History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]

Source Note

JS, History, 1838–1856, vol. B-1, created 1 Oct. 1843–24 Feb. 1845; handwriting of
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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and
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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; 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
Far West
Originally called Shoal Creek. Located fifty-five miles northeast of Independence. Surveyed 1823; first settled by whites, 1831. Site purchased, 8 Aug. 1836, before Caldwell Co. was organized for Latter-day Saints in Missouri. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer...
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, Missouri. For a fuller discussion of the entire six-volume work, see the general introduction to the history.
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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, 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.
Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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’s poor health led to the curtailment of work on B-1 for several months, until 11 December 1844. On that date, Richards and
William W. Phelps
17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...
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, assisted by
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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, 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, Willmer Benson, 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,
Willard Richards
24 June 1804–11 Mar. 1854. Teacher, lecturer, doctor, clerk, printer, editor, postmaster. Born at Hopkinton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Joseph Richards and Rhoda Howe. Moved to Richmond, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts, 1813; to Chatham, Columbia Co...
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and
Thomas Bullock
23 Dec. 1816–10 Feb. 1885. Farmer, excise officer, secretary, clerk. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. Son of Thomas Bullock and Mary Hall. Married Henrietta Rushton, 25 June 1838. Moved to Ardee, Co. Louth, Ireland, Nov. 1839; to Isle of Anglesey, Aug...
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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,
Brigham Young
1 June 1801–29 Aug. 1877. Carpenter, painter, glazier, colonizer. Born at Whitingham, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of John Young and Abigail (Nabby) Howe. Brought up in Methodist household; later joined Methodist church. Moved to Sherburne, Chenango Co., New...
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,
Heber C. Kimball
14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized...
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,
George A. Smith
26 June 1817–1 Sept. 1875. Born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Son of John Smith and Clarissa Lyman. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Joseph H. Wakefield, 10 Sept. 1832, at Potsdam. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio,...
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, 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—
Kirtland
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Ohio, and northwest
Missouri
Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803, and established as territory, 1812. Missouri Compromise, 1820, admitted Missouri as slave state, 1821. Population in 1830 about 140,000; in 1836 about 240,000; and in 1840 about 380,000. Latter-day Saint ...
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—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.

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<March 13.> Sunday the 13th. Met with the presidency and some of [HC 2:406] the Twelve, and counselled with them upon the subject of removing to Zion this spring. We conversed freely upon the importance of her redemption, and the necessity of the presidency removing to that place, that their influence might be more effectually used, in gathering the saints to that country, and we finally come to the resolution to emigrate on or before the 15th of May next, if kind providence smiles upon us and opens the way before us.

14 March 1836 • Monday

<14> Monday 14th. Attended school as usual returned from with his family.

15 March 1836 • Tuesday

<15> Tuesday 15th At school in the A.M. In the afternoon met in the . Received and waited upon those who called to see me, and attended to my domestic concerns. At evening met in the . and receved a lecture on grammar.

16 March 1836 • Wednesday

<16> Wednesday 16th. Pursued my studies in the Hebrew Language At evening met the quorum of singers in the . They performed admirably considering the advantages they have had.

17 March 1836 • Thursday

<17.> Thursday 17th. At school in the morning; in the P.M. in the office; At evening met with the quorums in the West school room of the to receive or reject certain individuals, whose names were presented for ordinations. Erastus B. Wightman, Osmeyn [Osmon] M. Duel, Chapman Dunkin [Duncan], Joshua Bosley and , were received, and four were rejected, by the united voice of the assembly.

18 March 1836 • Friday

<18> Friday 18th. Attended school with the morning class. At 10 oclock went to the school house to attend the funeral of , daughter of . She was a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, and remaind strong in the faith until her Spirit took its exit from time into Eternity. May God bless and comfort her afflicted parents, family [HC 2:407] connexions and friends. delivered a fine discourse on the occasion and mu[c]h solemnity prevailed.

19 March 1836 • Saturday

<19.> Saturday 19th. Read Hebrew with the morning class. Spent the day in attending to my domestic concerns and the affairs of the church. “Elders , , and , met the Presidency of the church, and verbally withdrew all objections to the first reso[lu]tion presented to the quorums, by the Presidency on the 12th of February, for the regulation of ordinations. Clerk of conference”

20 March 1836 • Sunday

<Sunday 20> Sunday 20th Attended the house of worship. The quorum of High Priests delivered short addresses to the congregation in a very feeling and impressive manner one individual was baptized at intermission. In the afternoon administered the Lord’s Supper as we are wont to do on eve[r]y sabbath and the Lord blessed our souls with the outpouring [p. 712]

13 March 1836 • Sunday

March 13. Sunday the 13th. Met with the presidency and some of [HC 2:406] the Twelve, and counselled with them upon the subject of removing to Zion this spring. We conversed freely upon the importance of her redemption, and the necessity of the presidency removing to that place, that their influence might be more effectually used, in gathering the saints to that country, and we finally come to the resolution to emigrate on or before the 15th of May next, if kind providence smiles upon us and opens the way before us.

14 March 1836 • Monday

14 Monday 14th. Attended school as usual returned from with his family.

15 March 1836 • Tuesday

15 Tuesday 15th At school in the A.M. In the afternoon met in the . Received and waited upon those who called to see me, and attended to my domestic concerns. At evening met in the . and receved a lecture on grammar.

16 March 1836 • Wednesday

16 Wednesday 16th. Pursued my studies in the Hebrew Language At evening met the quorum of singers in the . They performed admirably considering the advantages they have had.

17 March 1836 • Thursday

17. Thursday 17th. At school in the morning; in the P.M. in the office; At evening met with the quorums in the West school room of the to receive or reject certain individuals, whose names were presented for ordinations. Erastus B. Wightman, Osmeyn [Osmon] M. Duel, Chapman Dunkin [Duncan], Joshua Bosley and , were received, and four were rejected, by the united voice of the assembly.

18 March 1836 • Friday

18 Friday 18th. Attended school with the morning class. At 10 oclock went to the school house to attend the funeral of , daughter of . She was a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints, and remaind strong in the faith until her Spirit took its exit from time into Eternity. May God bless and comfort her afflicted parents, family [HC 2:407] connexions and friends. delivered a fine discourse on the occasion and much solemnity prevailed.

19 March 1836 • Saturday

19. Saturday 19th. Read Hebrew with the morning class. Spent the day in attending to my domestic concerns and the affairs of the church. “Elders , , and , met the Presidency of the church, and verbally withdrew all objections to the first resolution presented to the quorums, by the Presidency on the 12th of February, for the regulation of ordinations. Clerk of conference”

20 March 1836 • Sunday

Sunday 20 Sunday 20th Attended the house of worship. The quorum of High Priests delivered short addresses to the congregation in a very feeling and impressive manner one individual was baptized at intermission. In the afternoon administered the Lord’s Supper as we are wont to do on every sabbath and the Lord blessed our souls with the outpouring [p. 712]

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Document Information
Editorial Title
History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]
ID #
7404
Total Pages
332
Handwriting on This Page
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 284
  JS, Journal, 13 Mar. 1836.
2. 285
  JS, Journal, 14 Mar. 1836.
3. 286
  JS, Journal, 15 Mar. 1836.
4. 287
  JS, Journal, 16 Mar. 1836.
5. 288
  JS, Journal, 17 Mar. 1836; Minute Book 1, 17 Mar. 1836.
6. 289
  JS, Journal, 18 Mar. 1836.
7. 290
  JS, Journal, 19 Mar. 1836; Minute Book 1, 19 Mar. 1836.
8. 291
  JS, Journal, 20 Mar. 1836.

History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838]

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