Manuscripts
Manuscript of Wandle Mace's autobiography, a vivid and thorough firsthand account of the early days of the Mormon Church. Mace writes of the "extermination" of Mormons in Missouri, the order from Joseph Smith to purchase land in Illinois, the election of Brigham Young as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the arrests and trials of various Mormon leaders, the founding of Nauvoo, Smith's trips to Washington, the story of the seeing stones Urim and Thummin, a variety of Church conferences (including notes on charters, the organization of the Church, and doctrinal debates), Smith's death, a speech by Lucy Mack Smith to Mormons in Nauvoo after her son's death, the exodus from Nauvoo in 1846, the death of Parley Pratt, discord between Church members and Brigham Young, the arrival of Thomas B. Marsh in 1857, and many theological thoughts and quotations. Mace also recounts events in his personal life, including his early years as an apprentice, his invention of a portable mill and other mechanical devices, his observance of a meteor shower on November 8, 1833, his doubts about organized religion and impromptu preaching to the poor, his introduction to and acceptance of Mormonism, the deaths of his wife and nine of his children, and moves throughout New York, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah. The end of the volume includes handwritten copies of various essays, including Celestial Family Organization by Parley Pratt (1845); a funeral sermon preached by Joseph Smith on the death of Elder King Follett (1844); One Hundred Years Hence, 1845-1995: A Vision (published in the Millennial Star, 1845); Two Minutes in Jail, an account of the death of Joseph Smith by Willard Richards (published in the Nauvoo Neighbor); a discourse on priesthood by Joseph Smith (1839); The Origin, Object, and Destiny of Women by John Taylor (1857); and another discourse by Joseph Smith dated 1844. The final pages include genealogical notes on the Mace family that appear to have been added at a later date. The manuscript is in the handwriting of Mace's wife, Rebecca E. Howell Mace.
mssHM 26318
