.” By Marvin S. Hill. BYU Studies Volume 12, no. 2 (1972): 223–33. Two bills related to the trial.

February 1828
“The Anthon Transcript: People, Primary Sources, and Problems.” By Stanley B. Kimball. BYU Studies Volume 10, no. 3 (1970): 325–52. Discussion of the RLDS transcript, as well as analysis of the people involved and the general history and spreading of the story.

1828–29
“The Original Book of Mormon Manuscript.” By Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 10, no. 3 (1970): 259–78. History and handwriting analysis of the manuscript with a transcription of three pages.

June 1829, written January 13, 1873
“Martin Harris’s 1873 Letter to Walter Conrad.” By Brent Ashworth. BYU Studies Volume 23, no. 1 (1983): 112–19. Letter reaffirming Harris’s witness of the Book of Mormon.

1829
“Solomon Chamberlin’s Missing Pamphlet: Dreams, Visions, and Angelic Ministrants.” By Larry C. Porter. BYU Studies Volume 37, no. 2 (1997–98): 113–40. Experiences that prepared Chamberlin to join the Church in 1830.

1829–30
“The Dogberry Papers and the Book of Mormon.” By Russell R. Rich. BYU Studies Volume 10, no. 3 (1970): 315–20. Comments in the Reflector about the “Gold Bible” and the Book of Mormon.

1829–48
“Priesthood Restoration Documents.” By Brian Q. Cannon.BYU Studies Volume 35, no. 4 (1995–96): 162–207. All known statements (over seventy) before 1850 about the restoration of either the Aaronic or the Melchizedek Priesthood.

March 1830
“Membership of Certain of Joseph Smith’s Family in the Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra.” By Milton V. Backman Jr. and James B. Allen. BYU Studies Volume 10, no. 4 (1970): 482–84. Records of proceedings against the Smith family and their eventual suspension from membershp.

fall 1830; spring 1831
“A Shaker View of a Mormon Mission.” By Lawrence R. Flake. BYU Studies Volume 20, no. 1 (1979): 94–99. Missionary efforts of Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Leman Copley, and Parley P. Pratt to the Shakers near Kirtland as a result of the revelation in D&C 49 and a conversation with Newel K. Knight Jr.

October 17, 1830
“The Impact of the First Preaching in Ohio.” By Richard Lloyd Anderson. BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 4 (1971): 474–96. Includes a copy of the covenant among the first four missionaries.

October 17, 1830
“Light on the ‘Mission to the Lamanites.’” By Leland H. Gentry. BYU Studies Volume 36 no. 2 (1996–97): 226–34. Missionary covenant of Oliver Cowdery and others, as well as a February 14, 1831, letter from Cowdery and a February 15, 1831, letter from Indian agent Richard W. Cummins both to the superintendant of Indian affairs on permission to establish a mission to the Native Americans.

October–November 1830, written in 1831
“A Non-Mormon View of the Birth of Mormonism in Ohio.” Edited by Milton V. Backman Jr. BYU Studies Volume 12, no. 3 (1972): 306–11. Newspaper article written by Josiah Jones of Kirtland, published June 1841 in The Evangelist, noting the missionary efforts and subsequent conversion of Sidney Rigdon and others.

1830
“Variations between Copies of the First Edition of the Book of Mormon.” By Janet Jenson. BYU Studies Volume 13, no. 2 (1973): 214–22. Errors in different printings of the 1830 edition.

February 1831–July 1837
“The Chronology of the Ohio Revelations.” By Earl E. Olson. BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 4 (1971): 329–49. Analysis of the manuscripts, scribes, recording errors, and general history of the Doctrine and Covenants revelations received in Ohio.

August 1831
“James Gordon Bennett’s 1831 Report on ‘The Mormonites.’” By Leonard J. Arrington. BYU Studies Volume 10, no. 3 (1970): 353–64. Two journal entries (August 7 and 8) and the resulting two-part newspaper article. Gives contemporary description of Hill Cumorah, recounts money-digging, Harris going to Anthon and Mitchell, publishing the Book of Mormon, and impressions of the new religion.

