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.
<September 1. Camp> This day the Camp passed through Cambridgeville, Dublin, Louisville, Ogdenville, Raysville Knightsville and encamped in Frankville Township where they found it difficult to get grain, the people being disposed to take advantage of them 22 miles— 332 from —
<The High Priests met at Brother Peas’ at “,” and received into their Quorum—>
<2.> Sunday 2. Camp passed through Charlottsville, Portland, Jackson, Greenfield and pitched tents near the Bridge in Jones Township. Brother Merriams Child died at Centre Township. This afternoon a miserable, malicious, drunken Stage driver ran his horses aside out of their course and struck the fore wheel of one of the Camp Waggons and stove it in pieces, and then drove off, exulting in his mischief. The Stage was marked J. P. VOORHEES— travelled twenty one miles—
The first presidency attended meeting as usual in the morning— I tarried at home in the evening to examine the Church Records, and spent a part of the time in Company <Report of Mobs> with a Gentleman from who had become considerable excited, on account of a large Collection of people as they say to take Joseph Smith Junr. and for going to one ’s in , and as they said [HC 3:68] President Smith and , had resisted the officer, who had endeavored to take them &c and accordingly these men are assembling to take them (as they say) They are collecting from every part of the country to . Report says they are collecting from eleven Counties, to help take two Men— who had never resisted the Law or Officer, neither thought of doing so, and this they knew at the same time, or many of them at least, this looks a leetle too much like mobocracy, it foretells some evil intentions, the whole is all in an Uproar and confusion. This evening I sent for of Clay County, who is the Major General of this division, to come and council with us, and to see if he could not put a stop to this Collection of people, and to put a stop to hostilities in , I also sent a letter to containing a petition, for him to assist in putting down and scattering the Mob, which are collecting at —
<3.> Monday 3rd. Nothing of importance transpired this day, only reports concerning the collection of a Mob in which has been collected <collecting> ever since the Election in on the sixth of August last— I was at home most of the day— This evening arrived in —
<Camp> This morning Elder Willey’s wife died, after the burial, the Camp passed Cumberland Village and Indianapolis, the Capital of Indiana, where they were threatened, but passed— unmolested, with the exception of one brick bat which was hurled at one of the brethren, but passed him unharmed, and encamped in Wayne Township near the house of Brother David R. Miller— 17 miles— 370 from .
<4.> Tuesday 4th. Camp passed Bridge Port, Plainfield, Guilford, Belleville, Stilesville in Morgan County to Marion Township in Putnam County. This morning the Presidency of the Camp exhorted the brethren to humble themselves before the Lord and put away selfishness, covetousness, complainings and murmurings or else expect to meet the indignation of heaven. Travelled twenty two miles had an excellent encampment and plenty of dry wood—
This day was <I> spent in council with , he says he will do all in his power to disperse the Mob &c we employed him and (his partner) as our Lawyers and Councillors in Law, They are considered the first Lawyers in the , and myself— commenced this day the study of Law under the instruction of Generals and — They think by diligent application we can be admitted to the bar in twelve months—
The result of the Council was, [HC 3:69] that myself and Volunteer, and be tried by in , (being present,) being previously notified to attend the Council, Accordingly Thursday next was appointed for the trial, and word to that amount was sent to (who [p. 819]