| Clay county high council
is organized at Lyman Wight's house. Joseph's work is now complete §. David Whitmer is ordained president, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer as assistant presidents §. But instead of presiding in Zion, they are to move to Kirtland "as soon as convenient" §. This leaves the new high council leaderless, and Edward Partridge and his counselors remain the sole presiding authorities over the Church in Zion. |
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| Date |
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July 7, 1834 |
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FWR,
71–73. |
| Location |
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Clay County, Lyman Wight
house. |
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| Description |
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Agreeable to adjournment
the council of High Priests assembled … |
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| [Presiding] |
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[Joseph Smith] |
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| Clerk |
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Frederick
G. Williams |
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| Present |
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15 high priests, 8
elders, 4 priests, 8 teachers, 3 deacons, and "a number of Members." |
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Church members attend high council meetings. |
| Open |
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Sing "age after
age has rowled away, &c."
Prayer by Joseph Smith Jr. |
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| Speakers |
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Joseph counsels those
present relative to their calling, reads to them from the February 17,
1834
minutes of the organization of the Kirtland high council. |
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The
revised Minutes
of February 17, 1834, known as "the Constitution,"
became D&C 102. |
| Joseph:
work complete |
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He also informed them if he should now be
taken away that he had accomplished the great work which the Lord had
laid before him, and that which he had desired of the Lord, and that he
now had done his duty in organizing the High Council through which Council
the will of [72] the Lord might be known on all important occasions in
the building up of Zion, and establishing truth in the earth. |
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At
the meeting of Joseph and the
Twelve in November, Joseph announces that inasmuch as he was still alive,
he would introduce the ordinance of washing of feet for members in the
house of the Lord. Minutes of
November 12, 1835 |
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¶ |
A vote was then taken
whether the brethren that were appointed on the 3rd of July should stand
according to appointment. The vote was clear in their behalf. |
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Either at this meeting
or on the 3rd, Joseph chastized David and others for unfaithfulness. Minutes of
July 3, 1834
Joseph later referred this ordination when
he "gave a history of the ordination of David Whitmer "to be
a leader, or a prophet to this Church, which (ordination) was on the
conditions that he (J. Smith jr) did not live to God himself." ¶
Minutes of Mar. 15, 1838
Presidents of the Church |
| Three
presidents—and Joseph's successor? |
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Joseph
ordains "the three Presidents, David Whitmer
as President and William W. Phelps & John
Whitmer assistants and their twelve Counsillors."
The twelve counselors cast lots to determine the order of speakers: |
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| Counselors |
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Simeon Carter
Parley P. Pratt (h)
William E. McLellin
Calvin Beebe
Levi Jackman
Solomon Hancock
Christian Whitmer
Newel Knight
Orson Pratt
Lyman Wight
Thomas B. Marsh (h)
John Murdock |
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| Whitmer
blessings |
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Peter Whitmer Sr. blesses
his sons, David, John, and Christian; and Newel Knight. |
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After the council of
high priests is organized, Bishop Partridge
tells the council: |
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| Edward
Partridge hopes to act righteously |
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that a greater responsibility devolved upon him than before as
he had not the privilege of counselling with any of the high council
save one of the Presidents and his own Counsillors, and desired to have
the prayers of all the Church that he might be able to act in his station
in righteousness. |
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| W.
W. Phelps taking over press in Kirtland |
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Joseph presents W. W.
Phelps' case to the council: William is to take over the printing press
in Kirtland; should he take his family to Kirtland? and if so, when? |
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| Family
to remain |
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[73] Simeon Carter and William
E. McLellin speak on behalf of "the plaintiff," Parley P. Pratt
and Calvin Bebee "in behalf of the Church." |
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the President decided that it is the duty of Br. W. W. Phelps to go to Kirtland to assist in the printing business and that his family remain in this region of country and that he have an honorable discharge of his sttion in this place for a season (as soon as he can accomplish his business in this place) signed by the President & Clerk. |
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| David to go to Kirtland |
¶ |
Proposed by W. W. Phelps that br. David Whitmer the President
of the Church in Zion should go to Kirtland as being
one of the three witnesses and assist in promoting the cause of Christ. |
¶ |
[MH-A, 513] It was then proposed by W. W. Phelps that David Whitmer the president of the church in zion. should go to Kirtland and assist in promoting the cause of christ. as being one of the three witnesses. … |
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Levi Jackman and Christian Whitmer speak in
behalf of "the plaintiff," Solomon Hancock and Newel Knight for "the church."
Decision: |
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that br. David Whitmer go to the East and assist in the great work of the and be his own Judge, as to leaving his family or taking them with him. |
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| Also
John Whitmer, William E. McLellin |
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And also that John Whitmer and William E. Mc.lellin go to the East. All the named brethren to prepare and go as soon as convenient. |
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| President
David Whitmer |
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After all this was done
the afore mentioned High Priests, Elders,
Priests, Teachers, Deacons and members present, then covenanted with uplifted
hands to heaven that they would uphold David Whitmer as President, head
and leader in Zion & John Whitmer & W. W. Phelps as assistant
Presidents and Counsillors also
covenanted to uphold him and one another at the throne of grace. |
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[MH-A, 513] The high priests, Elders,
Priests, Teachers, Deacons and members present, then covenanted with hands
uplifted to heaven. that they would uphold Brother David Whitmer as president
in Zion, in my absence, and John Whitmer and
W. W. Phelps as assistant presidents or councillors. and myself as first president of the church: and
one another by faith and prayer. |
| Close |
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Prayer by David Whitmer
President. |
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The Manuscript History adds: |
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¶ |
Previous to entering into the <this > Covenant. And in pursuance of the revelation to the Saints to sue for, and proclaim peace to the ends of the earth, The following Appeal was written, and sanctioned by the High Council, and first Presidency of the Church. at the foregoing sitting. President Whitmer closed the council by prayer. F. G. Williams. was Clerk. … |
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MH-A, 514. |
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Manuscript History of the Church
MH-A, 511–512
Willard Richards scribe
[Summer] 1843 |
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High council organized
President and assistant presidents |
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On
the 3d of July. the High priests of Zion assembled <in the yard
of Col. [Michael] Arthur where Lyman Wight lived> in Clay county. and
I proceeded to organize a High council, agreeable to revelation and pattern
given at Kirtland, … David Whitmer was elected president, and William W. Phelps and
John Whitmer assistant presidents. |
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