Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 16 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 108–113; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
On 13 September 1835, church leaders presented a newly purchased leather-bound volume to a gathering of church members for their inspection. During the course of that meeting, individuals were allowed to examine the book, and an elderly man identified as “Brother Aldridge,” apparently Andrew Aldrich, complained that the price paid had been too expensive. Minutes from that meeting do not exist, but apparently JS and charged Aldrich with being under the influence of an evil spirit. The next day, Henry Green declared that JS’s treatment of Aldrich indicated that the devil was in JS. In response, a met on 16 September 1835 to hear a complaint from JS against Green for the comments he had publicly aired against him.
Although JS normally presided as president of the high council, presided in this case to consider the charge made by JS. Members of the council testified concerning the original exchange between Aldrich and JS, as well as Green’s subsequent critical comments against JS. The council found that JS had fulfilled his duty in rebuking Aldrich and that Green had been wrong to criticize JS. The minutes indicate that counselors were appointed to “speak on each side of the council,” but no defense of Green is recorded. raised a concern on behalf of Green, but not until after judgment had been pronounced. Green was cut off from the church and instructed that rebaptism would be necessary to reenter. No immediate commentary on the fate of Aldrich is mentioned, but his obituary the following year stated that he was “in good standing with the church of Latter Day Saints and died in full faith of the everlasting gospel.”
acted as clerk for the meeting and kept the minutes. later copied the minutes into Minute Book 1.
About this same time, patriarchal blessings given by Joseph Smith Sr. began to be copied into a large leather-bound volume. That book, which came to be known as Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, is almost certainly the volume under discussion here. (Minutes, 14 Sept. 1835.)
Andrew Hazen Aldrich was the father of Hazen Aldrich. He was present in Kirtland in August 1835 and, at sixty-seven years old, was the only Kirtland resident of that name who could have been considered an “old man” at the time. He died the following year on 26 July 1836 in Missouri. (“General Assembly,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:161; Obituary for Andrew Aldrich, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1836, 3:393.)
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
Thomas Henry Green, known as Henry, was born 15 May 1808 in Acworth, New Hampshire, and was raised by John and Rebecca Reed from the time he was a small boy. When they converted to the church and migrated to Ohio, he went with them. (Nebeker, Rebecca Bearce, 110–112; Meadows, Descendants of Reade or Reed, 7, 34.)
Nebeker, Lionel. Rebecca Bearce, By the author, 1987. Copy available as microfilm 1,697,283, item 4, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
Meadows, Fanny L. S., comp. Descendants of Reade or Reed. Cleveland: Jennie M. Ames, 1937.
Without a record of the defense, it is not known if the counselor assigned to argue for the defendant, as required by established guidelines, did so. (See Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93]; and Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102].)
Green’s long-term standing with the church is unclear. When the Quincy, Illinois, branch made an accounting of members’ standings on 21 June 1840, Green was listed, but his name is crossed out with an X to the left and a notation reading “out” to the right. Green likely moved to Iowa Territory with the Reed family, and later moved to Utah. (Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book, 21 June 1840; Nebeker, Rebecca Bearce, 114; Meadows, Descendants of Reade or Reed, 61; 1860 U.S. Census, Tooele, Tooele Co., Utah Territory, 311; 1870 U.S. Census, Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah Territory, 306; 1880 U.S. Census, Tintic, Juab Co., Utah Territory, 417.)
Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book / “Record of the Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Quincy, (Ill),” 1840–1846. CHL. LR 5361 21, fd. 1.
Nebeker, Lionel. Rebecca Bearce, By the author, 1987. Copy available as microfilm 1,697,283, item 4, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
Meadows, Fanny L. S., comp. Descendants of Reade or Reed. Cleveland: Jennie M. Ames, 1937.
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.
proceed to examine the charge preferred, because brother Green had been regularly summoned by himself.
The council appointed that one should speak on each side of the council. After which testimony was examind as follows, testified that brother Green (on monday morning last) said that brother Aldridge was justified in what he said, and that President Joseph & were wrong in abusing the old man, and after explained the matter to him, said that if any man should do so by him, he should call him a scoundrel, and that he should say that any man who should talk as Joseph did must have the Devil in him. Elder said he was present when the above conversation took place & heard a considerable part of it and fully concurred in the statement of . And he heard brother Green say previous to the above talk that although they accused brother Aldridge of having an evil Spirit, yet if the truth was known the Devil was in them. (Viz.) Joseph & : for if any man should ask my opinion and then abuse me in this way, I should call him a scoundrel or a knave[.] President said before the council that brother Aldridge was not called upon to give his opinion concerning the Book but said what he did without being called upon to speak, for the book was only handed to him and others, to look at, that they might see its quality and goodness. President Joseph S. arose and stated that knew brother Aldridge was under the influence of an evil spirit and had been for a long time. And Counsellor also said that he knew that this thing was so. by what he had seen and learned, & that he had heard from credible Authority that the old man had been in the habit for a long time of neglecting prayer & family worship. [p. 109]
According to guidelines established in 1834, the fact that only two counselors were chosen to speak indicates that the council did not deem this a difficult case. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:13].)