Minutes, 15 February 1833

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Minutes, 15 February 1833
Source Note
Minutes,
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Geauga Co., OH, 15 Feb. 1833. Featured version copied [between 17 and ca. 26 Feb. 1833] in Minute Book 1, p. 10; handwriting of
Frederick G. Williams
28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
The
Kirtland
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high council
A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...
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minute book, or Minute Book 1, describes seven separate meetings or
conferences
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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that took place from 29 January to 17 February 1833. The minutes of most of these meetings contain only records of specific people being
ordained
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
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to
priesthood
Power or authority of God. The priesthood was conferred through the laying on of hands upon adult male members of the church in good standing; no specialized training was required. Priesthood officers held responsibility for administering the sacrament of...
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offices. The following entry, for instance, mentions the ordinations of
Harpin Riggs
12 Apr. 1809–2 Nov. 1865. Farmer, cooper. Born in Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Riggs and Susan Pitcher. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by 1820. Served as election clerk, 8 Sept. 1830, in Kirtland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...
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and
Isaac McWithy
1778–4 May 1851. Farmer. Born in New York. Married Hannah Taylor of Vermont. Moved to Covington, Genesee Co., New York, by 1820. Lived at Bennington, Genesee Co., with family of five, 1830. Ordained an elder, 15 Feb. 1833. Lived at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio...
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as
elders
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
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. Riggs was ordained in the midst of church disciplinary action against his younger brother
Burr Riggs
17 Apr. 1811–1860. Botanist, physician. Born in Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Riggs and Susan Picher. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and ordained an elder, before 3 June 1831. Ordained a high priest, 25 Oct. ...
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.
1
Two days earlier, on 13 February, Burr Riggs was brought before a council of high priests and “accused of not magnifying his calling as a high Priest in the Church of Christ but had been guilty of neglect of duty and abusing the Elders and treating their admonition and advice with contempt.” On 26 February, he was formally “cut off from being a member of this Church of Christ.” (Minute Book 1, 13 and 26 Feb. 1833.)
Footnotes
[1]
Two days earlier, on 13 February, Burr Riggs was brought before a council of high priests and “accused of not magnifying his calling as a high Priest in the Church of Christ but had been guilty of neglect of duty and abusing the Elders and treating their admonition and advice with contempt.” On 26 February, he was formally “cut off from being a member of this Church of Christ.” (Minute Book 1, 13 and 26 Feb. 1833.)
Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation.
*Minutes, 15 February 1833
Minute Book 1 History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834] “History of Joseph Smith”
Page 10
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Kirtland
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Feby 15— 1833
A
Councel
A gathering of church leaders assembled “for consultation, deliberation and advice”; also a body responsible for governance or administration. As early as 9 February 1831, a revelation instructed that “the Elders & Bishop shall Council together & they shall...
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of
Elders
A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...
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assembled in the school room
1
This “Councel” likely refers to the recently organized School of the Prophets, which met in the upper room of Newel K. Whitney’s store.
and
ordained
The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...
View Glossary

Harpin Rig[g]s
12 Apr. 1809–2 Nov. 1865. Farmer, cooper. Born in Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Gideon Riggs and Susan Pitcher. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, by 1820. Served as election clerk, 8 Sept. 1830, in Kirtland. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...
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and
Isaac MCWethy [McWithy]
1778–4 May 1851. Farmer. Born in New York. Married Hannah Taylor of Vermont. Moved to Covington, Genesee Co., New York, by 1820. Lived at Bennington, Genesee Co., with family of five, 1830. Ordained an elder, 15 Feb. 1833. Lived at Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio...
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to be Elders in this
Chur[c]h of Christ
The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...
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under the hand of Joseph Smit[h] J. [p. 10]
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Source Note
Document Transcript
Page 10
Document Information
Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 15 February 1833
ID #
7266
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:10
Handwriting on This Page
Frederick G. Williams
Footnotes
[1]
This “Councel” likely refers to the recently organized School of the Prophets, which met in the upper room of Newel K. Whitney’s store.