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.
<March 7.> Monday 7th. Spent the day in attending to my studies. At evening met with my class at Room, and translated the 17th. chapter of Genesis. After the class was dismissed, I was requested to tarry with the rest of the committee to make some arrangements about paying for his instruction, and to engage him for another quarter. We did not arrive at any thing definite upon this point, however has agreed to teach us three weeks longer, after having a of two weeks, at the expiration of this course, and perhaps a quarter.
<8> Tuesday 8th. Attended school and translated most of the 22d chapter of Genesis After my class was dismissed, retired to the , and translated 10 verses of the 3d of Exodus, which with the first and second Psalms are our next lesson.
<10> Thursday 10th. Attended school in the morning. P.M. read hebrew in the office. [HC 2:405] At evening went down to the ’s room to be instructed by him in the Language. On account of the Storm the Class did not meet.
<11.> Friday 11th. Met with the morning class at 9. o’clock, at 10 went into the office and made a division of our class for private studies, for our better accommodation and advancement in the language we are pursuing. Presidents , , and meet at the . Elders , and at ’s. Elders, , and on the Flats. This evening our class met a[t] Room and spent an hour in our studies. Class dismissed and retired, except the school committee, who tarried and made some arrangements with about continuing longer with us,, and bringing his family to this place. This has been a very stormy day, and the snow is still falling fast. and the prospect is fair for another run of sleighing, which is uncommon for this country at this season of the year.
<12> Saturday 12th. Engaged a team to go to after family and goods, also a horse and carriage for himself and wife, cold weather and fine sleighing. I was informed to day that a man by the name of clark froze to death last night, near this place, who was under the influence of ardent Spirits. O, My God! how long will this monster, intemperance, find its victims on the earth? Methinks until the earth is swept with the wrath and indignation of God, and Christ’s kingdom becomes universal. O, Come, Lord Jesus, and cut short thy work in Righteousness. Elder received a letter from , bearing the painful inteligence of the death of his wife. May the Lord bless him and comfort him in this hour of affliction.— [p. 711]