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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<September 7.> from as a Committee to enquire into all this matter as the Mobbers had sent to that place for assistance, they said to take Smith and , but their object was to drive the brethren from the County of as was done in — they said the people in did not see proper to send help without knowing for what purpose they were doing it and this they said was their errand— They accompanied us to to hold a Council with us, in order to learn the facts of this great excitement, which is, as it were, turning the world upside down— we arrived home in the evening.

<Camp> This morning a daughter of Elder Shumway died in Camp also Mrs. Clark’s child— The Camp passed through , and through the River Wabash, in a northwesterly direction through Fayette Township, and encamped about a furlong west of E. S. Wolf’s store and within two miles of west <line> of Indiana— eleven miles— 423 from —

<England Potteries> The work continued to spread in England. The Saints had some trials particularly in . While Satan was trying to Mob and murder the Church in , he was at the same time trying to stir up strife and weaken the faith of the Saints in England <1839> This day Elder went into Burslem among the Staffordshire Potteries and re-commenced a work which was begun a short time previous by Elder , who had preached there a few times, and led a few into the Water.

8 September 1838 • Saturday

<Camp 8> Saturday 8th. The camp passed on into the State of , leaving Pilot Grove on the right travelled twenty five miles 448 from .

The Presidency met in council with the Committee from [HC 3:73] together with , where a relation was given of the whole matter, the present state of excitement and the cause of all this confusion, These Gentlemen expressed their fullest satisfaction upon the subject, considering they had been outrageously— imposed upon, in this matter, they left this afternoon apparently perfectly satisfied with the interview. News came this evening that the Mob were to attack and a few of the brethren started to assist the brethren to defend themselves

9 September 1838 • Sunday

<9> Sunday 9th. This morning a company in addition to what went last evening went to to assist the brethren there in their defence against the Mob Captain took a company of ten men, all mounted, and went to <Load of Guns intercepted> intercept a team with guns and ammunition from for the Mob in . They found the Waggon broke<en> down and the boxes of Guns drawn into the high grass near by the waggon, no one present that could be discovered— In a short time two men on horse back came from towards the Camp of the Mob, and immediately behind them was a man with a waggon, they all came up, and were taken by virtue of a Writ— supposing them to be the men who were abetting the Mob, in carrying the guns and ammunition to those murderers, yea and murderers too in cool blood— The men were taken together with the Guns to , the guns were distributed among the brethren for their defence and the prisoners were held in Custody. This was a glorious day indeed, the plans of the Mob were frustrated in loosing their guns, and all their efforts appeared to be blasted— The mob continue to take prisoners at their pleasure, some they keep, and some they let go, they try all in their power to make us commit the first act of violence They frequently send in word that they are torturing the prisoners to death, in the most aggravating manner, but we understand all their ways, and their cunning and wisdom is not past finding out— under the civil authorities in , who issued the Writ for securing the arms and arresting the carriers— The Prisoners were brought to for trial— [HC 3:74]

<Camp> The Camp travelled two miles before breakfast and tented on each side of the Little Ambro near the West line of Edgar County, where the Sisters made a washing, as directed by the Council [p. 822]

September 7. from as a Committee to enquire into all this matter as the Mobbers had sent to that place for assistance, they said to take Smith and , but their object was to drive the brethren from the County of as was done in — they said the people in did not see proper to send help without knowing for what purpose they were doing it and this they said was their errand— They accompanied us to to hold a Council with us, in order to learn the facts of this great excitement, which is, as it were, turning the world upside down— we arrived home in the evening.

Camp This morning a daughter of Elder Shumway died in Camp also Mrs. Clark’s child— The Camp passed through , and through the River Wabash, in a northwesterly direction through Fayette Township, and encamped about a furlong west of E. S. Wolf’s store and within two miles of west line of Indiana— eleven miles— 423 from —

England Potteries 1839

8 September 1838 • Saturday

Camp 8 Saturday 8th. The camp passed on into the State of , leaving Pilot Grove on the right travelled twenty five miles 448 from .

9 September 1838 • Sunday

9 Sunday 9th. This morning a company in addition to what went last evening went to to assist the brethren there in their defence against the Mob Captain took a company of ten men, all mounted, and went to Load of Guns intercepted intercept a team with guns and ammunition from for the Mob in . They found the Waggon brokeen down and the boxes of Guns drawn into the high grass near by the waggon, no one present that could be discovered— In a short time two men on horse back came from towards the Camp of the Mob, and immediately behind them was a man with a waggon, they all came up, and were taken by virtue of a Writ— supposing them to be the men who were abetting the Mob, in carrying the guns and ammunition to those murderers, yea and murderers too in cool blood— The men were taken together with the Guns to , the guns were distributed among the brethren for their defence and the prisoners were held in Custody. This was a glorious day indeed, the plans of the Mob were frustrated in loosing their guns, and all their efforts appeared to be blasted— The mob continue to take prisoners at their pleasure, some they keep, and some they let go, they try all in their power to make us commit the first act of violence They frequently send in word that they are torturing the prisoners to death, in the most aggravating manner, but we understand all their ways, and their cunning and wisdom is not past finding out— under the civil authorities in , who issued the Writ for securing the arms and arresting the carriers— The Prisoners were brought to for trial— [HC 3:74]

Camp The Camp travelled two miles before breakfast and tented on each side of the Little Ambro near the West line of Edgar County, where the Sisters made a washing, as directed by the Council [p. 822]

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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
- Thomas Bullock
Footnotes
1. 549
  Kirtland Camp, Journal, 7 Sept. 1838; Tyler, “Daily Journal,” 7 Sept. 1838.
  
  Kirtland Camp. Journal, Mar.–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 4952.
  Tyler, Samuel D. Journal, July–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 1761.
2. 550
  TEXT: Notation written sideways in left margin.
3. 551
  See 8 Sept. 1838 entry in History Draft.
4. 552
  Kirtland Camp, Journal, 8 Sept. 1838; Tyler, “Daily Journal,” 8 Sept. 1838.
  
  Kirtland Camp. Journal, Mar.–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 4952.
  Tyler, Samuel D. Journal, July–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 1761.
5. 553
  JS, Journal, 8 Sept. 1838.
6. 554
  See 9 Sept. 1838 entry in History Draft.
7. 555
  JS, Journal, 9 Sept. 1838.
8. 556
  Kirtland Camp, Journal, 9–10 Sept. 1838; Tyler, “Daily Journal,” 9–10 Sept. 1838.
  
  Kirtland Camp. Journal, Mar.–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 4952.
  Tyler, Samuel D. Journal, July–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 1761.

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

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