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Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 2, 1 March–6 May 1845

1 March 1845 • Saturday, continued Page 1 4 March 1845 • Tuesday Page 32 11 March 1845 • Tuesday Page 77 18 March 1845 • Tuesday Page 131 22 March 1845 • Saturday Page 181 25 March 1845 • Tuesday Page 231 5 April 1845 • Saturday Page 266 11 April 1845 • Friday Page 267 15 April 1845 • Tuesday Page 327 22 April 1845 • Tuesday Page 349 29 April 1845 • Tuesday Page 355 6 May 1845 • Tuesday Page 361

Source Note

See source note under Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845.

Historical Introduction

See historical introduction under Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845.

Page [164]

council to take into consideration the case of Er
G[eorge] J. Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
. He has been dropped by this council.
244

Council of Fifty, “Record,” 4 Feb. 1845.


He was tried before the High Council last saturday, and he wants to be saved. I am well satisfied he will not betray us, and whether or no it would not be best to reconsider his case and if it is agreeable to have him reinstated.
245

The high council met the previous Saturday, 15 March 1845, to consider charges against Adams. The charges, brought by Brigham Young and based on various reports received by Young and others, included inappropriate fund raising, boasting, and entering into unauthorized plural marriages under the direction of William Smith while Adams was on a mission in the eastern United States during fall 1844 and early 1845. In October 1844 Wilford Woodruff, traveling through the eastern states en route to a mission in England, warned Young that Adams and Smith, along with Samuel Brannan, had mixed church affairs with Democratic Party politics, were “Uniting together in Begging money,” and had engaged in sexual immorality under the pretext of their “spiritual wife claims” (that is, plural marriages not authorized by Young as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). Furthermore, they were preaching that Adams “was the great Apostle to the gentiles as Paul even was the 13[th] Apostle.” Woodruff stated that Adams, Smith, and Brannan worked to build themselves up “instead of the Temple the Twelve & Nauvoo.” When Parley P. Pratt arrived in the eastern states in December 1844 to supervise the church there, he also condemned the actions of the “Great apostles of the Gentiles.” The trial focused on the charges of fiscal and sexual misconduct, although the claim that “he was appointed Joseph’s Spokesman” was briefly discussed. Adams denied that he had claimed he was JS’s spokesman and “explained about the Temple money,” arguing that the church actually owed him money. In addition, Adams admitted that he had been sealed to three women by William Smith. The conduct of Smith and Adams, Young stated, had “ripped” the church in the eastern states “all to pieces.” Adams said that “he knows he has done wrong. He dont deny what Pres. Young has said.” At the conclusion of the trial, Young stated that “he wanted Brother Adams to sit down and write that he has done wrong, that he asks forgiveness, and is willing henceforth to listen to council, and do right without criminating any one else.” He also required that Adams recognize the “proper authorities of this Church” and indicate his loyalty to the Twelve. (Wilford Woodruff, Boston, MA, to Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, 9 and 14 Oct. 1844; Wilford Woodruff, Philadelphia, PA, to Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, 3 Dec. 1844, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; Parley P. Pratt, “Proclamation,” Prophet, 4 Jan. 1845, [2]; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 15 Mar. 1845; see also Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Parley P. Pratt, 10 Apr. 1845, copy, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; Brigham Young, “Notice to the Churches Abroad,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1845, 6:878.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

The Prophet. New York City, NY. May 1844–Dec. 1845.

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Coun.
J. Feilding

26 Mar. 1797–19 Dec. 1863. Farmer. Born at Honeydon, Bedfordshire, England. Son of John Fielding and Rachel Ibbotson. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, 21 May 1836, in Black Creek...

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said his feelings were very unfavorable towards
brother Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
. He has not seen
Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
lately but he has heard some very bad reports about him from a source which he thinks can be relied upon.
Coun.
H. 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
said that
brother Fielding

26 Mar. 1797–19 Dec. 1863. Farmer. Born at Honeydon, Bedfordshire, England. Son of John Fielding and Rachel Ibbotson. Immigrated to Upper Canada, 1832. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, 21 May 1836, in Black Creek...

View Full Bio
s ideas are the effects of mere report, about a circumstance which
Adams

7 Nov. 1810–11 May 1880. Tailor, actor, clergyman. Born in Oxford, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Lived in Boston during 1820s and 1830s. Became Methodist lay preacher. Married Caroline. Moved to New York City, before 1840. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of...

View Full Bio
explained. He went on and related the circumstance. [p. [164]]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page [164]

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 2, 1 March–6 May 1845
ID #
11602
Total Pages
385
Print Volume Location
Handwriting on This Page
  • William Clayton

Footnotes

  1. [244]

    Council of Fifty, “Record,” 4 Feb. 1845.

  2. [245]

    The high council met the previous Saturday, 15 March 1845, to consider charges against Adams. The charges, brought by Brigham Young and based on various reports received by Young and others, included inappropriate fund raising, boasting, and entering into unauthorized plural marriages under the direction of William Smith while Adams was on a mission in the eastern United States during fall 1844 and early 1845. In October 1844 Wilford Woodruff, traveling through the eastern states en route to a mission in England, warned Young that Adams and Smith, along with Samuel Brannan, had mixed church affairs with Democratic Party politics, were “Uniting together in Begging money,” and had engaged in sexual immorality under the pretext of their “spiritual wife claims” (that is, plural marriages not authorized by Young as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). Furthermore, they were preaching that Adams “was the great Apostle to the gentiles as Paul even was the 13[th] Apostle.” Woodruff stated that Adams, Smith, and Brannan worked to build themselves up “instead of the Temple the Twelve & Nauvoo.” When Parley P. Pratt arrived in the eastern states in December 1844 to supervise the church there, he also condemned the actions of the “Great apostles of the Gentiles.” The trial focused on the charges of fiscal and sexual misconduct, although the claim that “he was appointed Joseph’s Spokesman” was briefly discussed. Adams denied that he had claimed he was JS’s spokesman and “explained about the Temple money,” arguing that the church actually owed him money. In addition, Adams admitted that he had been sealed to three women by William Smith. The conduct of Smith and Adams, Young stated, had “ripped” the church in the eastern states “all to pieces.” Adams said that “he knows he has done wrong. He dont deny what Pres. Young has said.” At the conclusion of the trial, Young stated that “he wanted Brother Adams to sit down and write that he has done wrong, that he asks forgiveness, and is willing henceforth to listen to council, and do right without criminating any one else.” He also required that Adams recognize the “proper authorities of this Church” and indicate his loyalty to the Twelve. (Wilford Woodruff, Boston, MA, to Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, 9 and 14 Oct. 1844; Wilford Woodruff, Philadelphia, PA, to Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, 3 Dec. 1844, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; Parley P. Pratt, “Proclamation,” Prophet, 4 Jan. 1845, [2]; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 15 Mar. 1845; see also Brigham Young, Nauvoo, IL, to Parley P. Pratt, 10 Apr. 1845, copy, Brigham Young Office Files, CHL; Brigham Young, “Notice to the Churches Abroad,” Times and Seasons, 15 Apr. 1845, 6:878.)

    Brigham Young Office Files, 1832–1878. CHL. CR 1234 1.

    The Prophet. New York City, NY. May 1844–Dec. 1845.

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

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