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.
Is there not room enough upon the mountains of , and <July 8> upon the plains of , or in the land where Adam dwelt; that you should not covet that which is but the drop, and neglect the more weighty matters. Therefore come up hither unto the land of my people even Zion. Let my Servant be faithful over a few things, and he shall be a ruler over many. Let him preside in the midst of my people in the city , and let him be blessed with the blessings of my people Let my Servant, , be ashamed of the Nicolatine band, and of all their secret abominations, and of all his littleness of soul before me saith the Lord, and come up unto the land of , and be a Bishop unto my people saith the Lord, not in name but in deed saith the Lord. And again I say unto you I remember my servant . Behold, verily I say unto him, that his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, foreverandever. saith the Lord. Therefore let him contend earnestly for the redemption of the [HC 3:45] first presidency of my church, saith the Lord, and when he falls he shall rise again, for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me, than his increase, saith the Lord; Therefore let him come up hither speedily unto the land of Zion, and in due time he shall be made a Merchant unto my name, saith the Lord, for the benefit of my people: Therefore let no man despise my servant , but let the blessings of my people be on him forever and ever. And [a]gain, verily I say unto you, let all my servants in the land of remember the Lord their God and mine house also, to keep and preserve it holy, and to overthrow the money changers in mine own due time saith the Lord, even so Amen.
Also, I received the following;
<8 Revelation Concerning the Twelve.> Revelation Given at , July 8th, 1838.
Shew unto us thy will, O Lord! concerning the Twelve? Answer. Verily thus saith the Lord, let a conference be held immediately; let the the Twelve be organized, and let men be appointed to supply the place of those who are fallen. Let my servant remain for a Season in the land of Zion, to publish my word, Let the residue continue to preach from that hour; and if they will do this in all lowliness of heart, in meekness, and humility, and long suffering, I the Lord give unto them a promise that I will provide for their families, and an effectual door shall be opened for them, from hence forth; And next spring let them depart to go over the great waters, and there promulge my gospel, the fulness thereof, and to bear record of my name. Let them take leave of my saints, in the city , on the [HC 3:46] 26th day of April next, on the building spot <, , chosen.—> of my saith the Lord. Let my servant , and also my servant , and also my servant , and also my servant , be appointed to fill the places of those who have fallen, and be officially notified of their appointment.