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 4th. Independence> July 4th. was spent in celebrating the declaration of the Independence of the , and also, in the saints making a declaration of Independence from all mobs and persecutions which have been inflicted upon them, time after time, until they could bear it no longer; having been driven <x> by ruthless mobs and enemies of truth from their homes, their property confiscated, their lives exposed, and their all jeopardized by such barbarous conduct; also to in laying the corner stones of the , agreeably to the commandment of the Lord unto us. given April 26th. 1838.
Joseph Smith Jun. was president of the day; , vice Prest. and Orator; , Chief Marshall, and and assistant Marshals , Col <Ck>. The order of the day was splendid. The procession commenced forming at 10 o clock AM. in the following order: first the Infantry; 2d the patriarchs of the Church; the Presid[e]nt Vice Presedent, and Orator: the Twelve: Presidents of the Stake and High Council: Bishop and Council: Architects: Ladies and Gentlemen; and the cavalry in rear. The procession was Large: Marched to Music, and formed a circle round the cellar. with the Ladies in front, when the <Corner Stones of the , , Laid.> South east corner Stone of the in . Missouri was laid by the [HC 3:41] Presidents of the Stake, assisted by twelve men: The South West corner by the Presidents of the Elders, assisted by twelve men: The North West corner by the assisted by twelve men: and the north east corner by the President of the Teachers assisted by Twelve Men; <this house is to be 110 feet long and 80 feet broad.> After which the oration was delivered by , (afterwards published in the “”) -[the Clay Co. print]- at the close of which was a shout of Hosanna: and a song, composed for the occasion by , was sung by . The most perfect order prevailed throughout the day. [HC 3:42]
<Organization of the Camp at , Ohio.> The Seventies assembled in the , in on the 6th of March, to devise the best means of removing their quorum to according to the Revelations; and on the 10th. it was made manifest by vision and prophecy, that they should go up in a camp pitching their tents by the way.— On the 13 they adopted a Constitution and laws to govern them on their journey, which was soon signed by 175 of the brethren. The privilege was given for any one to go. who did not belong to the seventies, provided they would abide the constitution, and all the faithful, who could, improved the opportunity for fearful sights and great signs were shown forth in and around , clearly manifesting to the honest heart that God was not unmindful of his word, and that he would bring upon the place those judgments he had declared by his Se[r]vant. Elders , , , , . , and were Counsellors to lead the camp, which was divided into companies of tens; with a captain over each: was chosen clerk and Historian— and Treasurer, and on the <5> 5th of July, they met onthelandownedby — about ¼ of a mile south of the and pitched their tents, <6th> in <form of> a hollow square.— On the 12th, at noon, they struck their tents and began to move toward the South and in 30 minutes the [p. 800]