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.
which I spoke in my turn as accuser, and stated that I called <June 16 Council.> on the accused, in company with Presedent , for money to send up to Zion, but could get none. Afterwards saw him, and asked if he would sell his farm. He at first seemed willing, and wished to build up Zion. He plead excuse in consequence of his liberality to the poor. We offered him three thousand dollars for his farm, would give him four and five hundred dollars to take him to Zion, and settle him there, and obligation for the remainder with good security and interest. He went and told Father Lyon that we demanded all his property, and so we lost four of five hundred dollars because the accused told him such a story, he calculated to keep it himself. The accused, , arose and said it was the first time he had been called upon to clear himself before a High council. He complained of being called contrary to the rules of the gospel before the council. The president decided that as the case was now before the council, it could not now be urged but should have been made in the beginning. He plead that he had relieved the wants of the poor, and did so many good things that he was astonished that he should hear such things as he had heard to day, because he did not give all he had got to one man. If he had done wrong he asked forgiveness, of God and the church.
<Licences Recorded.> During the Quarter ending the 3d of June 1836, Two hundred and forty four Elder’s, Eleven Priest’s, three Teacher's and five Deacon’s Licences were recorded in the Licence Records in , Ohio.
<Addenda p 3 4 <Note M> [HC 2:446] minutes of a public meeting at Missouri>
<29 <Minutes of a> Public Meeting at , Mo.> On the 29th. a respectable number of the citizens met, being previously notified of the same, at the Court house, in the town of , Mo. On motion, was called to the chair, and John F. Doherty appointed Secretary. The object of the meeting was by request of the chair, explained in a few appropriate remarks, by ; when, on <Committee, appointed.> motion of Col . a com[HC 2:448]mittee of nine was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of this meeting: whereupon the following gentlemen were chosen, namely; , Esq; Peter Rogers. Esqr, Andrew Robertson, Esq. James T. V. Thompson, Esq. Col. , Doct Woodson J Moss, James M. Hughes, Esq, , Esq, and , Esq; Who retired, and in a short time returned and made through their Chairman, (Col ,) the following unanimous report which was read.
<x Report of Committee> It is apparent, to every reflecting mind, that a crisis has arrived in this , that requires the deep, cool, dispassionate consideration, and immediate action of every lover of peace, harmony and good order. We cannot conceal from ourselves, the fact that, at this moment, the clouds of civil war are roling up their fearful masses, and hanging [p. 735]