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.
I received the following Revelation, given at , Massachusetts <August 6 Revelation> August 6th. 1836.
I, the Lord your God am not displeased with your coming this journey, notwithstanding your follies. [HC 2:465] I have much treasure in this city for you, for the benefit of Zion; and many people in this city whom I will gather out in due time for the benefit of Zion, through your instrumentality: therefore it is expedient that you should form acquaintance, with men in this city, as you shall be led, and as it shall be given you.
And it shall come to pass, in due time, that I will give this city into your hands, that you shall have power over it, insomuch that they shall not discover your secret parts; and its wealth, pertaining to Gold and Silver, shall be yours. Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them. Concern not yourselves about Zion, for I will deal mercifully with her. Tarry in this place and in the regions round about, and the place where it is my will that you should tarry, for the main, shall be signalized unto you by the peace and the power of my Spirit, that shall flow unto you. This place you may obtain by hire &c. … And enquire diligently concerning the more ancient inhabitants and founders of this City, for there are more treasures than one for you, in this city; therefore be ye as wise as serpents and yet without sin, and I will order all things for your good, as fast as ye are able to receive them, Amen.
<+> <Note O Addenda page 4>
<September, Return to > Thus I continued in and vicinity until I returned to some time in the month of September. During this month, the Church in , (Mo.) commenced removing to their newly selected location on , in the Territory attached to . During the <Licences Recorded> quarter ending September 3d. fifty two elder’s, six prists’, three teachers’ and two deacons’ Licences were Recorded in the Licence Records, in , Ohio, by . The intelligence from the Elders abroad, was interest[HC 2:466]ing. Elder still continued his labors in , Toronto and vicinity with good success. Elder , had been laboring in New Brunswick and other places on the sea board, and on the 12th. 13th and 14th of August, a conference was held at by Elders and , at Newry, Maine, when 17 branches were represented, amounting to 317 members.
<October.> Through the month of october the Saints continued to gather at , Missouri, And my attention was particularly directed to the building up of , and the spiritual interests <November> of the church, and on the 2d of November the Brethren at drew up certain articles of Agreement, preparatory to the organization of a Banking Institution, to be called the Safety society.
President was delegated to [HC 2:467] to procure plates for the Institution; and Elder , to repair to , with a petition to the Legislature of , for an act of incorporation, which was presented at an early period of their session, but because we were Mormons, the Legislature raised some frivolous excuse, on which they refused to grant us those banking privileges they so freely granted to other, [p. 750]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [326]
- [327]
[List of Ministers], LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sep. 1836, 2:383.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
- [328]
“From the Elders Abroad,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sep. 1836, 2:380–381.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
- [329]
[Conference], LDS Messenger and Advocate, Sep. 1836, 2:381–382.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
- [330]
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