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.
which he needs as a minister of righteousness, and to magnify [HC 2:191] <February 21> the Apostleship whereunto he is called. May a double portion of that Spirit which was communicated to the Disciples of our Lord and Savior to lead them into all truth, rest down upon him, and go with him where he goes, that nothing shall prevail against him that he may be delivered from prisons, from the power of his enemies, and from the adversary of all righteousness. May he be able to mount up on wings as an eagle, to run and not be weary, to walk and not faint. May he have great wisdom and inteligence and be able to lead thine Elect through this thorny maze Let sickness and death have no power over him. Let him be equal with his brethren in bringing many sons and daughters to glory and many nations to a knowledge of the truth. Great blessings shall rest upon thee. Thy faith shall increase. Thou shalt have great power to prevail. The veil of the heavens shall be roled up: thou shalt be permitted to gaze within it, and receive instruction from on high. No arm that is formed and lifted against thee, shall prosper, no power shall prevail, for thou shalt have power with God, and shall proclaim his gospel. Thou wilt be afflicted but thou shalt be delivered, and conquer all thy foes. Thine office shall never be taken from thee. Thou shalt be called great. Angels shall carry thee from place, <to place.> Thy sins are forgiven, and thy name written in the Lamb’s book of life; even so, Amen.
<Charge, by . to .> I am aware, Dear , that the mind naturally claims something new, but the same thing, rehearsed frequently, profits us. You will have the same difficulties to encounter, in fulfilling this ministry that the ancient Apostles had. You have enlisted in a cause that requires your whole attention, you ought, therefore, to count the cost, and become a polished shaft, you must be sensible, requires the labor of years; and your station requires a perfect polish. It is required not merely to travel a few miles in this country, but in distant countries. You must endure much labor, much toil, and many privations to become perfectly polished. Your calling is not like that of the husbandman to cultivate a stinted portion of the planet on which we dwell, and when heaven has given the former and the Latter rain, and mellow autumn ripened his fruits, gather it in and congratulate himself for a season, in the remission of his toils, while he anticipated his winter evenings of relaxation and fireside enjoyments.
But, Dear , it is far otherwise with you. Your labor must be incessant, and your toil great. You must go forth and labor till the great work is done. It will require a series of years to accomplish it: But you will have this pleasing consolation, that your Heavenly Father requires it, the field is his the work is his, and he will not [HC 2:192] only cheer you, animate you, and buoy you up in your pilgrimage, in [p. 569]