Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 26 Dec. 1833. Featured version copied [ca. 26 Dec. 1833] in Minute Book 1, pp. 25–26; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
On Thursday, 26 December 1833, several disciplinary councils were held in , Ohio. In the course of these meetings, Alonzo Rider, James Blanchard, and Nelson Acre were excommunicated from the by a council of . Though JS may have attended these meetings, Minute Book 1 does not record his presence, and therefore the minutes of these meetings are not presented in this volume as JS documents. The minutes featured here describe the proceedings of another meeting that convened later in the evening of 26 December and that JS attended. The council meeting considered the cases of and “Bro. Story,” likely . These men were accused of making negative comments about . Although those who were accused earlier in the day were tried in absentia and letters were sent to inform the accused of the council’s decision, both Storey and Rider were present for what these minutes describe as a . Newel K. Whitney, as the bishop, was also apparently present for the court. The conflict was resolved amicably at this meeting, and a few months later, both Rider and Storey seem to have been on good terms with church leaders, including JS. By February 1834, Storey was testifying against Curtis Hodges in a trial at which Hodges was charged with speaking too loudly; and in April 1834, while awaiting the verdict of his litigation against in , Ohio, JS stayed at Rider’s house.
Minutes, 19 Feb. 1834. In August 1834, Storey participated in a similar disciplinary council at which Sylvester Smith was cited for allegedly making accusations against JS in relation to the Camp of Israel expedition. Among other things, Sylvester had apparently accused “brother Joseph publicly on the Saturday previous, of prophsying lies in the name of the Lord.” The council debated whether Sylvester Smith should be required to publish a public confession in the newspaper, and Storey sided with those who thought a published apology was necessary. (Minute Book 1, 11 Aug. 1834.)
Bro. Story was also in a Similar transg[r]ession. They were both rebuked sharply by & Bro Joseph who told them that this must feel the wrath of God except they repent of their Sins, cast away their murmurings and complainings one of another. &c. &c. & Bro. Story confessed their wrongs. and all forgave one another & closed by praying to the Lord for his blessings to rest upon us