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.
<December 9.> due, and [HC 2:326] may God bless him for his kindness to me. Also the brethren whose names are written below, opened their hearts in great liberality, and payed me, at the , the sums set <Donations> opposite their respective names, to wit
| , | $5,00: | , | $1,00: | $ ,75: | |
| , | 3,25: | , | 1,00: | 1,00: | |
| , | 5,25: | , | 1,25: | Zemira Draper | 1,00: |
| , | 5,00: | , | 1,00; | 1,00: | |
| , | 2,00: | , | 3,00: | ,50: | |
| , | 3,00: | 1,00: | 1.00: | ||
| William Felshaw, | 3,00: | Harlow Crosier | ,50: | $40,50. | |
| With the addition of the two notes above— | 24,00 = 64,50. | ||||
My heart swells with gratitude inexpressible, when I realize the great condesentions of my heavenly Father in opening the hearts of these my beloved brethren to administer so liberally to my wants: And I ask God in the name <of> Jesus. Christ to multiply blessings without number upon their heads, and bless me with much wisdom and understanding, and dispose of me to the best advantage for my brethren, and the advancement of thy cause and Kingdom; and whether my days are many or few, whether in life or in death, I say in my heart, O Lord, let me enjoy the society of such brethren. Elder Tanner brought me half of a fattened hog for the benefit of my family. A few days since Elder brought me a quarter of beef; and may all the blessings named above, be poured upon their heads, for their kindness toward me.
<10> Thursday 10th. This morning a number of brethren called to see the Records, which I exhibited to [HC 2:327] there their satisfaction. This day my brethren meet according to previous arrangement to chop and haul wood for me. Beautiful morning indeed and fine sleighing. This afternoon I was called in company with president to visit . We found her < healed> very sick, and so much deranged that she did not recognize her friends and intimate acquaintances. We prayed for and laid hands on her in the name of Jesus Christ, and commanded her in his name to receive her senses, which were immediately restored. We as also prayed that she might be restored to health; and she said she was better. The had taken fire and on our return we found the brethren engaged in extinguishing the flames, after laboring about one hour against this destructive element, the[y] succeeded in conquering it, and probably saved about one fourth part of the lumber. I do not know the amout of loss the Committee have sustained but considerable, as there was much lumber in the kiln. There were about two hundred brethren engaged on this occasion who displayed much activity and interest, and deserve much credit; [p. 660]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
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Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [167]
Probably John Tanner.
- [168]
JS, Journal, 10 Dec. 1835.
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