October 30, 1831
“The Newly Found Manuscript of Doctrine and Covenants Section 65.” By John W. Welch and Trevor Packer.BYU Volume Studies 33, no. 2 (1993): 330–36. Comparison of the new McLellin manuscript with four other manuscripts and the published version.

1831, written August 14, 1880
“William E. McLellan’s Testimony of the Book of Mormon.” By Larry C. Porter. BYU Studies Volume 10, no. 4 (1970): 485–87. Letter written to James T. Cobb in response to his inquiry trying to establish the falsity of the Book of Mormon.

1831–39, written 1839–40
“Missouri Persecutions: Petitions for Redress.” By Paul C. Richards. BYU Studies Volume 13, no. 4 (1973): 520–43. Affidavits in the National Archives describing first-hand the events in Missouri.

March 1, 1832–June 22, 1834
“Substituted Names in the Published Revelations of Joseph Smith.” By David J. Whittaker. BYU Studies Volume 23, no. 1 (1983): 103–12. Historical uses of, rational for, and original identity of fictious names used in six sections in the Doctrine and Covenants.

April? 1832
“An Impressive Letter from the Pen of Joseph Smith.” By LaMar C. Berrett. BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 4 (1971): 517–23. To Emma while Newel Whitney was recuperating from accident on journey back to Kirtland from Missouri.

February 1834; July 4, 1838
“Two Rare Missouri Documents.” By Peter L. Crawley. BYU Studies Volume 14, no. 4 (1974): 502–27. The Evening and the Morning Star Extra reprinting a broadside from Missouri dated December 12, 1833, on the expulsion from Jackson County and a copy of Sidney Rigdon’s Fourth of July Oration.

May 5–June 12, 1834
“‘Journal of the Branch of the Church of Christ in Pontiac, . . . 1834’: Hyrum Smith’s Division of Zion’s Camp.” By Craig K. Manscill. BYU Studies Volume 39, no. 1 (2000): 167–88. Daily journal of the Saints from Pontiac, Michigan, until they met up with Joseph Smith near the Salt River in Missouri.

May 26, 1835–January 1836
“Writing to Zion: The William W. Phelps Kirtland Letters (1835–1836).” By Bruce A. Van Orden. BYU Studies Volume 33, no. 3 (1993): 542–93. Discusses numerous topics, including Joseph’s sermons, the Egyptian papyri, the Kirtland Temple, and printing papers and the hymnbook.

June 1835
“What Is ‘The Book of Breathings’?” By Hugh W. Nibley. BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 2 (1971): 153–87. Discussion of the content of Joseph Smith Papyri Nos. X and XI.

June 1835
“A Translation and Commentary of the Joseph Smith Hypocephalus.” By Michael Dennis Rhodes. BYU Studies Volume 17, no. 3 (1977): 259–74. A translation and discussion of both the text and images of Facsimilie 2 with a comparison to other hypocephali and a overview of hypocephali in general.

November 1, 1835
“A Letter Regarding the Acquisition of the Book of Abraham.” By Christopher C. Lund. BYU Studies Volume 20, no. 4 (1980): 402–3. Near-contemporary account of the purchase of the Egyptian mummies.

November 1835–June 1837
“Joseph Smith’s Performance of Marriages in Ohio.” By M. Scott Bradshaw. BYU Studies Volume 39, no. 4 (2000): 23–69. Photographs of marriages records of ceremonies performed by the Prophet, and the text of the 1824 Ohio statute.

1835–46, written 1885
“Eliza R. Snow’s ‘Sketch of My Life’: Reminiscences of Joseph Smith’s Plural Wives.” By Spencer J. Palmer. BYU Studies Volume 12, no. 1 (1971): 125–30. Selected sections describing Eliza’s relationship with Joseph.

