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.
influencing her mind if possible, to believe his power was sufficient to make <April 28 Trial Continued> her forever miserable, provided she complied not with his request, &c. Accordingly they came to an agreement and were soon to be married; but fortunately or unfortunately for both parties, previous to the arrival of the nuptial day, Behold!! to the astonishment of our defendant, the husband of arrived at home and consequently, disannulled the preceding contract. The old gentleman, , at this time, (if not before,) knew very well, that his God who gave these Revelations, (if revelations he had,) must, of course, be no less than the devil; and, in order to palliate the <in>justice of his crime, saddled the whole burden upon the devil, that in scourging the person who had previously befriended him, and counselled him in his former days, peradventure he might extricate himself from the snare of his own setting and dictation. But, alas, it was too late for the old man. The testimony being closed, the sword of justice began to be unsheathed, which fell upon the defendant like a scourge of ten thousand lashes, wielded by the hands of and , inspired by the Spirit of Justice, accompanied by a flow of eloquence which searched for the feelings like the Sting of so many scorpions, which served to atone for past iniquity. There were no feelings that were not felt after; there were no sores that were not probed; there were no excuses rendered that were not exceptionable, When justice ceased to speak, mercy advanced to the rescue, which inspired the heart of President Smith and ; who with profound eloquence, with a deep and sublime thought, and clemency of feeling; spoke in favor of the defendant: but, in length of time, while mercy appear’d to be doing her utmost in contending against Justice, the latter gained the ascendency, and took full possession of the mind of the Speaker, who levelled a volley of darts, which came upon the old man, like a hurricane upon the Mountain tops, which seemingly was about to hurl the old man beyond the reach of mercy, but mercy still claimed her the victim, and saved him in the church. Happy is it for those whose sin, (like this mans) go before them to jud[g]ment, that they may repent, and be saved in the kingdom of God. Council decided, that, inasmuch as this man had confessed his sins, and asked forgiveness, and promised to mark well the paths of his feet, and do (inasmuch as lay in his power) what God should require at his hands, th he should give up his licence as high Priest, and stand as a member in the church; and this, in consequence of his being considered incapable of magnifying that office, &c. ”
<Monday 30th> Monday 30th The first presidency were engaged in writing church history,— and in recitation of grammar lessons, which recitations at this period, was usually atten[d]ed each morning before writing.
<x May 1, 2, 3, 4.> May 1st. 2d. 3d. 4th. The First Presidency were engaged in writing church History, with administering to the sick on the 3d. and receiving a letter from on the 4th. [HC 3:26]
<Saturday 5.> Saturday the 5the. The Presidency wrote for the Elders Journal, also received inteligence from , by brother Bailey, who that 200 waggons with families would probably be here in three weeks. Also attended an address, delivered by , (Federal candidate for Congress,) on political Matters. [p. 793]