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.
Lord, for the mutual benefit of the council. “Also it was agreed <April 2.> by the council, that and exert themselves in divising ways and means with the sctock [stock] on hand, the available outstanding claims, of the council <company>, and such other means as they may deem most proper, to discharge the company’s debts. It was also agreed that, , and have 500 Books of Doctrine and Covenants, when bound and 500 hymn books, together with the subscription list for the “Messenger and Advocate,” and “Northern Times” now due in , Mo. And that Messers and , be released from the responsibility of all claims on them or either of them, as joint partners in the Council <Firm>,” , clerk.”
As soon as the above plans were settled, I started with on our mission, and our success was such in one half day as to give us pleasing anticipations, that we were doing the will of God, and assurance that his work prospered in our hands.
<Sunday 3> Sunday 3d. Attended meeting in the and assisted the other presidents of the church in seating the congregation, and then became an attentive listener to the preaching from the stand. and spoke in the forenoon to an attentive [HC 2:434] audience of about 1000 persons. In the afternoon I assisted the other Presidents in distributing the elements of the Lord’s supper to the Church, receiving them from the Twelve, whose privilege it was to officiate in the sacred desk this day. After having performed this service to my brithren, I retired to the pulpit, the vails being dropped, and bowed myself, with in solemn prayer, but silently, to the Most High. After rising from prayer the following vision was opened to both of us.
<x> The vail was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened; we saw the Lord standing upon the breast work of the pulpit. before us, and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was <white> like the pure snow his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun, and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, Saying. I am the first and the last. I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain, I am your advocate with the Father. Behold your sins are forgiven you. You are clean before me, therefore lift up your heads and rejoice, let the hearts of your brethren rejoice,— and let the hearts of all my people rejoice. who have with their might, built this to my name. For behold I have accepted this , and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people, in mercy, in this , yea I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this , yea the [p. 727]