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

shall be chastened sorely for all his iniquities, he has committed against <November 2 3.> me; nevertheless, [HC 2:300] the sin which he hath sinned against me is not even now more grievous than the sin with which my servant <, , .> , and my servant , and my servant have sinned against me, and the residue are not sufficiently humble before me; Behold the parable which I spake concerning a man having twelve sons, for what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter to them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto one be thou clothed in robes, and sit thou here; and to the other, be thou clothed in rags, and sit thou there, and looketh upon his sons and saith I am just: ye will answer, and say, no man; and ye answer truly: Therefore, verily thus saith the Lord your God, I appointed these Twelve that they should be equal in their ministry, and in their portion, and in their evangelical rights, wherefore they have sinned a very grievous sin, inasmuch as they have made themselves unequal, and have not hearkened unto my voice: Therefore, let them repent speedily, and prepare their hearts for the solemn Assembly, and for the great day which is to come: Verily thus saith the Lord; Amen.

<Elder’s School organized.> I then went to assist in organizing the elders School: called to order and made some remarks upon the object of this school, and the great necessity of <our> rightly improving our time, and reigning up our minds to a sense of the great object that lies before us, viz. that glorious endowment that God has in store for the faithful. I then dedicated the School in the name of the Lord Jesus <Patriarchal Meeting> Christ. After the school was dismissed I attended a patriarchal meeting at Brother ’s; ’s parents were blessed, also his child and named . At evening I preached in the School house to a crowded congregation.

4 November 1835 • Wednesday

<4.> Wednesday 4th. At home in the morning. attended school during school hours; made rapid progress in our studies; in the evening lectured on Grammar at home. arrived, from Zion this day.

5 November 1835 • Thursday

<5. visited the sick.> Thursday 5th Attended school. came in from the east. This morning I was called to visit , who was sick. I took my with me and we prayed [HC 2:301] for and laid our hands on him in the name of the Lord Jesus, < & called to hear.> and rebuked his affliction. , and came in and desired to hear the Revelation concerning the Twelve. my read it to them, they expressed some little dissatisfaction, but after examining their own hearts, they acknowledged it to be the word of the Lord, and said <.> they were satisfied: After school came in and desired also to hear it read. After hearing it he appeard perfectly satisfied. In the evening I lectured on Grammar.

6 November 1835 • Friday

<6.> Friday Morning 6th at home. Attended school during school hours, [p. 635]

shall be chastened sorely for all his iniquities, he has committed against November 3. me; nevertheless, [HC 2:300] the sin which he hath sinned against me is not even now more grievous than the sin with which my servant , , . , and my servant , and my servant have sinned against me, and the residue are not sufficiently humble before me; Behold the parable which I spake concerning a man having twelve sons, for what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter to them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto one be thou clothed in robes, and sit thou here; and to the other, be thou clothed in rags, and sit thou there, and looketh upon his sons and saith I am just: ye will answer, and say, no man; and ye answer truly: Therefore, verily thus saith the Lord your God, I appointed these Twelve that they should be equal in their ministry, and in their portion, and in their evangelical rights, wherefore they have sinned a very grievous sin, inasmuch as they have made themselves unequal, and have not hearkened unto my voice: Therefore, let them repent speedily, and prepare their hearts for the solemn Assembly, and for the great day which is to come: Verily thus saith the Lord; Amen.

Elder’s School organized. I then went to assist in organizing the elders School: called to order and made some remarks upon the object of this school, and the great necessity of our rightly improving our time, and reigning up our minds to a sense of the great object that lies before us, viz. that glorious endowment that God has in store for the faithful. I then dedicated the School in the name of the Lord Jesus Patriarchal Meeting Christ. After the school was dismissed I attended a patriarchal meeting at Brother ’s; ’s parents were blessed, also his child and named . At evening I preached in the School house to a crowded congregation.

4 November 1835 • Wednesday

4. Wednesday 4th. At home in the morning. attended school during school hours; made rapid progress in our studies; in the evening lectured on Grammar at home. arrived, from Zion this day.

5 November 1835 • Thursday

5. visited the sick. Thursday 5th Attended school. came in from the east. This morning I was called to visit , who was sick. I took my with me and we prayed [HC 2:301] for and laid our hands on him in the name of the Lord Jesus, & called to hear. and rebuked his affliction. , and came in and desired to hear the Revelation concerning the Twelve. my read it to them, they expressed some little dissatisfaction, but after examining their own hearts, they acknowledged it to be the word of the Lord, and said . they were satisfied: After school came in and desired also to hear it read. After hearing it he appeard perfectly satisfied. In the evening I lectured on Grammar.

6 November 1835 • Friday

6. Friday Morning 6th at home. Attended school during school hours, [p. 635]

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. 121
  JS, Journal, 4 Nov. 1835.
2. 122
  JS, Journal, 5 Nov. 1835.
3. 123
  JS, Journal, 6 Nov. 1835.

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

Cite this page

Request for Documents