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.
<November 28.> in the care of said elders Brethren to carry to to purchase land. These elders wished the advice of the council whether they had better pursue their journey or not. The two counsellors spoke on the case, followed by , counselor , and the ; after which gave a decision; that after our brethren be advised to tarry in this <Decision> place during the winter, in which the council concurred, The two elders Brethren then arose respectively and said they were perfectly satisfied with the decision of the council. The amount donated by the church in , is, according to their letter, in cash, is four hundred and seventy three dollars, and twenty nine cents. The amount in “Star” property is three hundred and seventy five dollars, and eleven cents.— aggregate $448,40 $848.40
The council then decided that President Joseph Smith junr. take such amount of said money as those brethren can part with for the present, by giving sufficient s[e]curity, to be paid with interest by the 15th of April 1835. It was ascertained by the council that Sister Caroline Tippits held $149.75 of the money mentioned in said letter, she was accordingly called into the Council and expressed a willingness to loan the same. [HC 2:172] One note of two hundred eighty dollars was drawn in favor of ; and another of one hundred and fifty dollars in favor of Caroline Tippits, due, each, April 15th. 1835, signed by Joseph Smith Junr. , and .— Clerk”
The following letter was presented by and formed the subject of the preceding council, Written to President Joseph Smith Junior, and the high council in By , to be sent greeting.
<Letter from to J. Smith, and H. Council.> President Smith will recollect the time I left last winter, in order to come for to dispose of the property I had in possession, which I have been striving to do eversince from that time till about the first of September last: But I have felt very uneasy while the commandment has gone forth for the eastern churches to flee unto the west. The first, or about the first of September, I with two of my brethren, took the revelation concerning the redemption of , and read it, and then we agreed to ask god to enable us to obey the same, as we live in the eastern states. Our minds lit over these important lines, therefore a commandment I give unto all the churches, that they shall continue to gather together unto the places which I have appointed, nevertheless, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, let not your gathering be in haste nor by flight, but let all things be prepared before you, observe the commandments which I have given concerning these things, which saith or teacheth to purchase all the lands by money which can be purchased for money, in the region round [p. 560]