JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. B-1, created 1 Oct. 1843–24 Feb. 1845; handwriting of and ; 297 pages, plus 10 pages of addenda; CHL. This is the second volume of a six-volume manuscript history of the church. This second volume covers the period from 1 Sept. 1834 to 2 Nov. 1838; the subsequent four volumes, labeled C-1 through F-1, continue through 8 Aug. 1844.
Historical Introduction
This document, volume B-1, is the second of the six volumes of the “Manuscript History of the Church.” The collection was compiled over the span of seventeen years, 1838 to 1856. The narrative in volume B-1 begins with the entry for 1 September 1834, just after the conclusion of the Camp of Israel (later called Zion’s Camp), and continues to 2 November 1838, when JS was interned as a prisoner of war at , Missouri. For a fuller discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to the history.
, serving as JS’s “private secretary and historian,” completed the account of JS’s history contained in volume A-1 in August 1843. It covered the period from JS’s birth in 1805 through the aftermath of the Camp of Israel in August 1834. When work resumed on the history on 1 October 1843, Richards started a new volume, eventually designated B-1.
At the time of JS’s death in June 1844, the account had been advanced to 5 August 1838, on page 812 of volume B-1. ’s poor health led to the curtailment of work on B-1 for several months, until 11 December 1844. On that date, Richards and , assisted by , resumed gathering the records and reports needed to draft the history. Richards then composed and drafted roughed-out notes while Thomas Bullock compiled the text of the history and inscribed it in B-1. They completed their work on the volume on or about 24 February 1845. Richards, , and Jonathan Grimshaw later added ten pages of “Addenda,” which provided notes, extensive revisions, or additional text to be inserted in the original manuscript where indicated.
Though JS did not dictate or revise any of the text recorded in B-1, and chose to maintain the first-person, chronological narrative format established in A-1 as if JS were the author. They drew from a variety of primary and secondary sources including JS’s diaries and letters, minutes of meetings, the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, church and other periodicals, reports of JS’s discourses, and the reminiscences and recollections of church members. As was the case with A-1, after JS’s death, , , , and others modified and corrected the manuscript as they reviewed material before its eventual publication.
Beginning in March 1842 the church’s Nauvoo periodical, the Times and Seasons, began publishing the narrative as the “History of Joseph Smith.” It was also published in England in the church periodical the Millennial Star beginning in June 1842. Once a press was established in Utah and the Deseret News began publication, the “History of Joseph Smith” once more appeared in print in serialized form. Beginning with the November 1851 issue, the narrative picked up where the Times and Seasons had left off over five years earlier.
The narrative recorded in B-1 continued the story of JS’s life as the prophet and president of the church he labored to establish. The account encompasses significant developments in the church’s two centers at that time—, Ohio, and northwest —during a four-year-span. Critical events included the organization of the Quorums of the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy, the dedication of the House of the Lord in Kirtland, Ohio, the establishment of the Kirtland Safety Society, dissension and apostasy in Kirtland and Missouri, the first mission to England, JS’s flight from Kirtland to Missouri in the winter of 1838, the Saints’ exodus from Kirtland later that year, the disciplining of the Missouri presidency, and the outbreak of the Missouri War and arrest of JS. Thus, B-1 provides substantial detail regarding a significant period of church expansion and transition as well as travail.
than described, let it suffice that I say that the very flood gates of my <November 16 Joseph’s Letter continued.> heart were broken up: I could not refrain from weeping. I thank God that he it has entered into your heart, to try to return to the Lord, and to this people; if it so be, that he will have mercy upon you. I have enquired of the Lord concerning your case, these words came to me:
<Revelation.> Verily thus saith the Lord unto you: Let him who was my servant , return unto me; and unto the bosom of my church, and forsake all the sins wherewith he has offended against me, and pursue from henceforth a virtuous and upright life, and remain under the direction of those whom I have appointed to be pallars [pillars], and heads of my church; and behold, saith the Lord, your God; his sins shall be forgiven blotted out from under Heaven, and shall be forgotten from among men, and shall not come up in mine ears, nor be recorded as a memorial against him, but I will lift him up as out of deep mire, and he shall be exalted upon the high places, and shall be counted worthy to stand among princes, and shall yet be made a polished shaft in my quiver of bringing down the strong holds of wickedness, among those who set themselves up on high, that they may take counsel against me, and against anointed ones in the last days:
Therefore, let him prepare himself speedily and come unto you; even to , and inasmuch as he shall hearken unto all your council from henceforth, he shall be restored unto his former state, and shall be saved even unto the uttermost, even as the Lord your God liveth. Amen.
Thus you see, my Dear Brother, the willingness of our heavenly Father to forgive sins, and restore to favor all those who are willing to humble themselves before him, and confess their sins, and forsake them, and return to him with full purpose of heart, (acting no hypocricy) to serve him to the end.——
Marvel not that the Lord has condescended to speak from the heavens, and give you instructions whereby you may learn your duty; he has heard your prayers and witnessed your humility; and holds forth the hand of paternal affection, for your return; the angels rejoice over you, while the Saints are willing to receive you again into fellowship.
I hope, on the receipt of this, you will lose no time in coming to : for if you get here in season you will have the privilege of attending the school of the prophets, which has already commenced, and, also receive instruction in doctrine, and principle from those whom God has appointed, whereby you may be qualified to go forth, and de[HC 2:315]clare the true doctrines of the kingdom according to the mind and will of God; and when you come to , it will be explained to you why God has condescended, to give you a Revelation according to your request. Please give my respects to your family, and be assured I am yours in the bonds of the New and Everlasting covenant. Joseph Smith Jn— [p. 653]