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Minutes, 28–29 September 1835

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Minutes, 28–29 September 1835

Source Note

Minutes, [, Geauga Co., OH], 28–29 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 119–125; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

On 28 and 29 September 1835, a council met in , Ohio, to deal with the cases of five elders who had been charged with improper conduct. The council, designated in JS’s journal as a “High Council,” included JS and members of the Kirtland and . JS acted “on the part of the defence for the accused to plead for mercy.” Probably because of his role as defender, JS did not preside in the meeting. These meetings came at the end of two and a half months in which at least six disciplinary councils were held in Kirtland. An August 1835 editorial in the Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate explained that at this time there were “many difficulties presenting themselves before the high council and , in consequence of the neglect of the laws of God.”
Two of the cases discussed in this 28–29 September council dealt with encounters the had on their mission to the eastern and in spring and summer 1835. The first case involved a charge preferred by the Twelve against , a former minister in the Freewill Baptist Church who had been in July 1832. Beginning in 1833 and continuing through the early months of 1835, Bishop preached throughout New England. Sometime in spring 1835, Gibson Smith, an in Norfolk, Connecticut, wrote a letter of complaint to church leaders in about Bishop. The matter was apparently referred to the Twelve Apostles because and , the clerks for the Twelve, published a notice in the April 1835 Messenger and Advocate stating that Bishop was “suspended as a preacher of the gospel until such times as an investigation can be had before the travelling elders from Kirtland at some one of the conferences” they planned to hold in the eastern United States. The investigation occurred at a 7 August 1835 held by the Twelve in Bradford, Massachusetts. At the conference, Bishop was cleared of Smith’s original charge because “no one appeared to substantiate the complaint.” However, in the course of the hearing, the Twelve found evidence that Bishop “had erred in Spirit and in Doctrine and was considerably inclined to enthusiasm and much lifted up.” They therefore took his from him, though they apparently also informed him that he could appeal his case to the Kirtland high council. The 28 September 1835 council considered that appeal, and after Bishop evinced a repentant attitude, the council restored his license and reordained him an .
The minutes indicate that there was some discord in the meeting over the actions of the Twelve Apostles in regard to , but ultimately the council decided that the Twelve had acted rightly in the original hearing. Other sources provide more light on this discussion. According to a January 1836 entry in JS’s journal, apparently complained about the Twelve’s handling of Bishop’s original hearing, though the journal does not state what Smith’s specific complaints were. In a January 1836 meeting with JS, members of the Twelve said that they were “hurt” by Hyrum Smith’s charges and that they believed “their proceedings with” Bishop “were in some degree discountenanced” by the complaint. Bishop himself remembered that the discussion “condemn[ed], the unhallowed, tyranical course of the twelve, which very much mortified their pride.” The situation contributed to tensions that already existed between the Twelve and other church leaders in .
The second case considered by the council involved one of the Lewis brothers from , New York, who was accused of adultery. The minutes initially identify the individual on trial as but then state that was the one cut off from the church. Since both brothers accompanied the from Westfield to , New York, for a conference and both became disengaged from the church around this same time, it is difficult to ascertain which one was on trial. The minutes refer to “brother Lewis” wanting to return to Freedom and not go on a mission; according to ’s journal, the Twelve assigned Lorenzo Lewis to serve a mission with to Springville, Pennsylvania, and Chenango Point, New York, to “set in order the things that were wanting” in the branches there. However, the minutes also relate ’s initial unwillingness to ordain Lewis “to an official station in the church,” though Marsh eventually acquiesced. According to McLellin’s journal, McLellin and ordained Lorenzo Lewis an elder on 13 May 1835; Lloyd Lewis was ordained an elder by an unspecified person or persons on 24 May. A later JS history identifies the individual who was disciplined by the high council as Lorenzo, but the possibility still exists that the individual in question was Lloyd.
The council also considered the cases of three other men: , who was appealing a decision made by an elders’ court in ; , who had been charged with a “public offense” regarding sales of the Book of Mormon; and , who had apparently declared that poor people should not have children. These three were all acquitted of the charges or restored to fellowship after making a confession. JS believed that the actions taken by the council were beneficial to the church. His journal states: “Much good will no doubt, result from our labors during the two days in which we were occupied on the business of the Church.”
acted as clerk for the high council and took the minutes. Sometime probably in 1836, recorded the minutes in Minute Book 1.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS, Journal, 29 Sept. 1835.

