A motion was made that be received as a member of this council to occupy the seat of his brother which was seconded and carried unanimosly
The reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed with.
The title of the constitution of this kingdom was related by the and accepted by .
Er then related some matters pertaining to his labors in draughting a constitution for this kingdom, and stated the reasons why he discontinued his labors. He considered that if we made a constitution it would be a man made thing, and he considered that if God gave us laws to govern us and we receive those laws God must also give us a constitution. [p. [15]]
Pratt was appointed to a committee of the Council of Fifty in March 1844 to “draft a constitution which should be perfect, and embrace those principles which the constitution of the United States lacked.” After struggling to draft the document, the committee presented a portion of it in the 18 April 1844 council meeting, after which the council voted to give the committee more time to complete the draft. However, in the 25 April 1844 council meeting, JS advised the committee to “let the constitution alone. He would tell us the whole matter about the constitution as follows— Verily thus saith the Lord, ye are my constitution, and I am your God, and ye are my spokesmen. From henceforth do as I shall command you. Saith the Lord.” The council accepted the constitution by unanimous vote. (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 19 Mar. 1844; 18 and 25 Apr. 1844.)