Minutes, 28 April 1838, as Reported by George W. Robinson
Source Note
Zion high council, Minutes, [, Caldwell Co., MO], 28 Apr. 1838. Featured version copied [ca. 28 Apr. 1838] in JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838, pp. 34–37; handwriting of ; CHL. Includes use marks. For more complete source information, see the source note for JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838.
influencing her mind if possible, to believe his power was sufficient, to make her forever miserable; provided she complied not with his request. &c. Accordingly, they came to an agreement, and were soon to be married, but fortunately or unfortunately for both parties previous to the nuptial arrival of the nuptial day, Behold!! to the asstonishment of our defendant, the husband of arrived at home, and consequently, disanuled the proceedings of the above alluded parties, the old gentleman , at this time (if not before,) knew verry well, that his god who gave his these revelations, (if any revelations he had,) must of course be no less than the devil, and in order to paliate the justice of his crime, sadled the whole burden upon the devil, that in scourging the person, who had previously befriended him, and counseled him in his former days; peradventure he might extricate himself from the Snare, of his own setting, and dictation. But, alass!! to[o] late for the old man, the testimony, being closed, and the Sword of Justice, began to be unsheathed, which fell upon the old man like a scourge of ten thousand lashes, wielded by the hand of & , inspired by the spirit of justice, accompanied with a flow of elequence, which searched for the feelings, like the sting of so many scorpions, which served to atone for past iniquity. there were no feelings that were not felt after, there were no sores that were not probed, there were no excuses rend[e]red that were not exceptionable. After Justice had ceased to weild his <its> sword, Mercy then advanced to rescue its victom, which inspired the heart of President J. Smith Jr, & who, with profound elequence <&> with <a> deep & sublime thought, with clemency of feeling, spoke in faivour of mercy the , but in length of time, while mercy appeared to be doing her utmost, in contending against justice, the latter at last gained the ascendency, and took full power over <possession of> the mind of [p. 36]
JS had previously taught that “the order of the High priesthood is that they have power given them to seal up the Saints unto eternal life.” This teaching was based on passages in the gospel of Matthew regarding the apostles’ authority to bind things on earth and in heaven, as well as in JS revelations indicating that this authority included the power to bind or “seal” salvation or damnation—to bless or to curse. (Minutes, 25–26 Oct. 1831; see Matthew 18:18; 16:19; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 435 [Helaman 10:7]; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–A [D&C 68:12]; Revelation, 1 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 1:8]; and Revelation, 19 Jan. 1841, in Book of the Law of the Lord, 10 [D&C 124:93].)