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.
as yours, or something to that effect, (I should have said that I <December 18. Joseph’s Letter to Continued.> helped finish the house.) I said it merely to show that it could not be the right spirit that would rise up for trifling matters, and undertake to put me to silence. I saw that your indignation was kindled against me, and you made towards me, I was not then to be moved, and I thought to pull off my loose coat, least it should tangle me, and you be left to hurt me, but not with the intention of hurting you: but you was too soon for me, and having once falling fallen into the hands of a mob and been wounded in my side, and now into the hands [HC 2:341] of a brother, my side gave way, and after having been rescued from your grasp, I left your house with feelings indiscribeable: the scenery had changed, and all those expectation that I had cherished, when going to your house, of brotherly kindness, charity, forbearance, and natural affection, that in duty binds us not to make each others offenders for a word.
But alas! Abuse, anger, malice, hatred, and rage with a lame side, with marks of violence heaped upon me with by a brother, were the reflection of my disappointment, and with these I returned home, not able to sit down, or rise up, without help, but through the blessing of God I am now better. I received your letter and perused it with care. I have not entertained a feeling of malice against you. I am older than you and have endured more suffering, having been marred by mobs, the labors of my calling, a series of persecutions and injuries continually heaped upon me, all serve to debilitate my body, and it may be that I cannot boast of being stronger than you. If I could or could not, would this be an honor, or dishonor to me! If I could boast like David of slaying a Goliath, who defied the armies of the living God, or like Paul, of contending with Peter face to face with sound arguments, it might be an honor; but to mangle the flesh or seek revenge upon one who never done you any wrong, cannot be a source of sweet reflection, to you, nor to me: neither to an honorable father and mother, brothers and sisters; and when we reflect with what care, and with what unremitting diligence our parents have strove to watch over us, and how many hours of sorrow, and anxiety they have spent over our cradles and bed sides in times of sickness, how careful we ought to be of their feelings in their old age. It cannot be a source of sweet reflection to us, to say any thing that will bring their grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave.
In your letter you asked my forgiveness, which I readily grant, but it seems to me that you still retain an idea that I have given you reasons to be angry or disaffected with me. Grant me the privilege of saying then, that however hasty or harsh I may have spoken at any time to you [p. 670]