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.
<May 29 Minutes of Council Continued> Prest. also objected to being tried before the present Council.
then expressed a willingness to be tried for his conduct, and if this was the proper tribunal, he would be tried before it, but still thought it was not. Prest. objected to being tried before the present council. stating that he thought the instruction in the Book of Covenants, showed that this was not the proper authority to try him. , gave it as his opinion that the present council was not the proper authority to try Presidents and . then submitted the case to the Counsellors. Counsellor then put the question to the council for a decision, in substance as follows; “Have the present council Authority, from the Book of Covenants, to try Presidents and . A Majority of the council decided that they could not conscienciously proceed to try Presidents and , and they were accordingly discharged. [HC 2:485]
After one hour’s adjournment, the council sat again at one o clock P.M. and Presiding.
Counsellor stated that he had selected three high Priests to sit in the council to fill vacancies and asked the council if they accepted the selection he had made. Council decided in the affirmative. On motion of the counsellors were directed to sit as they were originally chosen, or according to the form in the Book of Doctrine and covenants as far as possible. Resolved that three speak on each side. Counsellor Motioned that President take a seat with the Presidents. After much discussion, as to the propriety of his sitting, Motion carried, and took his seat. Elder then arose and objected to being tried by , or Joseph Smith Junr. in consequence of their having previously expressed their opinion against him. stating also that he could bring evidence to prove what he then said. then stated that he had previously expressed his mind respecting the conduct of , and that he had felt and said that had done wrong and he still though so, and left it with the council to decide whether under such circumstances he should proceed to try the case. After much discussion between the counsellors and parties, said that under the present circumstances he could not conscientiously proceed to try the case, and after a few remarks left the stand.
President then said that although he might <not> be called upon to preside, yet, if he should be, he should also be unfit to judge, in the case, as he had previously expressed his opinion respecting the conduct of and others, and left the stand. then arose and said that as he had been implicated with the accused he should be unwilling to preside in the case and left the stand.
The Council and assembly then dispersed in confusion “M<arcellus> F. Cowdery, Clerk.”
<Printing office Transferred. to > Some time this month the Messenger and Advocate office and contents were transferred to , of Portage, Allegany County, N. Y.— and Smith and continued the office, by power of Attorney from said . [HC 2:486] [p. 760]