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.
faint; as the Savior did so shall we do on this occasion, we shall <March 30.> bless the bread any and give it to the twelve, and they to the multitude.
<Commandment> While waiting I made the following remarks; that the time that we were required to tarry in , to be endued, would be fulfilled in a few days, and then the elders would go forth and each must stand for himself; that it was not necessary for them to be sent out two by two, as in former times; but to go in all meekness, in sobriety, and preach Jesus Christ and him crucified; not to contend with others on account of their faith, or systems of religion, but pursue a steady course; This I delivered <Prophecy> by way of commandment, and all who observe it not will pull down persecution upon their heads, while those who do shall always be filled with the Holy Ghost. This I pronounced as a prophecy, sealed with a hosanna, and Amen. Also <Seventies not to serve tables.> that the seventies are not called to serve tables, or preside over churches to settle difficulties, but to preach the gospel and build them up, and set others, who do not belong to these <The Twelve.> quorums to preside over them, [HC 2:431] who are high priests. The Twelve also are not to serve tables, but to bear the Keys of the kingdom to all nations, and unlock them, and call upon the seventies to follow after them and assist them. The Twelve are at libe[r]ty to go wheresoever they will and if any one shall say. I wish to go to such a place, let all the rest say amen.
<The Seventies> The Seventies are at liberty to go to Zion if they please, or go wheresoever they will, and preach the gospel and let the redemption of Zion be our object and strive to effect it by sending up all the strength of the Lord’s house whereever we find them; and I want to enter into the following <Covenant.> covenant, that if any more of our brethren are slain or driven from their lands in , by the mob, that we will give ourselves no rest until we are avenged of our enemies to the uttermost. This covenant was sealed unanimously with a hosanna and Amen. I then observed to the quorums, that I had now completed the organization of the church, and we had passed through all the necessary ceremonies; that I had given them all the instruction they needed, and that they now were at liberty, after obtaining their licences, to go forth and build up the kingdom of God, and that it was expedient for me and the presidency to retire, having spent the night previously in waiting upon the Lord in his , and having to attend another dedecation on the morrow, or conclude the one commenced on the last sabbath, for the benefit of those of my brethren, and sisters, who could not get into the house, on the former occasion, but that it was expedient for the brethren to tarry all night and worship before the Lord in his . I left the meeting in [p. 725]