On 5–6 September 1840, JS met with the and made formal charges against , a member of the living in , Ohio, who had reportedly made disparaging comments about JS and other leaders. Complaints about Babbitt’s conduct had reached JS through letters from , who had heard reports about Babbitt while in the eastern ; and , who had written to JS from ; and , another Kirtland church member. After JS received Granger and Richards’s letter in mid- to late July and before he responded to Granger near the end of July, a church meeting was held in which “it was unanimously resolved” to withdraw fellowship from Babbitt “until he make satisfaction for the conduct he has pursued.” Babbitt apparently thereafter traveled from Kirtland to Nauvoo, Illinois, so that he could attend this 5–6 September meeting of the high council, held in JS’s . After both sides spoke, JS withdrew the charges and he and Babbitt reconciled.

As the clerk pro tempore of the meeting, took the minutes. Sometime after 14 February 1842 and likely before the end of that year, Stout recorded the minutes into the high council record book.