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.
<26. The Twelve Return. Council of the Presidency. Minutes, of Council> This morning the Twelve returned from their mission to the east, and on the same day
“the council of the presidency of the church consisting of Joseph Smith Jnr, , , , , , and , met to consider the case of the twelve who had previously been reproved, in consequence of certain letters and reports coming <1st charge. ’s Letter.> to the ears of the council. First, the items contained [in] ’s letter, in connexion with certain other reports, derogatory to the character and teaching of the twelve were considered, and from the testimony of several Witnesses (the twelve) it was proven before the council that said complaints originated in the minds of persons who were darkened in consequence of covetousness or some other cause, rather than the Spirit of truth. <2d Charge. s Letter.> Second: an item contained in Elder ’s letter to his wife, expressing dissatisfaction with s School, Elder was also designated with him, () or blamed in the matter, in which they were found to be in the fault, which they frankly confessed, and were forgiven,”
<Sunday 27.> Sunday, the 27th. I attended meeting. Elders , , and Preached, and broke bread. The Lord poured out his spirit and my soul was edified. [HC 2:283]
<28. High Council, charge against .> “The High Council met for the trial of , on a char[g]e preferred by the Twelve, “for advancing heretical doctrines, which were derogatory to the character of the church.” Elder , testified, that when was conversing with a brother concerning <Testimony> the Two witnesses mentioned by the prophets, he said he might be one of them, and he might be one himself. That he intended to prophecy the night that an advertisement was put up by an enemy, saying that the Mormon Prophet and others were to be sold at auction, in public. That he would not be surprised if the man that put up the advertisement should die at the time of sale. corroborated the foregoing, and said that was very erronious in his tenets of faith. concured. said that frequently told of women falling in love with him; and observed frequently, when passing pe[o]ple, that they felt his spirit: also that he was so indolent his presence was oppressive. Elder L. Johnson testified, that, on a former trial before the twelve for error in doctrine, such as, that he might be one of the two witnesses,” and that he ought not <to> travel and preach, on account of the women so often falling in love with him; that He was not humble, when reproved but justified himself, and preferred a charge against the council for harsh treatment. Elder saw that after taking a stand against the council, finanlly <said> it was all right, they had dealt with him in righteousness. Elders and corroborated the above, that he yielded after being overcome. also that [p. 620]