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.
parts, other kings and forms of governments, which I shall not <November 9. ’s Remarks continued.> now mention in detail but confine my remarks more particularly to the feet of the Image. The policy of the wicked spirit is to separate what God has joined together, and unite what he has separated, which he has succeeded in doing to admiration in the present state of society, which is like unto iron and clay. There is confusion in all things, both political and religious, and notwithstanding all the efforts that are made to bring about a Union, Society remains dis-united, and all attempts to unite her are as fruitless, as to attempt to unite iron and clay. The feet of the Image is the government of these . other nations and kingdoms are looking up to her for an example of Union, freedom and equal rights, and therefore worship her life as Daniel saw in the vision, although they are beginning to lose confidence, in her, seeing the broils and discord that distract her political and religious horizon. This Image is characteristic of all governments, . . . . . . . . We should leave Babylon. . . . . . . . Twenty four hours for improvement now, is worth as much as a year, a hundred years ago. The Spirit of the fathers that was cut down, or those that were under the altar, are now rising. This is the first resurrection. The elder that falls first will rise last. We should not form any opinion only for the present, and leave the result of futurity with God. I have risen up out of obscurity, but was looked up to when but a youth in temporal things. It is not necessary that God should give us all things in his first commission to us, but in his second; John saw the angel deliver the Gospel in the last days. . . . . . The small lights that God has given is sufficient to lead us out of Babylon, when we get out we shall have the greater light.”
<Explanation wanted.> I told I did not understand his remarks on the [HC 2:305] resurrection, and wished him to explain. He replied that he “did not feel impressed by the spirit to unfold it further at present, but perhaps he might at some other time.” I then withdrew to transact some business with a gentleman who called to see me, when informed my that he was born in washington county, . New York. He says that all the rail-ro[a]ds, canals and other improvements are performed by the spirits of the resurrection. The silence spoken of by John the Revelator, which is to be in heaven for the space of half an hour, is between 1830 and 1851, during which time the judgments of God will be poured out after that time there will <Curiosity to see a Jew.> be peace. Curiosity to see a man that was reputed to be a Jew caused many to call during the day, and more particularly at <. > evening. Suspicions were entertained that the Said was the noted of , spoken so much of in the public prints on account of the trials he endured in that place before a court of Justice, for Murder, Manslaughter, Contempt of court, whipping his daughter &c. for the last two crimes he was [p. 638]