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 16. charge against Henry Green.> “Minutes of a high council held in September 16th. 1835. , , and presiding. A complaint was preferred by president Joseph Smith Jr, against brother Henry Green, for accusing president Joseph Smith Junior, “of rebuking brother Aldridge wrongfully, and under the influence of an evil spirit.” Brother Green being absent, arose and said that it was the decision of the presidency that the council proceed to examine the charge preferred, because brother Green had been regularly summoned, by himself. The council appointed one to <Witnesses; .> speak on each side; after which the following testimony was heard. Elder testified that brother Green, on monday Morning last, said that brother Aldridge was justified in what he said, and that presidents Joseph and were wrong in abusing the old man; and after explained the matter to him, said, that if any man should do so by him. he should call him a scoundrel; and that he should say that any man who should talk as Joseph did must have the devil in him. Elder <.> said he was present when the above conversation took place and heard considerable part of it, and fully concurred in the statement of . And he heard brother Green say previous to the above talk, that although they accused brother Aldridge of having an evil Spirit, yet, if the truth was known, the Devil was in them, (namely) Presedents Joseph and ; for if any man should ask my opinion, and then abuse me in this way, I should call him a scoundrel <>[Loren] or a knave. stated to the council that bro. Aldridge was not called upon to give his opinion concerning the Book, but said what he did without being called upon to speak for the book was only handed to him and others to look at, that they might see the quality and goodness. <Joseph Smith> President Joseph Smith arose and stated that he knew that brother Aldridge was under the influence of an evil spirit, and <> had been for a long time. Councillor also said that he knew that this thing was so, by what he had seen and learned, and that he had heard from credible authority that the old man had been in the habit for a long time of neglecting prayer, and family worship.
<Pleas. > said that president Smith was [HC 2:274] in the line of his duty when he reproved brother Aldridge for his evil, and consequently brother Green must have been wrong, in opposing him, and saying that he acted like a scoundrel, and that <.> the Devil was in him. said that brother Green could not be justified in opposing the servant of the Lord, while in the actual discharge of his duty, and that it was evident that Satan hath sought to make divisions in this the church, and hath taken the advantage of the occasion of presenting the book, to do this. (The book referred to was purchased for recording “The Patriarchal Blessings,” & this is the Book.) [p. 613]