| High council of the
church presidency (7 members) and others consider letter of Warren Cowdery
reporting Twelve hadn't raised money for House of the Lord at Freedom,
New York; and William E. McLellin's letter to his wife disparaging school
of the prophets. Twelve are admonished and William E. McLellin and Orson
Hyde are suspended. |
| Text quoted below is
from the Joseph Smith Letter Book 1. Apparently the minutes were sent to
the Twelve. Italicized text in right column is from version in History
of the Church 1:239–241. In addition, HC spells out
abbreviated names, consistently spells McLellin and Mc.Lelllin as M'Lellin, and does not indicate emphasis (underlining). |
| Date |
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August 4, 1835 |
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| Location |
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Kirtland, Ohio. |
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| Description |
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… a high council, the Presidency
of the church of Christ of latterday saints, consisting of
Presidents, Joseph Smith, jr. Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith,
David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and W. W. Phelps and others met … |
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| Moderator |
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Joseph Smith |
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¶ |
Kirtland, Ohio, August 4, 1835. |
|
Letterbook-1, 90–93 [end of volume]. |
| Presidency of seven |
¶ |
This day a high council, the Presidency of the church
of Christ of latterday saints, consisting of Presidents,
Joseph Smith, jr. Oliver Cowdery, Sidney
Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, David
Whitmer,
John Whitmer, and W.
W. Phelps and others met, to take into consideration
certain items contained in letters from abroad: one from W. A.
Cowdery,
presiding Elder of the Freedom conference, and one from Elder William
E. McLellin (h): |
|
Italics: HC version.
Kirtland, August 4th, 1835, a High Council
of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints assembled in conference,
consisting of … |
| Warren Cowdery's
letter |
|
the first reads as follows: "Freedom, July 29, 1835." |
|
29th |
Jared Carter came to raise funds
Mentioned in Messenger and Advocate
Forgot about it
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¶ |
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Dear brother,—Elder Jared
Carter called
on this church last Thursday, on his way east, solisciting donations and
subscriptions for finishing the house in your place. Although the subject
of such a mission, in connection with his name had been mentioned in the
Messenger and Advocate, still, as no other method had been taken to impress
the subject on our minds, it had measurably passed out, or ceased to make
any impression. Therefore, we were in some degree taken on surprise. |
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| Twelve, Bishop only briefly mentioned it, no
instructions |
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The twelve, the Bishop, nor any others clothed with authority
have ever mentioned this subject to us, except incidently, to the recollection
of any of the church. It surly was never made a subject of public instruction,
as br. Carter had Just reason to expect it had been, felt an embar<r>assment
peculiar to such a situation. |
|
To the recollection of any of the church, neither
the Twelve … except incidentally.
reason: reasons
had been, felt: had been, he felt
William E. McLellin's diary entry for May 23 indicates wise men were
appointed to raise funds to purchase lands. ¶ Minutes
of May 22–25,
1835 |
Jared had difficulty
Raised $341 |
|
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He undertook to preach to us yesterday, but from the aforesaid
embarrassment, or the deadness, or the covetousness of the church, he could
get none of the Spirit of the Lord to assist him. I am free that I attributed
more to the latter cause than the former, yet, notwithstanding we made
out in donations and subscriptions, that I trust will be eventually realized
$341.37 1/2. |
|
Italics: HC version.
am free that : am free to say that
subscriptions, that: subscriptions which |
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May the Lord bless and prosper him, and all his faithful
servants, and may they find favor in the sight of God and man, is the prayer
of your unworthy brother. |
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| |
¶ |
|
Oliver Cowdery |
(signed) |
W. A. Cowdery |
|
W.: Warren |
Twelve failed
Fund-raising their first priority
Twelve serve under presidency |
¶ |
[91] From this short letter we discover that failed in out
set, to fill their great and important mission, as they know that God has
commanded us to build a house in which to receive an endowment, previous
to the redemption of Zion, and that Zion could not be redeemed until
this takes place: knowing that the committee were to journey for the express
purpose of soliciting donations, they have failed to hold them up, and
set forth this first important thing, and in consequence God has not blessed
them as he otherwise would. We remind you of these things, in the name
of the Lord, and refer you to the book of covenants, 2nd. Section, 2nd.
part, and 12. paragraph, and ask, did we not instruct you to remember first
the house, secondly the cause of Zion, and then the publishing the word
to the Nations? |
|
that failed: that the Elders failed
God: the Lord
1835 D&C 2:12 reference should be to 3:12. "The twelve are a travelling,
presiding high council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction
of the presidency of the church, agreeably to the institution of heaven;
to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations:
first unto the Gentiles, and secondly unto the Jews." // D&C 107:33, April
[28–30], 1835. |
| William E. McLellin's letter |
|
The other is an extract from Elder Wm. E. Mc.Lellin's letter
to his wife, as follows. |
|
The other is: The other item referred to
is |
| Glad wife won't attend school |
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You say, that it will not be in your power to go to
school this summer—I am glad that it is not, since Elder Hyde
has returned and given, me a description of the manner in which it is conducted.
though we do not wish to cast any reflections. |
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Council considers this an insult
Esteem in God's sight
|
¶ |
This, the council consider to be a libel upon the face of
it: Elder McLellin says, "We do not wish to cast any reflections." when
the highest insult and reflections are cast by it upon the church, the
presidency, and those who are held in much higher estimation in the sight
of God and this church than themselves. |
|
consider: considered |
| William E. and Orson Hyde disfellowshipped |
|
It is necessary to add further the vote of the counsel—We
hereby inform Elders McLellin and Hyde that we withdraw our fellowship
from them until they return and make satisfaction face to face. |
|
Italics: HC version.
