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.
we met and his company going coming in to the city where they <May 30> arrived the same evening. Prest returned to on <June 1.> the 30th., and I returned on the 1st. of June on account of my family, for I had a son born unto me. [HC 3:37]
<4> Monday June 4th I left , with , My brother and others, for , and staid at Bro. over night, and <5> on the morning of the 5th. Went to Col s in the rain. We continued surveying, building houses, &c, day after day, for many days until the Surveyor had completed the city plot.
<28 Conference Minutes— organization of > “, <p 6 addenda note V> Mo, Davies[s] county, June 28th 1838. A. conference of Elders and members, of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was held in this place, this day, for the purpose of organizing this stake of Zion, called . The meeting convened at 10 o’clock A.M. in the Grove near the house of Elder . President Joseph Smith Jun was called to the chair, who explained the object of the meeting, which was to organize a presidency, and High Council, to preside over this stake of Zion and attend to the affairs of the church in . It was then motioned seconded and carried, by the unanimous voice of the assembly, that Prest , should act as Presedent of the Stake of . was unanimously chosen 1st counsellor, and 2d Counsellor. After prayer, the Presidents ordained as 2d assistant counsellor. was chosen acting Bishop pro-tempore, by the unanimous voice of the assembly. President , then proceeded to organize the High Council. The Counsellors were chosen according to the following order, by a unanimous vote; John Lemon 1st: 2d: 3d: 4th: Isaac Perry 5th.: 6th. 7th. Thomas Gordon 8th: [HC 3:38] 9th: 10th, 11th: 12th.
After the ordination of the counsellors, who had not previously been ordained to the high priesthood, President Joseph Smith Jun – made remarks by way of charge to the Presidents and counsellors, instructing them in the duty of their callings and the responsibility of their stations; exhorting them to be cautious and deliberate, in all their councils, and to be careful to act in righteousness in all things. President , and , then made some remarks. , was unanimously chosen clerk of this council and stake; and after singing the well known hymn, Adam-ondi-Ahman, the meeting closed by prayer by , and a benediction by Prest Joseph Smith Jun.
Joseph Smith, Jn Chairn.”
, Isaac Perry, Clerks.”—
< described> is situated immediately on the north side of , in , Missouri, about 25 miles north of . It is beautifully situated on an elevated spot of ground, over-looking the river and the country round about, which renders the place as healthy as any part of the . [HC 3:39] [HC 3:40] [p. 799]