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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of his Spirit and we were made to rejoice in his goodness.

<March 21> Monday 21st. at school in the morning. After school went to the and prepared a number of elders Licences to send by to the Court, of , in order to obtain licences to marry, as the court in will not grant us this privilege. Ten persons were baptized in this place.

22 March 1836 • Tuesday

<22> Tuesday 22d. Read Hebrew with the morning class. Five young men were received into the church by baptism in this place to day. This is a stormy day the snow is nearly a foot deep. An uncommon storm for this season of year.

23 March 1836 • Wednesday

<23> Wednesday 23d. Attended school. A pleasant day and fine sleighing. Two were received into the church by baptism. [HC 2:408]

24 March 1836 • Thursday

<24.> Thursday 24th. Attended school as usual. In the evening met with my class, at the Printing office, and received a lecture from , upon the Hebrew Language. After we were dismissed, we called at the school room to hear the quire of Singers perform. which they did admirably. Five more were received into the church by baptism, this day.

25 March 1836 • Friday

<25> Friday 25th. Attended school with the morning class, also at 5. o’clock P.M. and received a lecture upon the Hebrew Grammar. We have pleasant weather and good sleighing.

26 March 1836 • Saturday

<26> Saturday 26th. At home attending to my domestic concerns in the morning. After breakfast met with the Presidency to make arrangements for the Solemn Assembly, which occupied the remainder of the day. [HC 2:409]

27 March 1836 • Sunday

<Sunday 27. Dedication of the in > Sunday Morning 27th. The congregation began to assemble at the at about 7. o clock, an hour earlier than the doors were to be opened. Many brethren had come in from the regions round about to witness the dedication of the , and share in his blessings, and such was the anxiety on this occasion, that some hundreds (probably five or six) assembled before the doors were opened. The presidents entered with the door-keepers and arranged them at the inner and outer doors, Also placed our Stewards to receive donations from those who should feel disposed to contribute something to defray the expences of building the . We also dedicated the pulpits and consecrated them to the Lord. The doors were then opened. , and myself seated the congregation as they came in, and according to the best calculation we could make, we received between nine and ten hundred, which were as many as could be comfortably situated. We then informed the door-keepers that we could receive no more and a multitude were deprived of the benefits of the meeting on account of the not being sufficiently capacious to receive them, and I felt to regret that any of my brethren and sisters should be deprived, [p. 713]

of his Spirit and we were made to rejoice in his goodness.

21 March 1836 • Monday

March 21 Monday 21st. at school in the morning. After school went to the and prepared a number of elders Licences to send by to the Court, of , in order to obtain licences to marry, as the court in will not grant us this privilege. Ten persons were baptized in this place.

22 March 1836 • Tuesday

22 Tuesday 22d. Read Hebrew with the morning class. Five young men were received into the church by baptism in this place to day. This is a stormy day the snow is nearly a foot deep. An uncommon storm for this season of year.

23 March 1836 • Wednesday

23 Wednesday 23d. Attended school. A pleasant day and fine sleighing. Two were received into the church by baptism. [HC 2:408]

24 March 1836 • Thursday

24. Thursday 24th. Attended school as usual. In the evening met with my class, at the Printing office, and received a lecture from , upon the Hebrew Language. After we were dismissed, we called at the school room to hear the quire of Singers perform. which they did admirably. Five more were received into the church by baptism, this day.

25 March 1836 • Friday

25 Friday 25th. Attended school with the morning class, also at 5. o’clock P.M. and received a lecture upon the Hebrew Grammar. We have pleasant weather and good sleighing.

26 March 1836 • Saturday

26 Saturday 26th. At home attending to my domestic concerns in the morning. After breakfast met with the Presidency to make arrangements for the Solemn Assembly, which occupied the remainder of the day. [HC 2:409]

27 March 1836 • Sunday

Sunday 27. Dedication of the in Sunday Morning 27th. The congregation began to assemble at the at about 7. o clock, an hour earlier than the doors were to be opened. Many brethren had come in from the regions round about to witness the dedication of the , and share in his blessings, and such was the anxiety on this occasion, that some hundreds (probably five or six) assembled before the doors were opened. The presidents entered with the door-keepers and arranged them at the inner and outer doors, Also placed our Stewards to receive donations from those who should feel disposed to contribute something to defray the expences of building the . We also dedicated the pulpits and consecrated them to the Lord. The doors were then opened. , and myself seated the congregation as they came in, and according to the best calculation we could make, we received between nine and ten hundred, which were as many as could be comfortably situated. We then informed the door-keepers that we could receive no more and a multitude were deprived of the benefits of the meeting on account of the not being sufficiently capacious to receive them, and I felt to regret that any of my brethren and sisters should be deprived, [p. 713]

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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. 292
  JS, Journal, 21 Mar. 1836.
2. 293
  License for JS, 21 Mar. 1836.
3. 294
  JS, Journal, 22 Mar. 1836.
4. 295
  JS, Journal, 23 Mar. 1836.
5. 296
  JS, Journal, 24 Mar. 1836.
6. 297
  JS, Journal, 25 Mar. 1836.
7. 298
  JS, Journal, 26 Mar. 1836.
8. 299
  JS, Journal, 27 Mar. 1836; [Dedication of the Lord’s House], LDS Messenger and Advocate, Mar . 1836, 2:274–281.
  
  Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

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

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