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.
The citizens of met pursuant to adjournment. The <July 2.> and Secretary resumed their Stations, when the committee, appointed by the Public meeting of the citizens, at the Court house, in , on the 29 ultimo, reported, through their chairman W. T. Moss, the foregoing Preamble and resolutions of the elders of the Church of Latter Day Saints of on the 1st instant: Whereupon it was,
<Resolutions> “Resolved: That this meeting do accept and receive the reply of the Mormons to the resolution passed on Wednesday the 29th June as perfectly satisfactory
Be it further Resolved, by this meeting that we will use our utmost endeavors to carry into effect the object contained in the preamble and Resolutions passed on wednesday the 29th, as agreed to by the Mormons. Be it further Resolved, that we urge it on our fellow citizens to keep the peace towards the Mormons, as good faith justice, Morality and religion require us. Be it furtherResolved that a committee of ten persons, two in each township be appointed to raise money by subscription to aid those of the Mormons, who may from necessity require it, to leave this .
Resolved. That Samuel Tillery, Jeremiah Minger, and Abraham Shafer, be appointed a committee to receive the pecuniary aid by subscription, for the purpose thepurpose of aiding the poor persons that may belong to the Mormons, in removing from this to their place of abode, and that the elders of the Church be requested to report the above named persons to the aforesaid committee, who will judge of the proofs and facts entitling the Mormons to pecuniary aid, and appropriate the funds accordingly.
Resolved, that the said committee be authorized to employ some suitable person to accompany those that may wish to examine a new country, it is also understood that if the money which may be received by the committee, is not appropriated for the purpose above named, it shall be refunded back in proportion to the amount subscribed.
Resolved, That the chair appoint five persons in each township to carry the object of the above resolutions into effect. The following gentlemen were then appointed in the different Townships. For ; , , Peter [HC 2:454] Rogers, , . For ; Elisha Cameron, E. Price, G. Withers, M. Welton, James Kazey; For Platte Township, T. C. Gordon, S. Harris, W. Owens, L. Rollins, J. Marsh; For Washington Township, B. Riley, S. Crawford, T. Findley, G. McIlvaine, P. Y. G. Bartee; For Gallatin Township, D. Dale, W. Nash, Wm. Todd, B. Rickets, J. Forboin. Be it further Resolved. That this meeting recommend the Mormons to the Mormons good treatment of the citizens of the adjoining counties. We also recommend the inhabitants of the neighboring counties to assist the mormons in selecting some abiding place for their people where they will be in a measure, the only occupants, and where none will be anxious to molest them. Resolved, that the proceedings of this meeting be handed over to the publishers of the “Far West” with a request that it [p. 742]