August 11, 1836
“Truman Coe’s 1836 Description of Mormonism.” By Milton V. Backman Jr. BYU Studies Volume 17, no. 3 (1977): 347–54. An article in the Ohio Observer by a Presbyterian pastor giving a brief history of the Church beginning with the visions of Moroni, as well as general impressions of the Saints in Kirtland and a few doctrines.

January 1–March 27, 1836
“Oliver Cowdery’s Kirtland, Ohio, ‘Sketch Book.’” By Leonard J. Arrington. BYU Studies Volume 12, no. 4 (1972): 410–26. Events leading up to the Kirtland Temple dedication.

March 1836
“Licensing in the Early Church.” By Donald Q. Cannon. BYU Studies Volume 22, no. 1 (1982): 96–105. Resolution on standardizing licenses issued by the Church as proof of authority.

October 18, 1836–June 20, 1837
“The Kirtland Safety Society: The Stock Ledger Book and the Bank Failure.” By D. Paul Sampson and Larry T. Wimmer. BYU Studies Volume 12, no. 4 (1972): 427–36. Analysis of the purchases and values recorded in the stock ledger book.

November 25, 1836–May 31, 1837
“The Kirtland Diary of Wilford Woodruff.” By Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 12, no. 4 (1972): 365–99. Discusses the Kirtland Temple, his marriage to Phebe, and their patriarchal blesisngs.

May 12, 1837–November 29, 1840
“‘Brother Joseph Is Truly a Wonderful Man, He Is All We Could Wish a Prophet to Be’: Pre-1844 Letters of William Law.” By Lyndon W. Cook.BYU Studies Volume 20, no. 2 (1980): 207–18. Mentions the Prophet’s visit to Upper Canada, troubles in Missouri, the return to fellowship of Orson Hyde, and the Kirtland bank.

1837
“The Meaning of the Kirtland Egyptian Papers.” By Hugh W. Nibley. BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 4 (1971): 350–99. Discussion/analysis of a box of documents in Church Historian’s Office classified as “Egyptian” and comparison to the book of Abraham

August 25, 1838
“A Newly Discovered 1838 Wilford Woodruff Letter.” By Robert H. Slover II. BYU Studies Volume 15, no. 3 (1975): 349–61. Woodruff’s testimony to his brother, including his conversion of his parents and their plans to move to Far West, lists the dates of his ordinations, and mentions his new calling to be an apostle.

October 6, 1838–January 30, 1839
“The Last Months of Mormonism in Missouri: The Albert Perry Rockwood Journal.” Edited by Dean C. Jessee and David J. Whittaker. BYU Studies Volume 28, no. 1 (1988): 5–41. Describes events in Missouri, including movements of the governor’s troops, land ownership, the Danites, Haun’s Mill, the surrender of Joseph and others, and the extermination order and expulsion from Missouri. Rookwood also includes a letter from Parley P. Pratt dated December 9, 1838, written from Liberty Jail.

October 30, 1838, written June 4, 1839
Joseph Young’s Affidavit of the Massacre at Haun’s Mill.” By Alexander L. Baugh. BYU Studies Volume 38, no. 1 (1999): 188–202. Transcription of the original document of the first and most widely published account of the Haun’s Mill massacre.

October 1838, written 1839 April 20
“Missouri Persecutions: The Petition of Isaac Leany.” By Clark V. Johnson. BYU Studies Volume 23, no. 1 (1983): 94–103. Describes events from the Gallatin election to the expulsion from Missouri, focusing on Haun’s Mill.

late 1838
“The Danite Band of 1838.” By Leland H. Gentry. BYU Studies Volume 14, no. 4 (1974): 421–50. Includes the entirety of the “Danite Constitution.”