It is necessary to add further the vote of the counsel: The
vote of the counsel was |
| Twelve outlaws |
¶ |
We further inform the twelve, that as far as we can learn
from the churches through which you have traveled, that you have set yourselves
up as an independent counsel, subject to no authority of the church, a
kind of out laws. This impression is wrong, and [92] will if persisted
in, bring down the wrath and indignation upon your heads. |
|
you have traveled that you : we have traveled,
you
indignation upon: indignation of heaven upon |
Ten to finish conferences
William E., Orson do as they like
|
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The other ten are directed to procceed on and finish the
conferences, and the two may act their own judgment, whether to proceed
or return. |
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act their: act upon their |
| William Smith's letter approved |
¶ |
President J. Smith jr. read to the counsel a letter from
Elder Wm. Smith, which was approved, and filled
our hearts with joy. |
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| Thomas B. Marsh not to go to
Zion without permission |
¶ |
A letter from Elder T. B. Marsh (h)
was presented—The
council refer him to the commandment which requires non[e] to leave or
bring their families without revelation, or decision of the high counsel—Were
they to come, they would not be with him as much as they will to tarry.
President Phelps' family is not coming. |
|
their families: his family |
| Give the Lord the honor of successful
preaching |
¶ |
We discover an error in Elder Marshe's letter—He says, "To
the able preaching of Elders. Wm. E. Mc.Lellin & P. P. Pratt." We
conclude that if it had been the preaching of the Lord, as it should have
been, he would have had the honor, and not these men. |
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| Ask Lord to deal with rebels |
¶ |
To close, we add, that unless this epistle is heeded, in
all its parts, in its full force, those who rebell against it shall be
dealt with by the Lord accordingly, for we ask, being agreed as touching
this thing. |
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First things first
Christ first, families second
|
¶ |
We wish you to understand, that your duty requires you to
seek first the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness, that is—attend
to the first things first, and then all things will be added, and
that complaint about your families will be less frequent.—Dont preach
yourselves crucified for your wives sake, but remember that Christ was
crucified, and you are sent out to be special witnesses of this thing.
Men do not wish to hear these little things, for there is no salvation
in them, but there is in the other. |
|
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| Follow Spirit, get blessings |
¶ |
Let the hands of the ten be strengthened, and let them go
forth in the name of the Lord, in the power of their mission, giving diligent
heed to the direction [93] of the Holy Spirit—we say, be strong
in the Lord and in the power of his might, for great things await you,
and great blessings are in store for you. |
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Power of the two goes to the
70.
Evil speakers to be cursed |
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Let the power of the two be upon th[e] seventy until the
two make full satisfaction; for the seventy shall be blessed and are blessed.
That man who presumes to speak evil of the dignities which God has set
in his church, to his family, or to any body else, shall be cursed in his
generation. Remember the 109 Psalm His bishopric shall be taken from him
unless he speedily repents. Be it known that God is God and when he speaks
let all the congregation say: Amen. |
|
Italics: HC version.
That man: The man
"For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened
against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. … Let
his days be few; and let another take his office. … Let his children
be fatherless, and his wife a widow." Psalms 109:2, 8–9. |
| Have enough trouble as is |
¶ |
We have evil insinuations enough in Kirtland to grapple with,
that are suggested by the father of lies, without having them from those
who are sent out to put down insinuations. May God help you to be more
wise for the future: Amen. |
|
| Joseph moderator |
¶ |
Oliver Cowdery—Clerk |
(signed) |
Joseph Smith jr.—Moderator |
|
(signed) and Joseph
Smith jr.—Moderator are omitted in HC. |
William's house nearly finished
Will be able to attend school
Greatest must serve |
¶ |
P.S. To Elder Wm. Smith: Your house is nearly finished, except
plastering, a few days will complete it except this: Whether it will entirely
finished by his return, or not, we cannot say; but he will be permitted
to attend the school this winter: his family with all your families here,
are well. Wm's. Father is soon to move in with Wm's wife. A word further
we admonish br. Wm. to be very humble and prayerful, and to remember further,
that he that humbleth himself shall be exalted—he that would be greatest
in the Kingdom of God, must be least of all, and servant of all. The admonition
we give to one, we give to all |
|
P.S. is omitted in its entirety in HC. |
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(signed) |
Joseph Smith jr. |
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Minutes of August 10, 1837
Minutes of July 14, 1837
Ohio Minutes
|