Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 28–29 Aug. 1834. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 58–72, 73; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
On 28 August 1834, , in , Ohio, convened the Kirtland to try for “violating the laws of the church of the latter day saints.” Smith, a participant, had accused JS of “criminal conduct” on the expedition, but the Kirtland council that investigated the charges on 11 August 1834 found JS innocent of any wrongdoing. The council required Sylvester Smith to recant his charges publicly, which he agreed to do, and appointed a committee to write an article clearing JS’s name, to be published in The Evening and the Morning Star. On 23 August 1834, another council approved the article for publication, but Sylvester Smith then “objected against abiding by the decision of the former council, and proceeded to Justify himself in his former conduct.” The council decided that Sylvester Smith was “guilty of a misdemeanor unbecoming a man in his high station” and “disqualified” him from acting in his church office until “a trial before the bishop assisted by twelve [could] be had.”
That same day, made formal charges against and requested to call the high council to investigate the charges. Whitney did so on 28 August, and the council met for the next two days, hearing testimony about what had transpired at the 11 August council and on the Camp of Israel expedition. The high council ultimately mandated that Sylvester Smith publish a confession in order to remain a member of the church, stating that he “willfully and maliciously lied” in making his accusations against JS. The confession was published in the October 1834 issue of the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, and Sylvester Smith retained his membership and his high priest office, though he was removed from the high council in September 1834. However, Smith may not have been satisfied with the decision of the council. Although he signed a statement acknowledging the justness of the council’s decisions, someone—likely Sylvester Smith himself, as the handwriting resembles his—later crossed out his name and wrote under it, “The above was signed for fear of punishment.” This may have occurred in 1836 when Smith was temporarily serving as JS’s scribe.
The high council, which tried , was established in February 1834 in part to adjudicate difficult issues in the church. According to the constitution of the high council, the president of the high council, JS, was supposed to preside, assisted by two other presidents—at the time, and . However, Bishop actually presided over the high council at this 28–29 August meeting. Since JS was the subject of Smith’s charges, he may have recused himself from the presiding role. If so, it is unclear why Rigdon or Williams did not then act as the presiding authority, especially since guidelines for the high council clearly state that in the absence of the president, “the other presidents have power to preside in his stead, both or either of them.” It may have been because Whitney had already presided over the 11 August council that originally investigated Smith’s charges. Or perhaps it was because the 23 August council specifically stated that Smith needed to be tried by “the bishop assisted by twelve high priests,” or a . However, the minutes themselves specifically refer to the body addressing these charges as the high council, not as a bishop’s court. A third possibility is that the council was functioning in accordance with instructions in a November 1831 revelation that stated if the was in transgression, the president (JS) should be tried before a court chaired by the bishop, or common judge, assisted by “twelve counsellors of the .” Even though JS was not on trial, the high council did address Smith’s charges against JS, which, as Rigdon stated in his complaint, meant that the case “affect[ed] the presidency” of the church. Whatever the reason, Whitney assumed the same roles that the president of the high council typically filled, serving as moderator throughout the trial, delivering the decision in the case, and calling on the high counselors for their sanction of the decision.
and served as clerks of the meeting and kept the minutes. The minutes featured here include ’s formal complaint against , ’s notification to Smith of the charges, and Smith’s statement acknowledging the decision of the council. later copied these documents and the minutes into Minute Book 1.
Sylvester Smith to Oliver Cowdery, Kirtland, OH, 28 Oct. 1834, in LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1834, 1:10–11; Minutes, 24 Sept. 1834. In February 1835, Smith was called as one of the initial members of the Seventy, an ecclesiastical body established by JS. (Minutes and Blessings, 28 Feb.–1 Mar. 1835.)
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
sufficient to prove that brother Joseph had conducted himself in an honorable manner, during his late journey to and from , and that he considered that the evidence there given, was such that it could not be invalidated. Brother said that previous to the on the 11th. his mind had been agitated, and it was in consequence in part, of reports which had been put in circulation respecting brother Joseph’s conduct on his late journey to and from . But when he heard the case investigated before that council his mind was satisfied that he had been misinformed, and was fully satisfied that brother Joseph had not acted in any respect, contrary to righteousness before the Lord. Brother , said that previous to the council, his mind had been agitated also, but was satisfied at the council, and he verily believed from the evidences there given, that brother J. had not acted contrary to justice. Brother said that his mind was excited still further, after conversing with previous to the 11th which served in any degree to excite his mind further. Brother said that he understood the case on the 11th. in the same light as stated by brethren & . Brethren, , and viewed the case in the same light. Brother said that he considered that was to send a confession in the Star, that he himself, had been in the fault. and that brother Joseph had not committed fault as he () had previously stated. Brethren, , , [,] , , & , concurred. Brother said, that after listening to all the reports and evidences from the beginning up to the decision on the 11th. Inst. he considered that was to acknowledge that all the charges previously preferred in public against brother J. were ungrounded, and that he, () was to acknowledge the one, and the only one in the fault, touching all circumstances, transpiring [p. 61]
Jacob Bump, from Silver Creek, New York, and Asa Lyman, from Parishville, New York, both signed a statement, published in the August 1834 issue of The Evening and the Morning Star, that they were “perfectly satisfied, that whatever impressions may have gone abroad,” JS “conducted himself” honorably on the Camp of Israel expedition. (Resolutions, ca. 23 Aug. 1834; “Conference Minutes,” The Evening and the Morning Star, Aug. 1834, 182.)
The Evening and the Morning Star. Independence, MO, June 1832–July 1833; Kirtland, OH, Dec. 1833–Sept. 1834.
The copy of these minutes in a later JS history identifies this individual as Ezekiel Rider, an elder from Chardon, Ohio, who was the subject of a bishop’s council in December 1833 for saying “hard things against Bro Whitney, the Bishop of the church.” Rider confessed his misdeed and was forgiven. (JS History, vol. A-1, 543; JS, Journal, 1 Apr. 1834; Minutes, 26 Dec. 1833.)
JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.