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.
by several elders to the church: after which I bore record of my <March 27. Dedocation> mission, and of the ministration of angels. President also bore testimony of the truth of the work of the Lord in which we are engaged. President testified of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and of the work of the Lord in these last days. President arose and testified that while was making his first prayer, an angel entered the window, and took his seat between and himself and remained there during his prayer. President , also saw angels in the house. Presedent made some appropriate remarks, congratulating those who had endured so many toils and privations to build the . then made a few appropriate closing remarks and a short prayer, at the close of which we sealed the proceedings of the day with by shouting hosanna, [HC 2:427] hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb, three times, sealing it each time with <addressed in tongues.> amen, Amen, and amen. President gave a short address in tongues, and interpreted, and gave a short exhortation in tongues himself; after which I blessed the congregation in the name of the Lord, and the Assembly dispersed a little past 4 o’clock, having manifested the most quiet demeanor during the whole exercise.
I met the quorums in the evening. and instructed them respecting the ordinance of washing of feet, which we were to attend to on wednesday following <p 3 Addenda J page 3note g.> [HC 2:428]
<29> Tuesday 29th Attended school, which was the last day of our course of lectures in Hebrew, by .
<Presidents met in the tarried all night> At 11 o clock A.M. Presidents Joseph Smith Junr., , , , and met in the most holy place in the and sought for a revelation from him to teach us concerning our going to Zion, and other important matters. After uniting in prayer the voice of the Spirit was that we should come into this place three times, and also call the other presidents, the two Bishops and their Councils, (each to stand in his place, and fast through the day and also the night. and that during this, if we would humble ourselves we should receive further communication from Him.
After this word was received, we immediately sent for the other brethren who came. The presidency proceeded to ordain to the High Priesthood, and anoint him. This was in consequence of his having administerd unto us in temporal things in our distress: and also because he left the place just previous to the dedication of the , to bring us the temporal means, previously named. [p. 723]