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.
And the same day I inquired of the Lord, and receved the following <July 8. Revelation on Tithing> Revelation. Given at July 8, 1838, which was also read in public.
O Lord! Show unto thy Servant how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a Tithing. Answer.
Verily thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the Bishop of my church of Zion, for the building of mine house, and for the laying the foundation of Zion, and for the Priesthood, and for the debts of the presidency of my church, and this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people; and after that, those who have thus been tithed, shall pay one tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a Standing Law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord. Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass, that all those who gather unto the land of Zion, shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this Law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you. And I say unto you if my people observe not this Law, to keep it holy, and by this Law, sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statute and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy: Behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you, and this shall be an ensample unto all the stakes of Zion, even so Amen.
Also, thesameday, I rec[e]ived the following; Revelation <Revelation on Tithing> Given July 8, 1838, making known the disposition of the properties tithed as named in the preceding Revelation.
Verily thus saith the Lord, the time has now come that it shall be disposed of by a council composed of the first Presidency of my church, and of the Bishop and his council and by my High council, and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord, even so, Amen. [HC 3:44]
<Revelation to , , & > Also I received the following; Revelation. Given to , , and others, Zion, July 8th. 1838.
Verily thus saith the Lord unto my servant , and also unto my servant . Let them settle up their business speedily, and journey from the land of before I the Lord sendeth the snows again upon the ground. Let them awake and arise and come forth, and not tarry for I the Lord command it; therefore if they tarry it shall not be well with them, Let them repent of all their sins, and of all their covetous desires, before me saith the Lord. For what is property unto me saith the Lord. Let the properties of be turned out for debts saith the Lord. Let them go, saith the Lord, and whatsoever remaineth let it remain in your hands saith the Lord; for have I not the fowls of heaven; and also the fish of the sea; and the beasts of the mountains? Have I not made the earth? Do I not hold the destinies of all the armies of the nations of the Earth, therefore will I not make the solitary places to bud, and to blossom and to bring forth in abundance? saith the Lord. [p. 802]