  2. [2]

    “Time,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:168.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  3. [3]

    Saunders, “Francis Gladden Bishop,” 18, 21.

    Saunders, Richard LaVell. “Francis Gladden Bishop and Gladdenism: A Study in the Culture of a Mormon Dissenter and His Movement.” Master’s thesis, Utah State University, 1989.

  4. [4]

    “A Summary,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Jan. 1835, 1:63–64.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  5. [5]

    Record of the Twelve, 7 Aug. 1835. The letter from Smith is not extant, and the specific charges he made against Bishop are unclear.

  6. [6]

    Orson Hyde and William E. McLellin, Kirtland, OH, 27 Apr. 1835, Letter to the Editor, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Apr. 1835, 1:103.

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  7. [7]

    Record of the Twelve, 7 Aug. 1835; JS, Journal, 16 Jan. 1836. The constitution of the Kirtland high council, which was prepared before the Twelve Apostles were designated, states that parties to decisions made by councils of high priests “abroad” could “appeal to the high Council at the seat of the general government of the Church, and have a re-hearing.” Bishop later remembered that in place of his license, the Twelve gave him a letter of commendation that stated, “‘We would say to the friends of brother Bishop, that there is nothing against his moral character, for that is good, and that they should not loose confidence in him, but we thought that he had better go to Kirtland and get some instructions, before he preached any more, and therefore we retained his Licence.’” (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:24, 27]; Saunders, Transcription of “Zion’s Messenger,” 32.)

    Saunders, Richard LaVell. A Transcription of “Zion’s Messenger,” by Francis Gladden Bishop, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1854. Logan, UT: No publisher, 1986.

  8. [8]

    JS, Journal, 16 Jan. 1836; see also JS History, vol. B-1, addenda, 2nE.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  9. [9]

    JS, Journal, 16 Jan. 1836.

  10. [10]

    Saunders, Transcription of “Zion’s Messenger,” 32.

    Saunders, Richard LaVell. A Transcription of “Zion’s Messenger,” by Francis Gladden Bishop, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 1854. Logan, UT: No publisher, 1986.

  11. [11]

    See, for example, Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 4 Aug. 1835; and JS, Journal, 16 Jan. 1836.

  12. [12]

    “Memoirs of Mindoro and Area, 1846–1969”; McLellin, Journal, 13 and 24 May 1835; JS, Journal, 19 Nov. 1835.

    “Memoirs of Mindoro and Area, 1846–1969: 123 Years.” Typescript of commemorative publication distributed at Mindoro, Wisconsin, Community Fair, 1969. Murphy Library, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. http://murphylibrary.uwlax .edu/digital/lacrosse/MindoroMemoirs/.

    McLellin, William E. Journal, July 1834–Apr. 1835. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 4. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

  13. [13]

    McLellin, Journal, 24 May 1835; Record of the Twelve, 25 May 1835.

    McLellin, William E. Journal, July 1834–Apr. 1835. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 4. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

    Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Record / Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “A Record of the Transactions of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of the Latter Day Saints from the Time of Their Call to the Apostleship Which Was on the 14th Day of Feby. AD 1835,” Feb.–Aug. 1835. In Patriarchal Blessings, 1833–, vol. 2. CHL. CR 500 2.

  14. [14]

    McLellin, Journal, 13 and 24 May 1835.

