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.
and that it was our duty to smile at solid arguments, and sound <December 18. Joseph’s Letter to , Continued.> reasonings; and be impressed with solemnity, which should be manifest in our countenance, when folly and that which militates against truth and righteousness, rears its head.
Therefore in the spirit of my calling, and in view of the authority of the Priesthood that has been conferred upon me, it would be my duty to reprove whatever I esteemed to be wrong, fondly hoping in my heart that all parties would consider it right, and therefore humble themselves, that Satan might not take the advantage of us, and hinder the progress of our school. Now I want you should bear with me notwith[HC 2:340]standing my plainness; I would say to you that my feelings were grieved at the interruption you made upon . I thought you should have considered your relation with him, in your Apostleship, and not manifest any division of sentiment, between you, and him, for a surrounding multitude to take the advantage of you; therefore by way of entreaty, on the account of the anxiety I had for your influence and welfare, I said, unto you, do not have any feelings, or something to that amount. Why I am thus particular is, that if you have misconstrued my feelings towards you, you may be corrected, But to proceed;— after the school was closed. requested the privilege of speaking. You objected, however, you said if he would not abuse the school, he might speak, and that you would not allow any man to abuse the school in your house. Now you had no reason to suspect that would abuse the school, therefore my feelings were mortified, at those unnecessary observations. I undertook to reason with you, but you manifested an inconsiderate and stubborn spirit. I then dispaired of benefitting you, on the account of the Spirit you manifested, which drew from me the expression that you was as ugly as the Devil.
then commanded silence and I formed a determination to obey his mandate, and was about to leave the house, with the impression that you was under the influence of an <wicked> evil spirit. You replied that you would say what you pleased in your own house. replied say what you please but let the rest hold their tongues. Then a reflection rushed through my mind of the anxiety and care I have had for you and your family, In doing what I did, in finishing your house and providing flour for your family &c. and also, had possession in the house as well as yourself, and when at any time have I transgressed the commandments of my ? or sold my birthright, that I should not have the privilege of speaking in my ’s house, or in other words, in my fathers family, or in your house, (for so we will call it, and so it shall be,) that I should not have the privilege of reproving a younger brother, therefore I said I will speak for I built the house, and it is as much mine [p. 669]