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 28.> Saturday 28 spent the day morning in comparing our journal. Elder , from the state of Ky Kentucky called on me.
Considerably reserved from my cold. Cold and stormy, snow falling, and winter seems fast to be closing in. All nature shrinks before < bitten by a mad dog.> the chilling blasts of rigid winter. above mentioned, whose residence is about 3 miles from , was bitten by a mad dog some three or four years since, has doctored much, and received some benefit, but is much afflicted notwithstanding: he came here that he might be benefitted by the prayers of the church; accordingly we prayed for and layed hands on him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and anointed him with oil and rebuked his affliction, praying our heavenly Father to hear and answer our prayers according to our faith. Cold and snowy.
<29.> Sunday morning 29th. went to meeting at the usual hour, Preached; and in the afternoon . These discourses were well adapted to the times in which we live, and the circumstances under which we are placed. Their words were words of wisdom like apples of gold in pictures of silver; spoken in the simple accents of a child, yet sublime as the voice of an angel. The saints appeared to be much pleased with the beautiful discourses of these two fathers in Israel. After these services closed, three of the Zion brethren came forward and received their blessings, & was ordained an elder, the Lord’s supper [HC 2:321] administered. Spent the evening at home. Snow fell about one foot deep: very cold.
<30.> Monday Morning 30th. The snow continues to fall; an uncommon storm for this country, and this Season of the year. Spent the day in reviewing and copying the letter I dictated on the 16[th] concerning the gathering, for the Messenger and Advocate. , and old acquaintance, from , N.Y. called on me. I shewed him the Egyptian records. [HC 2:322]
<Wednesday 2.> Wednesday 2nd. A fine morning. I started to ride to with my family, and : When we were passing through , we overtook a team with two men on the sleigh. I politely asked them to let me pass. They granted my request, and as we passed them, they bawled out do you get any Revelation lately, with an addition of blackguard that I did not understand. <character of .> This is a fair sample of the character of inhabitants, who are ready to abuse and scandalize men. who never laid a straw in their way; and in fact those whose faces, they never saw, and cannot bring an accusation against, either of a temporal or spiritual nature, except our firm belief in the fulness of the gospel. And I was led to marvel at the Long suffering and condescention of our heavenly Father, in permitting these ungodly wretches to possess this goodly land, which is indeed as beautifully [p. 657]