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.
<November 22> Join the Methodist, yet said he was not in faith with their doctrine. He desired to return to the fellowship of the church, asked forgiveness of the brethren, and restoration of his licence. President Smith spoke of the impropriety of turning away from the truth and going after a people so destitute of the Spirit of righteousness as the Methodist. showed the folly of fellowshipping any doctrine or Spirit aside from that of Christ. arose and said he felt firm in the determination of doing the will of God in all things, or as far as in him lies, was sorry for his faults, and by the grace of God will forsake them in future. Council & <church> voted to restore him to fellowship, and the office of elder also, and that the clerk give him a licence.
<23> Monday 23d., Several brethren called to converse with me, and see the records. Received a letter from [HC 2:319] . Spent the day in conversing, and in studying, the Hebrew. A stormy day.
<24.> Tuesday 24th. at home. Spent the forenoon instructing those that called to enquire concerning the things of God in the last days. In the afternoon we translated some of the Egyptian Records. I had an invitation to attend a wedding at Brother < married> ’s in the evening, also to solemnize the matrimonial ceremony between and . accompanied me, on our arrival, a considerable company had collected. The Bridegroom and bride came in and took their seats, which gave me to understand that they were ready. After prayers, I requested them to rise and join hands. I then remarked that marriage was an institution of heaven, instituted in in the garden of Eden; that it was necessary it should be solemnized by the authority if the everlasting Priesthood. The ceremony was original with me, and in substance as follows; You covenant to be each others companions through life, and discharge the duties of husband and wife in every respect: to which they assented. I then pronounced them husband and wife in the name of God, and also the blessings that the Lord conferred upon Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, that is, to multiply and replenish the earth, with the addition of long life and prosperity: dismissed them, and returned home. Freezeing cold. Some snow on the ground.
<25 , arrive from .> Wednesday 25th. spent the day in translating. and arrived from . The latter says that he has no doubt, but a dose of poison was administered to him in a bowl of milk, but God delivered him.
<26 , > Thursday 26th. Spent the day in translating Egyptian characters from the Papyrus: though severly afflicted [HC 2:320] with a cold. and arrived from Zion.
<27> Friday 27th. Much afflicted with my cold, yet I am determined to overcome in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Spent the day at home reading Hebrew. , My Scribe, being afflicted with a cold, asked me to lay my hands on him in the name of the Lord. [p. 656]