February 22, 1839
“Eliza R. Snow Letter from Missouri.” BYU Studies Volume 13, no. 4 (1973): 544–52. Describes events in Missouri, including a copy of General John B. Clark’s November 5, 1838, speech at Far West and a transcription of most of a letter from Lorenzo Snow.

March 20, 1839
“Revelations in Context: Joseph Smith’s Letter from Liberty Jail, March 20, 1839.” By Dean C. Jessee and John W. Welch. BYU Studies Volume 39, no. 3 (2000): 125–45. Complete original text of the letter from which Doctrine and Covenants sections 121–23 are taken.

May 29 and June 26, 1839
“Isaac Galland—Mormon Benefactor.” By Lyndon W. Cook. 19, BYU Studies Volume no. 3 (1979) 261–84. Includes records of the land on the Half-Breed Tract in Iowa (across the river from Nauvoo) purchased from Galland.

September 9, 19, 1839
“Sickness and Faith, Nauvoo Letters.” By Ronald K. Esplin. BYU Studies Volume 15, no. 4 (1975): 425–34. Letter from Leonora Taylor describes conditions in Montrose and mentions purchase of city lots.

October 1, 1839–March 13, 1841
“Letters of a Missionary Apostle to His Wife: Brigham Young to Mary Ann Angell Young, 1839–1841.” By Ronald O. Barney. BYU Studies Volume 38: no. 2 (1999): 156–201. Eight letters during the Twelve’s mission to England, describing the journey, the conditions in England, some of Brigham’s dreams about his family, plans for emigration, and the status of the Church in London.

1839–40
“The Missouri Redress Petitions: A Reappraisal of Mormon Persecutions in Missouri.” By Clark V. Johnson. BYU Studies Volume 26, no. 2 (1986): 31–44. Analysis of different types of petitions and examples of each type.

1839–46
“The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” By Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 4 (1971): 439–74. Analysis of the scribes and the methods of compolation.

July 19, 1840
“Joseph Smith’s 19 July 1840 Discourse.” By Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 19, no. 3 (1979): 390–94. Recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton, this is the original of the discourse in which Joseph says the people of Zion will save the constitution (whish was distorted to “the constitution will hang by a thread”). Joseph also talks of building the temple.

July 22, 1840
“‘We Had a Very Hard Voyage for the Season’: John Moon’s Account of the First Emigrant Company of British Saints.” By James B. Allen. BYU Studies Volume 17, no. 3 (1977): 339–41. Letter describing the voyage of the first British Saints’ emigration.

September 5, 1840
“The Willard Richards and Brigham Young 5 September 1840 Letter from England to Nauvoo.” By Ronald W. Walker. BYU Studies Volume 18, no. 3 (1978): 466–75. Describes social, economic, and religious atmosphere in England and asks about printing Church books.

October 16–30, 1840
“Inside Brigham Young: Abrahamic Tests as Preparation for Leadership.” By Ronald K. Esplin. BYU Studies Volume 20, no. 3 (1980): 300–310. Letter of Brigham while on his mission with the Twelve to England and smaller excerpts of letters from shorter, later missions.

December 10, 1840
“To the Saints in England: Impressions of a Mormon Immigrant.” By James B. Allen. BYU Studies Volume 18, no. 3 (1978): 475–80. Letter from William Clayton describing his immigration and meeting Joseph Smith

circa 1840–45
“Howard Coray’s Recollection of Joseph Smith.” By Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 17, no. 3 (1977): 341–47. Two undated autobiographical manuscripts that show Coray’s close association with the Prophet—copying letters, writing the Church history, and recollections of his words.

1840s
“Recollections of ‘Old Nauvooers’: Memories from Oral History.” By Thomas Edgar Lyon. BYU Studies Volume 18, no. 2 (1978): 143–50. Nauvooers’ memories and testimonies of Joseph Smith recalled from Lyon’s youth.

