Council meetings were often begun with a prayer by the moderator or by a presiding authority. As the oldest member of the Zion high council, Murdock was designated its president in 1836, although the Zion presidency presided over high councils when present, just as the church presidency had presided over Kirtland high council meetings when present. (See Minutes, 7 Nov. 1837; Minutes, 10 Nov. 1837; Minute Book 2, 6–7 Dec. 1837; and Letter from Thomas B. Marsh, 15 Feb. 1838.)

Marsh took the lead in the 5 February trial to remove the Zion presidency from office. Hinkle and several other members of the high council spoke against the Zion presidency during the meeting. Some, like Edward Partridge, “spake against the proceedings of the meeting, as being hasty and illegal,” but only Corrill “spake against the High Council.” In a letter that Marsh sent to JS with the minutes of the 5–9 and 10 February meetings, he wrote, “We believe that brother Corrill intends to be [united] with you and us; although he was not with us in the meetings.” (Letter from Thomas B. Marsh, 15 Feb. 1838.)

The council apparently did not reconvene until 17 March 1838, and the minutes of that meeting do not mention JS attending. (Minute Book 2, 17 Mar. 1838.)

On 6 December 1837, Oliver Cowdery was appointed standing clerk of the high council, although he only recorded minutes for the meeting held the following day. Soon thereafter, Cowdery fell severely ill and remained so for several weeks, during which time John Whitmer served as clerk for a December meeting. After the members of the Zion presidency were removed from office and excommunicated, the deposed presidency sent a letter protesting their removal and Cowdery attested the letter as clerk of the high council. He was never officially removed from his position as high council clerk, but he did not function as such thereafter. Presumably for this reason, Robinson acted as clerk for this 15 March meeting as well as for council meetings earlier that month. Three weeks later, Robinson was officially appointed as the clerk of the high council. (Minute Book 2, 6–7 and 23 Dec. 1837; 20 Jan. 1838; 3 and 10 Mar. 1838; Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 21 Jan. 1838; Minutes, 6 Apr. 1838.)