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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Last Days assembled at , agreeably to a revelation given <x July 9 Conference of the Twelve.> July 8th. 1838. President , , , and ; presiding. Resolved first, That the persons who are to fill the places of those who have fallen, be immediately notified to come to : Also, those of the twelve who are not present.

Resolved 2d, That notify ; that notify , and that notify , who is now in England. voted that publish the same in the next Journal. gave some council, concerning the provisions necessary to be made for the families of the Twelve, while laboring in the cause of their Redeemer, advising them to instruct their converts to move without delay to the places of gathering, and there to strictly attend to the Law of God. , Clerk. Prest.”

<camp.> This day the Camp passed on to Talmadge, 20 miles. with great fatige, the weather being very hot.

10 July 1838 • Tuesday

<10 Joseph, visits .> Tuesday 10th. About this time I visited in company with , and .

<Camp.> This morning, the counsellors of the camp drew up six resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, in substance as follows.—

1st. The Engineer shall recieve advice from the counsellors concerning his duties; 2d. At 4 O clock A.M. the horn shall blow for rising, and at 20 minutes past 4, for prayers, at which time each overseer shall shall see that the inmates of his tent are ready for worship. 3d. The head of each division shall keep a roll of all his able bodied men to stand guard, in turn, as called for by the engineer, one half in the former, the other half in the latter part of the night. 4th. Each company of the camp is entitled to an equal proportion of the milk, whether they own the cows or not. 5th. Thomas Butterfield shall be appointed herdsman, to drive the cows and stock, and see that they are taken care of— and call for assistance when needed. 6th That in no case at present, shall the camp move more than 15 miles per day unless circumstances absolutely require it.

The camp moved 6 miles this day and encamped near Akron, on the canal, where they lightened their loads by putting some of their goods on the boat,— to be conveyed by water.

11–12 July 1838 • Wednesday–Thursday

<11> Wednesday 11th. 10 A.M. Elder Wilbers child died, and was buried at 1 P.M.— The Camp moved 11 miles and tarried over night at Chippiway, and although they were thoroughly drenched with a heavy shower, and retired to their lodgings wet, one man who had been troubled with the Rheumatism. said next morning, Thursday 12th. he had not felt so well and spry for a <12> long time. Camp travelled to Wayne 17. miles, having some rain, two or three broken waggons, and a little murmuring.

13 July 1838 • Friday

<13> Friday 13th. passed on to Mohican 17 miles, exciting great curiousity among the inhabitants, as they passed along, attended with some hard speeches [p. 804]

Last Days assembled at , agreeably to a revelation given x July 9 Conference of the Twelve. July 8th. 1838. President , , , and ; presiding. Resolved first, That the persons who are to fill the places of those who have fallen, be immediately notified to come to : Also, those of the twelve who are not present.

camp. This day the Camp passed on to Talmadge, 20 miles. with great fatige, the weather being very hot.

10 July 1838 • Tuesday

10 Joseph, visits . Tuesday 10th. About this time I visited in company with , and .

Camp. This morning, the counsellors of the camp drew up six resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, in substance as follows.—

1st. The Engineer shall recieve advice from the counsellors concerning his duties; 2d. At 4 O clock A.M. the horn shall blow for rising, and at 20 minutes past 4, for prayers, at which time each overseer shall see that the inmates of his tent are ready for worship. 3d. The head of each division shall keep a roll of all his able bodied men to stand guard, in turn, as called for by the engineer, one half in the former, the other half in the latter part of the night. 4th. Each company of the camp is entitled to an equal proportion of the milk, whether they own the cows or not. 5th. Thomas Butterfield shall be appointed herdsman, to drive the cows and stock, and see that they are taken care of— and call for assistance when needed. 6th That in no case at present, shall the camp move more than 15 miles per day unless circumstances absolutely require it.

The camp moved 6 miles this day and encamped near Akron, on the canal, where they lightened their loads by putting some of their goods on the boat,— to be conveyed by water.

11–12 July 1838 • Wednesday–Thursday

11 Wednesday 11th. 10 A.M. Elder Wilbers child died, and was buried at 1 P.M.— The Camp moved 11 miles and tarried over night at Chippiway, and although they were thoroughly drenched with a heavy shower, and retired to their lodgings wet, one man who had been troubled with the Rheumatism. said next morning, Thursday 12th. he had not felt so well and spry for a 12 long time. Camp travelled to Wayne 17. miles, having some rain, and a little murmuring.

13 July 1838 • Friday

13 Friday 13th. passed on to Mohican 17 miles, exciting great curiousity among the inhabitants, , attended with some hard speeches [p. 804]

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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
- Willard Richards
Footnotes
1. 460
  Kirtland Camp, Journal, 9 July 1838; Tyler, “Daily Journal,” 9 July 1838.
  
  Kirtland Camp. Journal, Mar.–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 4952.
  Tyler, Samuel D. Journal, July–Oct. 1838. CHL. MS 1761.
2. 461
  Kirtland Camp, Journal, 10–24 July 1838; Tyler, “Daily Journal,” 10–24 July 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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