May 6, 1841; June 10, 1844
“Letters Home: The Immigrant View from Nauvoo.” By Glen M. Leonard. BYU Studies Volume 31, no. 1 (1991): 89–100. Two letters, the first mentioning the Nauvoo Legion and building the Nauvoo House, the second mentioning temple sealing.

December 4, 1841
“Oh! Brother Joseph.” By David H. Pratt. BYU Studies Volume 27, no. 1 (1987): 127–31. Letter of Parley P. Pratt to the Prophet describing conditions in England.

March 30, 1842
“‘A Letter to England, 1842.’” Edited by James B. Allen. BYU Studies Volume 12, no. 1 (1971): 119–23. Clayton’s immigration, meeting Joseph Smith, and Clayton’s feelings about the Church.

May 1842–August 3, 1843
“Two Iowa Postmasters View Nauvoo: Anti-Mormon Letters to the Governor of Missouri.” Edited by Warren A. Jennings. BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 3 (1971): 275–92. Letters resulting from assassination attempt on ex-Govenor Boggs to Governor Reynolds.

June 29, 1842–April 14, 1844
“Eliza R. Snow’s Nauvoo Journal.” Edited by Maureen Ursenbach Beecher. BYU Studies Volume 15, no. 4 (1975): 391–416. Describes the events after the assassination attempt on Boggs and numerous attempts to extradite Joseph. Also includes Eliza’s patriarchal blessing and numerous poems.

September 4, 1842
“‘A More Virtuous Man Never Existed on the Footstool of the Great Jehovah’: George Miller on Joseph Smith.” By Lyndon W. Cook. BYU Studies Volume 19, no. 3 (1979): 402–7. Letter witnessing to the character and whereabouts of Joseph in the matter of the assassination attempt on Boggs.

November 5–24, 1842
“Shaping the Stones: Lorenzo Snow’s Letters to Priesthood Leaders of the London Conference, November 1842.” By Andrew H. Hedges and Jay G. Burrup. BYU Studies Volume 38, no. 4 (1999): 6–25. Three letters on priesthood responsibility.

1842
“A New Look at the Alleged Little Known Discourse by Joseph Smith.” By Kenneth W. Godfrey. BYU Studies Volume 9, no. 1 (1968): 49–53. Analysis of the discourse and The Peace Maker by Udney H. Jacobs and conclusions on the authorship of the discourse.

February 10 and 17, 1843
“The Josiah Stowell Jr.–John S. Fullmer Correspondence.” By Mark Ashurst-McGee. BYU Studies Volume 38, no. 3 (1999): 108–17. Letter requesting and return letter witnessing to the character of Joseph Smith when he was about twenty.

August 17, 1843
“The Historians’ Corner: Brigham Young to Mary Ann Young: August 17, 1843 and Brigham Young to Hiram McKee: May 3, 1860.” By Ronald W. Walker and David J. Whittaker. BYU Studies Volume 32, no. 3 (1992): 87–100. Mentions raising money for buildings in Nauvoo and the brethren leaving for missions in England.

September 6 and 10, 1843
“‘A Man That You Could Not Help Likeing’: Joseph Smith and Nauvoo Portrayed in a Letter by Susannah and George W. Taggert.” By Ronald O. Barney.BYU Studies Volume 40, no. 2 (2001): 165–79. Description of Joseph and the conditions in Nauvoo.

December 1843–October 1846
“‘They Might Have Known That He Was Not a Fallen Prophet’—The Nauvoo Journal of Joseph Fielding.” By Andrew F. Ehat. BYU Studies Volume 19, no. 2 (1979): 133–66. Describes the apostacy of some individuals, the martyrdom, building the temple, the battle of and expulsion from Nauvoo, and the miracles of the quails.

1843
“Officers and Arms: The 1843 General Return of the Nauvoo Legion’s Second Cohort.” By Richard L. Saunders. BYU Studies Volume 35, no. 2 (1995): 138–51. A tabulation of the men and arms of the five regiments, staff, and band of the second cohort.

