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.
the church, without the advice and consent of the presiding <May 2.> elder of that branch. If the first Seventy are all employed, and there is a call for more laborers, it will be the duty of the seven presidents of the first seventy, to call and ordain <Other Seventy called & ordained.> other seventy, and send them forth to labor in the vineyard, until, if needs be, they set apart seven times seventy, and even until there are one hundred and forty and four thousand thus set apart to the ministry. The Seventy are not to attend the conferences of the twelve unless they are called upon, or requested so <The twelve & Seventy to depend on the church for support.> to do, by the twelve. The twelve and the seventy have particularly to depend upon their ministry for their support, and that of their families, and they have a right by virtue of their offices to call upon the churches to assist them.
< ord. Presidents of the seventy to travel> “Elder was ordained one of the 70. The circumstances of the Presidents of the seventy were severally considered, relative to their traveling in the vineyard, and it was unanimously agreed that they should hold themselves in readiness to go at the call of the twelve, when the Lord opens the way. Twenty seven of the <The 70 to travel.> seventy were also considered, and it was decided they should hold themselves in readiness to travel in the ministry at the call of the presidents of the seventy, as the Lord opens the way.
<Adjournment> “After an adjournment of one hour the council re-assembled, andtheadditionofthehighcouncilof , andthebishopof <High Council & Bishops present> Zionandwiththeircouncils,whowerenotpresentinthemorningasbeforestated. was suspended as an elder and member, until investigation could be had before the bishop’s court. Complaint having been preferred against him <. &c. ordained to 70> by .— was ordained one of the seventy, also, Henry Banner, Michael Griffith, , and Lebbeus T. Coon [Libbeus T. Coons].— who together with twenty others, were called upon to hold themselves in readiness to travel where when circumstances might permit.
<Elders of called to be ready.> “The elders of and its vicinity were then called upon, or their circumstances considered; and their names being enroled, President Joseph Smith Jun arose, with the list in his hand, an[d] made [HC 2:221] some very appropriate remarks, relative to the deliverance of Zion; and so much of the authority of the church being present, moved that <Struggle for Zion.> we never give up the struggle for Zion even until death, or until Zion is redeemed. The vote was unanimous and with deep feeling. <All elders bound to travel> Voted that all the elders of the church are bound to travel in the world to preach the gospel with all their might mind and strength, when their circumstances will admit of it, and that the door is now opened. Voted that Elder , <Door opened to the house of Joseph By .> and Amos Orton, are appointed to go and preach the gospel to the remnants of Joseph; The door to be opened by elder , and this will open the door to the whole house of Joseph. Voted that when another seventy is required, the presidency of the first <Presidency of First 70, to choose next 70.> seventy shall choose ordain and set them apart from among the most experienced of <the> Elders of the church. Voted that whenever the labor, [p. 590]