History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]
History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]
Source Note
Source Note
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
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.
brother , who had retired to rest, that he might praise <October 11.> the Lord with us. by joining in songs of praise to the most High. [HC 2:289]
<12. Rode to .> Monday 12th rode to , in company with , to purchase some goods at s Store. On our return, we found a Mr Bradly lying across the road. He had been thrown from his waggon. was much injured by the fall.
<13.> Tuesday 13th visited , who was very much recovered from his sickness indeed, which caused us to marvel at the Might, Power, and condescension of our Heavenly Father, in answering our prayers in his behalf.
<14.> Wednesday 14,th at home.
<15.> Thursday 15th. Labored in s orchard gathering apples.
<16. Baptized.> Friday 16th. was called into the printing office to settle some difficulties in that department, at evening I baptized . The Lord poured out his spirit on us and we had a good time.
<17.> Saturday 17th called my family together and arranged my domestic concerns, and dismissed my boarders.
<18.> Sunday 18th Attended meeting in the chapel. Confirmed several who had been baptized, and blessed several children with the blessings of the new and everlasting Covenant. Elder preached in the forenoon, and Elder in the afternoon. we had an interesting time
<19.> Monday 19th. at home. Exhibited the records of Antiquity to a number who called to see them. [HC 2:290]
<20.> Tuesday 20th. at home, preached at evening, in the school house.
<21.> Wednesday 21st. at home.
<22.> Thursday 22 at home, attending to my domestic concerns.
<23 Conference for Prayer.> Friday, “, at home. At 4 Oclock afternoon , , , , , , , and assembled, and we united in prayer with one voice before the Lord for the following blessings:
That the Lord will give us means sufficient to deliver us from all our afflictions, and difficulties wherein we are placed by means of our debts; that he will open the way and deliver Zion in the appointed time, and that without the shedding of blood; that he will hold our lives precious, and grant that we may live to the common age of man, and never fall into the hands, nor power of the mob in , nor in any other place; that he will also preserve our posterity, that none of them fall even to the end of time; that he will give us the blessings of the earth sufficient to carry us to Zion, and that we may purchase inheritances in that land, even enough to carry on and accomplish the work unto which he has appointed us; and also that he will assist all others, who desire according to his commandments, to go up and purchase inheritances, and all this easily and without perplexity, and trouble; and finally, that in the end, he will save us in his celestial Kingdom. Amen.
<24.> Saturday 24th. Mr Goodrich and Lady called to see the ancient Records, also called at Doct. to see the Mummies. Brothers Hawks and Carpenter, from visited us and tarried over night.
<Sunday. 25.> Sunday 25th. Attended meeting with Brother Hawks and carpenter. President [p. 629]
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Source Note
Document Transcript
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Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [95]
JS, Journal, 12 Oct. 1835.
- [96]
JS, Journal, 13 Oct. 1835.
- [97]
JS, Journal, 14 Oct. 1835.
- [98]
JS, Journal, 15 Oct. 1835.
- [99]
JS, Journal, 16 Oct. 1835.
- [100]
JS, Journal, 17 Oct. 1835.
- [101]
JS, Journal, 18 Oct. 1835.
- [102]
JS, Journal, 19 Oct. 1835.
- [103]
JS, Journal, 20 Oct. 1835.
- [104]
JS, Journal, 21 Oct. 1835.
- [105]
JS, Journal, 22 Oct. 1835.
- [106]
- [107]
JS, Journal, 24 Oct. 1835.
- [108]
JS, Journal, 25 Oct. 1835.
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