April 7, 1844
“The King Follett Discourse: A Newly Amalgamated Text.” By Stan Larson. BYU Studies Volume 18, no. 2 (1978): 193–208. Compolation of the discourse from accounts by Bullock, Clayton, Richards, and Woodruff that differs significantly from the Grimshaw amalgamation of 1855.

May 16, 1844
“Josiah Quincy’s 1844 Visit with Joseph Smith.” By Jed Woodworth. BYU Studies Volume 39, no. 4 (2000): 71–87. Letter of Quincy to his wife describing Nauvoo and his visit with the Prophet.

June 5, 1844–September 21, 1845
“‘All Things Move in Order in the City’: The Nauvoo Diary of Zina Diantha Huntington Jacobs.” By Maureen Ursenbach Beecher.BYU Studies Volume 19, no. 3 (1979): 285–320. Describes the events of the martyrdom, the succession, the trial of Joseph’s murderers, the building of the temple, and increased persecution.

June 9 and 30, 1844
“Life in Nauvoo, June 1844: Vilate Kimball’s Martyrdom Letters.” By Ronald K. Esplin. BYU Studies Volume 19, no. 2 (1979): 231–40. Two letters describing the tenor of the city before and after the martyrdom.

June 19, 1844
“John C. Calhoun, Jr., Meets the Prophet Joseph Smith Shortly before the Departure for Carthage.” By Brian Q. Cannon.BYU Studies Volume 33, no. 4 (1993): 772–>80. Letter from Calhoun to his brother mentioning his visit to Nauvoo the day Governor Ford sent to arrest the Prophet.

June 27, 1844, written November 1, 9, 1897; November 18, 1845
“Thomas L. Barnes: Coroner of Carthage.” By Stanley B. Kimball.BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 2 (1971): 141–47. Letters giving an account of the martyrdom, and a Resolution by anit-Mormons in Carthage.

June 29, 1844, written June 13 1855
“The Joseph/Hyrum Smith Funeral Sermon.” By Richard Van Wagoner and Steven C. Walker. BYU Studies Volume 23, no. 1 (1983): 3–18. Phelps’s recollection of his speech.

June 29, 1844–December 16, 1845
“The Lynching of an American Prophet.” By Warren A. Jennings.BYU Studies Volume 40, no. 1 (2001): 205–16. Three letters by David Wells Kilbourne in Fort Madison, Iowa, describing events surrounding and after the martyrdom.

June 1844
“A Little Known Account of the Murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith.” By Jan Shipps. BYU Studies Volume 14, no. 3 (1974): 389–92. Letter by Mr. H. H. Bliss describing events leading up to the martyrdom.

June 1844, written in 1847 and January 20, 1855
Dan Jones. “‘The Martyrdom of Joseph Smith and His Brother Hyrum.’” Trans. and introduced by Ronald D. Dennis. BYU Studies Volume 24, no. 1 (1984): 78–109. Letter and an excerpt from a small book in Welsh detailing the events of the martyrdom.]

June–July 1844
“Mobocracy and the Rule of Law: American Press Reaction to the Murder of Joseph Smith.” By Paul D. Ellsworth. BYU Studies Volume 20, no. 1 (1979): 71–82. Accounts from newspapers across the country.

August 8, 1844
“The Mantle of the Prophet Joseph Passes to Brother Brigham: A Collective Spiritual Witness.” By Lynne Watkins Jorgensen. BYU Studies Volume 36, no. 4 (1996–97): 125–204. Over one hundred first- and second-hand accounts of the mantle experience.

December 26, 1844–September 17, 1845
“The John Taylor Nauvoo Journal: January 1845–September 1845.” Edited by Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 23, no. 3 (1983): 1–105. Includes the dedication of the Seventies’ Hall, building the temple, and increased mob violence, as well as copies of letters, public documents, and proclamations.

