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.
<July 20.> On Thursday morning July 20th. the Garrick anchored in the river Mersey opposite , and while her cable chains were yet rattling, the South America a Merchant ship which left at the same time with the Garrick, under a bet of $10,000. as was said, which would be in first andwhich came along side, having kept in sight daily during the voyage.— but never getting ahead of the Garrick: and in all the different <stages> from to no conveyance was permitted to go past them. While the passengers were going on board a steamer, , and [John] Goodson jumped into a small boat and were rowed toward shore. When within leaping distanc[e] sprang from the boat. as if impelled by some superior power and lighted on the steps of the Dock, followed instantly by Elders & , all three of which had not one farthing on earth at their command, while Elder, <Goodson> having a heavy purse of silver in his hand, waited <22 Arrival at > until the vessel touched shore. On the brethren went to , about 30 miles from , and as the<y> alighted from the coach, a large flag was unfurled nearly over their heads with this inscription in letters of gold “Truth will prevail,” it being election day for members of Parliament. King William the fourth having recently died, and Queen Victoria being about to organize her cabinet.— Taking lodgings in Wilfoed St, some of [HC 2:498] the elders had an interview that evening with Rev James Fielding, Brother to , who was a chapel in that place. where all <Sunday 23> the seven brethren went to hear him preach on Sunday the 23,d. when, after his sermon in the morning, Mr Fielding gave notice to his congregation that there were present some ministers from and <First preaching in England.> they would occupy his pulpit in the afternoon. This unexpected offer was unsolicited, but joyfully received, and in the afternoon gave a brief relation of a the history of the church from the commencement, followed by who bore testimony to the same. Thus was the key turned, and the door opened to the inhabitants of England.— At the close of the meeting Mr [James] Fielding offered his pulpit for the evening when Elder Goodson preached and bore testimony.
The same day that the gospel was first preached in England. I recieved the following;
Revelation, given at , Ohio, July 23d. 1837.
The word of the Lord unto concerning the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
Verily thus saith the Lord unto you my servant I have heard thy prayers. and thine alms have come up as a memorial before me in behalf of those thy brethren who were chosen to bear testimony of my name. and to send it abroad among all nations, kindreds tongues, and people, and ordained through the instrumentality of my servants.
Verily I say unto you, there have been some few things <See Book of Doctrine & C> in thine heart and with thee, with which I the Lord was not well pleased, nevertheless inasmuch as thou hast abased thyself thou shalt be exalted, therefore all thy sins are forgiven thee. Let thy heart be of good cheer before my face, and thou shalt bear record of my name, not only unto the Gentiles, but also unto the Jews; and thou shalt send forth my word unto the ends of the earth. Contend thou therefore morning by morning, and day after day let thy warning [p. 765]