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...
View Full Bio
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...
View Full Bio
; 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...
More Info
, 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...
View Full Bio
, 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...
View Full Bio
’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,...
View Full Bio
, 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...
View Full Bio
, 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...
View Full Bio
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...
View Full Bio
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...
View Full Bio
,
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...
View Full Bio
,
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,...
View Full Bio
, 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...
More Info
, 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 ...
More Info
—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.

Hide editing marks

<December England.> other places round about , where the brethren hired the “Cock. Pit” a large and convenient building for preaching, but being disturbed by some Methodist Priests were obliged to have the house Licenced by the Civil courts according to the statute of the realm, which, with the aid of two constables who voluntarily proffered their services, restored <25> peace and order: and on christmas day, Dec. 25th. Elders and , and (who had previously been ordained an elder) assembled in the Cock Pit with about 300 Saints, several of whom were ordained to the lesser Priesthood, 14 were confirmed, and about 100 children were blessed. by the elders, This was the first public conference of the Church in England, and at this Conference the Word of Wisdom was first publicly taught in that Country. While the work was thus rapidly progressing in Lancashire, it continued gradually to progress at Bedford, also a branch was established at Bassynburn— and <an>other at at Peter’s Green by : <note— T Addenda page 6> While Apostasy, persecution, confusion and Mobocracy strove hard to bear rule at and thus closed the year 1837. [HC 2:529]

1838

January 1838

<January 1.> A new year dawned upon the church in in all the bitterness of the spirit of apostate Mobocracy; which continued to rage and grow hotter and hotter until and myself were obliged to flee from its dealy influence as did the apostles and prophets of old, and as Jesus Said “when they persecute you in one city flee to another:” and on the evening of the 12th of Jan <12. Joseph & left for .> <about 10 o’clock> we left , on horseback, to escape Mob violence which was about to burst upon us under the color of Legal process to cover their hellish designs, and save themselves from the just jud[g]ment of the Law. [HC 3:1] We continued <[6 words illegible] this place> our travels during the night, and at 8. o clock on of the morning of the 13th <13> arrived among the brethren in , Medina County, Ohio, having a distance of 60 miles from , where we tarried about 36 hours <16> when our families arrived, and on the 16th. pursued our Journey with our families in covered waggons toward the city of in , Passing through , Eaton &c. to Dublin, Indiana, where we tarried nine <Addenda No 1. page 10> days and refreshed ourselves. <See addenda. 10 pa.> The weather was extremely cold, & we were obliged to secrete ourselves in our waggons many some times to elude the [HC 3:2] grasp of our pursuers who continued their race more than 200 <miles> from armed with pistols &c seeking our lives. They frequently crossed our track, twice they were in the houses where we stopped. Once we tarried all night in the same house with them, with only a partition between us & them, and heard their oaths, and imprecations, and threats concerning us if they could catch us, and late in the evening they came in our room and examined us, but decided we were not the men. At other times we passed them in the Streets, and gazed upon them and they on us, but they knew us not. One Lyons. was one of our pursuers. I parted with at Dublin, and travelling different routes we met at ,— where after resting, we separated again— and I pursued my Journey crossing the at Illinois. [p. 780]

December England. other places round about , where the brethren hired the “Cock. Pit” a large and convenient building for preaching, but being disturbed by some Methodist Priests were obliged to have the house Licenced by the Civil courts according to the statute of the realm, which, with the aid of two constables who voluntarily proffered their services, restored 25 peace and order: and on christmas day, Dec. 25th. Elders and , and (who had previously been ordained an elder) assembled in the Cock Pit with about 300 Saints, several of whom were ordained to the lesser Priesthood, 14 were confirmed, and about 100 children were blessed. by the elders, This was the first public conference of the Church in England, and at this Conference the Word of Wisdom was first publicly taught in that Country. While the work was thus rapidly progressing in Lancashire, it continued gradually to progress at Bedford, also a branch was established at Bassynburn— and another at at Peter’s Green by : note— T Addenda page 6 While Apostasy, persecution, confusion and Mobocracy strove hard to bear rule at and thus closed the year 1837. [HC 2:529]

1838

January 1838

January 1. A new year dawned upon the church in in all the bitterness of the spirit of apostate Mobocracy; which continued to rage and grow hotter and hotter until and myself were obliged to flee from its dealy influence as did the apostles and prophets of old, and as Jesus Said “when they persecute you in one city flee to another:” and on the evening of the 12th of Jan 12. Joseph & left for . about 10 o’clock we left , on horseback, to escape Mob violence which was about to burst upon us under the color of Legal process to cover their hellish designs, and save themselves from the just judgment of the Law. [HC 3:1] We continued our travels during the night, and at 8. o clock of the morning of the 13th 13 arrived among the brethren in , Medina County, Ohio, a distance of 60 miles from , where we tarried about 36 hours 16 when our families arrived, and on the 16th. pursued our Journey with our families in covered waggons toward the city of in , Passing through , Eaton &c. to Dublin, Indiana, where we tarried nine Addenda No 1. page 10 days and refreshed ourselves. See addenda. 10 pa. The weather was extremely cold, & we were obliged to secrete ourselves in our waggons some times to elude the [HC 3:2] grasp of our pursuers who continued their race more than 200 miles from armed with pistols &c seeking our lives. They frequently crossed our track, twice they were in the houses where we stopped. Once we tarried all night in the same house with them, with only a partition between us & them, and heard their oaths, and imprecations, and threats concerning us if they could catch us, and late in the evening they came in our room and examined us, but decided we were not the men. At other times we passed them in the Streets, and gazed upon them and they on us, but they knew us not. One Lyons. was one of our pursuers. I parted with at Dublin, and travelling different routes we met at ,— where after resting, we separated again— and I pursued my Journey crossing the at Illinois. [p. 780]

View entire transcript |

Cite this page

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. 405
  Revelation, 12 Jan. 1838–C.
  
  Revelations Collection, 1831–ca. 1844, 1847, 1861, ca. 1876. CHL. MS 4583.
2. 406
  Incidents of Joseph Smith’s Journal, ca. 22 Jan. 1845, Historian’s Office, JS History, Documents, ca. 1839–1856, CHL.

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

Cite this page

Request for Documents