January 1, 1845–June 6, 1846
“George Laub’s Nauvoo Journal.” Edited by Eugene England. BYU Studies Volume 18, no. 2 (1978): 151–78. Recounts sermons of Church leaders including the King Follett discourse, the martyrdom, the succession and the mantle of Joseph falling on Brigham Young, and the exodous from Nauvoo.

May–July? 1845
“The Bernhisel Manuscript Copy of Joseph Smith’s Inspired Version of the Bible.” By Robert J. Matthews. BYU Studies Volume 11, no. 3 (1971): 253–74. Comparison of the original 1833 version with Bernhisel’s copy, made in Nauvoo.

May–July? 1845
“A Study of the Text of Joseph Smith’s Inspired Version of the Bible.” By Robert J. Matthews. BYU Studies Volume 9, no. 1 (1968): 3–16. Comparison of the Bernheisl manuscript with the 1867 and 1944 RLDS publications.

July–September 1845
“The Nauvoo Tabernacle.” By Elden J. Watson. BYU Studies Volume 19, no. 3 (1979): 416–21. A letter of the Twelve and letters of Orson Hyde and Orson Pratt on the building of and procuring materials for a tabernacle.

August 31, 1845–July 5, 1846
“Journal of Thomas Bullock (1816–1885): 31 August 1845 to 5 July 1846.” Introduced and edited by Gregory R. Knight. BYU Studies Volume 31, no. 1 (1991): 5–75. Describes events during the last days of Nauvoo, including mob and state militia actions, temple work, and preparations for moving west.

October 1845
“Lucy Mack Smith Speaks to the Nauvoo Saints.” By Ronald W. Walker. BYU Studies Volume 32, no. 1 (1992): 276–84. Conference address, mentions obtaining the plates, Samuel Smith’s first missionary efforts, and persecutions in Missouri.

February 9, 1846 –July 1847
“The Iowa Journal of Lorenzo Snow.” Edited by Beecher, Maureen Ursenbach. BYU Studies Volume 24, no. 3 (1984): 261–73. Describes traveling from Sugar Creek and settling at Mt. Pisgah.

April 15, 1846
“‘All Is Well . . .’: The Story of ‘the Hymn That Went around the World.’” By Paul E. Dahl. BYU Studies Volume 21, no. 4 (1981): 515–27. William Clayton’s journal entry for the day he composed “Come, Come Ye Saints” during the exodous from Nauvoo and a discussion of the 27tune and subsequent history.

July 11, 1846
“Thomas L. Kane Meets the Mormons.” By Donald Q. Cannon. BYU Studies Volume 18, no. 1 (1977): 126–28. Includes Kane’s letter describing conditions in Council Bluffs, reasons the Saints would not be leaving for California until the next year, and first impressions.

September 17, 1846, dictated May 12, 1883
“‘Nine Children Were Born’: A Historical Problem from the Sugar Creek Episode.” By Carol Lynn Pearson. BYU Studies Volume 21, no. 4 (1981): 441–44. Statement by Jane Johnson gives the circumstances of the last stages of the exodous from Nauvoo.

October/November 1847
“‘Is Not This of God?’: An 1847 Proposal for Mormon Settlement.” By Davis Bitton. BYU Studies Volume 15, no. 1 (1974): 105–9. Undated memorandum by General Duff Green suggesting the island of Santo Domingo as a place for the Mormons to gather.

May 14, June 14 1849
“Chief Walker and Brigham Young.” By Ronald W. Walker and Dean C. Jessee. BYU Studies Volume 32, no. 4 (1992): 125–35. A report and two letters detailing the first relations between the Ute Indians and the Saints.

July–August 1849
“Two Massachusetts Forty-Niner Perspectives on the Mormon Landscape, July-August 1849.” By Brian D. Reeves. BYU Studies Volume 38, no. 3 (1999): 123–44. Two journal extracts that include descriptions of Salt Lake City and the first Pioneer Day celebration.