Letter from George Albert Smith, 21 April 1856
Letter from Geo. A. Smith, dated .
To Wilford Woodruff, Secretary of the Twelve Apostles.
Sir, On the 10th April 1854, I commenced to perform the
duties of Historian by taking up the History of Joseph Smith where Dr.
Willard Richards had left it when driven from Nauvoo on the 4th day of
Febuary 1846. I had to revise and compare two years of back history
which he had compiled, filling up numerous spaces which had been marked
as omissions ^on memoranda^ by Dr. Richards.
I commenced compiling the history of Joseph Smith from April 1st 1840
to his death on June 27th 1844. I have filled up all the reports of sermons
by President Joseph Smith and others from minutes or sketches taken at the
time in long hand by Dr. Willard Richards, Wilford Woodruff, Thomas
Bullock, William Clayton, Miss Eliza R. Snow, &c. which was an im-
mense labor, requiring the deepest thought and the closest application, as there
were mostly only two or three words (about half written) to a sentence.
The greatest care has been taken to convey the ideas in the prophets style
as near as possible; and in no case has the sentiment been varied that
I know of; as I heard the most of his discourses myself, was on the
most intimate terms with him, have retained a most vivid recollection of
his teachings, and was well acquainted with his principles and motives.
The History has been compiled to the day of his death, and the principal
part of it has been revised by the council of the First Presidency almost
without any alteration. A few vacancies remain to be filled up from the
statements of persons who are now absent. The severe application of thought
to the principles of the History, the exercise of memory &c. have caused
me to suffer much from a nervous headache or inflamation of the brain;
and my application of mind being in exercise both day and night,
deprived me of a great portion of necessary sleep.
Thomas Bullock acted with me as chief clerk, being a clerk
in the History office previously to, and at the time of Prest. Smith's
death, and has continued in it ever since. His pen wrote the principal
part of the rough manuscript from my dictation, and his acquaintance
with all the paper was of great assistance to me.