    McLellin, William E. Journal, July 1834–Apr. 1835. William E. McLellin, Papers, 1831–1836, 1877–1878. CHL. MS 13538, box 1, fd. 4. Also available as Jan Shipps and John W. Welch, eds., The Journals of William E. McLellin, 1831–1836 (Provo, UT: BYU Studies; Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994).

  15. [15]

    JS History, vol. B-1, 621.

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  16. [16]

    A 19 November 1835 entry in JS’s journal states that JS visited both Lorenzo and Lloyd “and conversed with them upon the subject of their being disaffected. I found that they were not so, as touching the faith of the church but with some of the members.” (JS, Journal, 19 Nov. 1835.)

  17. [17]

    JS, Journal, 29 Sept. 1835.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 28–29 September 1835 Minute Book 1 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”
into it again, and receive his . The counsellors acquiesce in the above decision.
Council adjourned till tomorrow morning 9’ oclock
Clerk
Tuesday morning 10 o clock council met. Counsellors names were called, all in their seats except one whose place was supplied.
Council opened by prayer.
1st Charge preferred against an appealed case from an Court in who took away his license for rebelling against their decision. came forward & frankly & readily complied with the requisitions of the council to the entire satisfaction of all & the court decided that he be restored to full fellowship, & receive his license that is the office of an Elder. The counsellors acquiesied in the above decision, and he was ordained accordingly.
2d Elder ’s case called in question. Charge preferred against him by T. S. Cole.
Accuser & present.
Elder , accused of unchristian like conduct. The states as follows, that he left this place to go East on a Mission to preach the 24th June last, had three Books of Mormon. sold one to Brother Babit, and disposed of one more. Afterwards obtained two more of Mr. Harris. Went to Madison and left one with Ruth Judd, not sold, obtained one of Mr. Childs and told him if he returned that way he would have it, if not, he would give him another when he should visit his friends in . [p. 124]
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Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 28–29 September 1835
ID #
8435
Total Pages
7
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:446–455
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren A. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [10]

    Arvin Allen Avery, the son of James Avery, was from Spafford, New York, and joined the church probably sometime in 1832 or 1833. He accompanied JS on the Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri and apparently stayed there. It is unclear why an elders’ court took away his license. In June 1835, JS and other church leaders wrote to John Burk, the president of the elders in Missouri, and told him that “the elders in Zion or in her immediate region have no authority, nor right to medelle [meddle] with her affairs to regulate, or even hold any courts.” The letter also told Burk that the presidency of the church had reviewed a disciplinary action taken by the elders against George Burket “and decided that the proceedings were illegal on the part of the Elders.” It is unclear whether Avery’s initial trial in Missouri came before or after this letter was written. (Avery and Avery, Groton Avery Clan, 1:347; Collins, Spafford, Onondaga County, New York, 22, 47–48; Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834; Letters to John Burk, Sally Waterman Phelps, and Almira Mack Scobey, 1–2 June 1835, underlining in original.

    Avery, Elroy McKendree, and Catharine Hitchcock Avery. The Groton Avery Clan. 2 vols. Cleveland: No publisher, 1912.

    Collins, George Knapp. Spafford, Onondaga County, New York. Syracuse, NY: Onondaga Historical Association, 1917.

  2. [11]

    The Kirtland high council originally met on 18 August 1835 to hear Cole’s charges against Young. At that meeting, Burr Riggs testified that Young had borrowed a Book of Mormon from a Mr. Childs of Madison County, New York, and promised to return it but instead sold it. Riggs also said Young had given another Book of Mormon to “a poor female” and then borrowed it from her and sold it. The council decided to suspend Young from fellowship “until he returns to this place and makes ample satisfaction for a public offence.” (Minute Book 1, 18 Aug. 1835; Warren Parrish, Kirtland, OH, 17 Aug. 1835, Letter to the Editor, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:176.)

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

  3. [12]

    Possibly Martin Harris, who financed the printing of the Book of Mormon and obtained numerous copies to sell. (Historical Introduction to Agreement with Martin Harris, 16 Jan. 1830.)

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