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.
Council adjourned for one hour by singing “Come let us rejoice” &c. <January 13 Elected High Counsellor> and assembled again at one o’clock P.M. was nominated and sec[o]nded by the presidency a member of the High Council of , and carried by the unanimous voice of all the authority of the church, to supply the place of President who had been elected to the Presidency of the High <. "> council of . Elder , was elected in like manner a counsellor in the High council, to fill the vacancy occasioned by ’s having been ordained one <.> of the Twelve Apostles. Elder was elected to supply the place of . who had been ordained to the presidency of the Seventy, a member of the high council of . Elder was nominated but being <.> absent, his name was dropped. Elder was unanimously chosen a high counsellor in to supply the vacancy occasioned by being ordained one of the <.> Twelve Apostles. Elder , was unanimously chosen a member of the high council of in place of . The newly elected councillors were then called forward in order as they were elected and ordained under the hands of Presidents , Joseph Smith Jun. and , to the High priesthood, and councillors in this stake of Zion. Many great and glorious blessings were pronounced upon the heads of these councillors by President , who was Spokesman on the occasion. The council next proceeded to supply the deficiencies in the [HC 2:366] Zion High Council, occasioned by the absence of counsellors , and . and Elders and were appointed to serve as councillors in the High council of Zion for the <Door keepers appointed> time being. Elders and were were appointed by unanimous vote, to officiate as door-keepers <Committee appointed to <draft> rules to govern the .> in the . Presidents Joseph Smith Junr., , , , and , were appointed to draft rules and regulations, to govern the ; by the unanimous voice of the whole assembly. Motioned, seconded, and carried unanimously, that no <No whispering allowed.> whispering shall be allowed in our councils, or assemblies, nor any one allowed (except he is called upon or asks permission) to speak loud, upon any consideration whatever, and no man shall be interrupted while speaking, unless he is speaking out of place, and every man shall be allowed to speak in his turn. objected to officiate in the as door-keeper, on account of his health, and was released by the voice of the assembly; The minutes of the council were then Read. And council adjourned until Friday 15th. Instant, at 9. o clock A.M. at the West school room in the upper part of the . President , requested to have some of the presidency lay their hands upon him, and rebuke a severe [p. 686]