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.
<December 18.> read a letter that he received from in which he asked forgiveness for the abuse he offered to him, at the debate. He tarried most of the forenoon, and conversed freely with me upon the subject of the difficulty existing between me and ; he said that he was perfectly satisfied, with the course I had taken in rebuking him in his wickedness, but he is wounded, to the very soul because of the conduct of ; and although he feels the tender feelings of a brother towards him yet he can but look upon his conduct as an abomination in the sight of God; and I could pray in my heart that all my brethren were like unto my beloved brother , who possesses the mildness of a lamb and the integrity of a Job and in short the meekness and humility of Christ. And I love him with that love that is stronger than death; for I never had occasion to rebuke him. nor he me, which he declared when he left me to day.— This day received this following Letter from Bro .
<Letter from > “Brother Joseph, Though I do not know but I have forfeited all right [HC 2:338] and title to the word brother, in consequence of what I have done. for I consider myself that I am unworthy to be called one, after coming to myself and considering upon what I have done I feel as though it was a duty to make a humble confession to you for what I have done, or what took place the other night evening, but leave this part of the subject at present. I was called to an account by the twelve yesterday for my conduct; or they desired to know my mind, or determination, and what I was going to do. I told them that on reflection upon the many difficulties that I had had with the church and the much disgrace I had brought upon myself in consequence of these things, and also that my health would not permit me to go to school to make any preparations for the endowment, and that my health was such that I was not able to travel, that It would be better for them to appoint one in the office that would be better able to fill it, and by doing this they would throw me into the hands of the church, and leave me where I was before I was chosen. Then I would not be in a situation to bring so much disgrace upon the cause, when I fall into temptation and perhaps by this I might obtain salvation. You know my passions, and the danger of falling from so high a station, and thus by withdrawing from the office of the apostleship, while there is salvation for me, and remaining a member in the church: I feel afraid if if I don’t do this it will be the worse for me some other day. And again my health is poor, and I am not able to travel, and it is necessary the office should not be idle; and again I say you know my passions, and I am afraid it will be worse for me, by and by. do so if the Lord will have mercy on me and let me remain as a member in the church. and then I can travel and preach when I am able. Do not think that I am your enemy for what I have done. Perhaps [p. 667]