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.
<October 25 s mob, battle of > both thighs, one in the arm, all by musket shot. One had his arm broke by a sword— Brother was shot in the head and left dead on the ground, so defaced the brethren did not know him— reported that he lost one man— The three prisoners were released and returned with the Brethren to — was carried some of the way in a litter but it caused so much distress he begged to be left and was carried into Brother Winchester’s three miles from the city where he died that night. died soon after, and ’s body was also brought from when it was discovered who he was.
< says he was not with Joseph. says it was who was with Joseph> I went with and to meet the brethren on their return near Log Creek, where I saw in a most distressed condition. His wound was incurable. Brother was a very worthy man, beloved by all good men who knew him. He was one of the Twelve Apostles, and died as he lived, a man of God; and strong in the faith of a glorious Resurrection, in a world where mobs will have no power or place— one of his last expressions to his Wife was “Whatever you do else O! do not defy <deny> the faith”— How different his fate from that of the Apostate [HC 3:171] , who this day vented all the lying spleen and malice of his heart towards the work of God in a letter to and . To which was annexed an addenda by —
The following letter will shew the State of public feeling in the Country
“Lexington 6 o’clock p.m. Octr. 25. 1838. To Messrs. and Wiley C. Williams— “Gentlemen:— This letter is sent on after you on express, by Mr. Bryant of , since you left this morning. Mr. C. R. Morehead came here on express for men to assist in repelling a threatened attack upon to night. He brought news that the Mormon armed force had attacked this morning at daylight, and had cut off his whole company of fifty men. Since Mr. Morehead left , one of the Company (’s) had come in and reported that there were ten of his comrades killed, and the remainder were taken Prisoners, after many of them had been severely wounded; he stated further, that would be sacked and burned by the Mormon banditti to night. Nothing can exceed the consternation which this news gives rise to. The women and children are flying from in every direction. A number of them have repaired to Lexington, amongst whom is Mrs. Rees; we will have sent from this County since 1 o clock this evening, about one hundred well armed and daring men, perhaps the most effective our Country can boast of. They will certainly give them (the Mormons) a warm reception at to night. You will see the necessity of hurrying on to the , and also of imparting correct information to the public as you go along. My impression is, that you had better send one of your number to Howard, Cooper and Counties, in order that volunteers may be getting ready, and flocking to the scene of trouble as fast as possible. They must make haste and put a stop to the devastation which is menaced by these infuriated fanatics, and they must go prepared and with the full determination to exterminate or expel them from the State en masse. Nothing but this can give tranquility to the public mind, and re-establish the supremacy of the laws. There must be no further delaying with this question any where. The Mormons must leave the State, or we will— one and all. And to this complexion it must come at last. We have great reliance upon your ability, discretion and fitness [HC 3:172] for the task you have undertaken, and we have only time to say, God speed you. Yours truly E. M. Ryland”
The brethren had not thought of going to , it was a lie out of whole cloth—
<26> Friday 26.
Head Quarters of the Militia, , Octr. 26. 1838— Gen. 1st. Div. Mo. Mi. Sir:— Application has been made to the Commander in Chief by the [p. 840]
Source Note
Source Note
Document Transcript
Document Information
Document Information
Footnotes
Footnotes
- [678]
E. M. Ryland, Lexington, MO, to Amos Rees and Wiley C. Williams, 25 Oct. 1838, in Document Containing the Correspondence, 61–62.
Document Containing the Correspondence, Orders, &c., in Relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons; and the Evidence Given before the Hon. Austin A. King, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, at the Court-House in Richmond, in a Criminal Court of Inquiry, Begun November 12, 1838, on the Trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Others, for High Treason and Other Crimes against the State. Fayette, MO: Boon’s Lick Democrat, 1841.
- [679]
See 26 Oct. 1838 entry in History Draft.
- [680]
B. M. Lisle, Jefferson City, MO, to John B. Clark, 26 Oct. 1838, in Document Containing the Correspondence, 62–63.
Document Containing the Correspondence, Orders, &c., in Relation to the Disturbances with the Mormons; and the Evidence Given before the Hon. Austin A. King, Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, at the Court-House in Richmond, in a Criminal Court of Inquiry, Begun November 12, 1838, on the Trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and Others, for High Treason and Other Crimes against the State. Fayette, MO: Boon’s Lick Democrat, 1841.
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