| Council approves article
for the Evening and Morning Star endorsing Joseph's behavior on
Zion's Camp. Sylvester Smith
is "disqualified" to act in his office until "a trial before the bishop
assisted by twelve high priests can be had." |
| Date |
|
August 23, 1834 |
|
Kirtland council |
| Location |
|
Kirtland, Ohio. |
|
|
| Description |
|
… a council convened for the
purpose of hearing the resolution designed for the Star … [regarding]
the difficulty existing between brother J. Smith Junr. and Sylvester
Smith. |
|
|
| Moderator |
|
Reynolds Cahoon |
|
|
| Clerk |
|
Oliver Cowdery |
|
|
| Open |
|
Prayer |
|
|
| Introduction |
|
As clerk, Oliver reads the resolutions
and refers to the council of August 11 which assigned Oliver Cowdery, Thomas
Burdick, and Orson Hyde (h)
had been assigned to prepare the article. |
|
|
| Article
approved |
|
Council approves the preamble and resolutions
and orders them printed. |
|
|
| Sylvester
objects |
|
Sylvester protests the August 11 decision. After
"much discussion" the council unanimously resolves: |
|
Minutes
of August 11, 1834 |
| Rights
revoked |
|
… that we Judge [Sylvester]
guilty of a misdeamor unbecoming a man in his high station, and except
a humble confession be made to this council, he stand[s] rebuked and disqualified
to act further in his office in the church, until he make proper satisfaction,
or till a trial before the bishop assisted by twelve high priests can be
had. |
|
|
| Close |
|
Prayer by Sidney Rigdon. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| August 23, 1834 |
|
|
|
|
| Open |
¶ |
Conference minutes … After
the usual form the Conference [convened] and was opened by prayer when
the following preamble and resolutions were read and ordered to be printed
in the evening and the morning star and sent as a circular to the churches
abroad. |
|
|
Preamble
Unfavorable reports circulating about Joseph's moral character and honesty |
¶ |
Whereas a report having come to the
knowledge of the church in this place censuring the conduct of brother Joseph
Smith Junr. relative to his proceedings during his late Journey to, and
from Missouri and whereas said report was calculated to create an unfavorable
influence, as regards the moral character and honesty of our brother, it
becomes necessary for us to investigate the matter and report the same to
our brethren abroad, Therefore, |
|
|
Full
investigation vindicates Joseph
Only jealous and guilible could believe reports |
¶ |
[56] Resolved, that after hearing
from the mouths of some that a suspicion rested upon their minds relative
to the conduct of our brother, as regards his honesty and Godly walk, we
have investigated his whole proceedings, by calling upon those who accompanied
him to, and from Missouri and are happy to have it in our power to say …
that he has acted in every respect, worthy [of] his high and responsible
station in this church… and that those reports could have originated
in the minds of none, except, such as either from a <misunderstanding
or a> natural jealousy, are easily led to conceive of evils where none
exists. … |
|
|
|
|
Signed by Oliver
Cowdery, clerk, and Reynolds
Cahoon, moderator. |
|
|
| Conference
members affirm statement |
|
We, the undersigned members of the
above named conference … feel it to be our duty to say … that
we were present during the foregoing investigation and cheerfully concur
in the spirit of the above minutes, and join in saying that we are perfectly
satisfied, that whatever impressions may have gone abroad, … [Joseph]
conducted himself in all respect as set forth in the resolutions of this
conference. … |
|
|
|
|
Ira Ames
Asa Lyman
John Rudd
Isaac Story
William Burgess
Jonas Putnam
J. B. Bosworth
Roswell Evans
John Smith
Orson Johnson
Oliver Higley
Almon Shermon
Jacob Bump
Isaac Hill
Lorenzo Young |
Benson, Vermont
Parishville, New York
Springfield, Erie county, Pennsylvania
Warsaw, New York
Bolton, New York
Bolton, New York
From the church in Norton
of Waterford, Vermont
Potsdam, New York
Bath, New Hampshire
Jamestown, New York
Pomfret, New York
Silver Creek, New York
East Liverpool, Ohio
Do. [ditto] |
|
"Conference Minutes," Evening
and Morning Star 2, no. 23 (Aug. 1834): {182} has J. B. Bozworth from
Norton, Ohio and, using Do. [ditto] indicates John Smith, Orson Johnson
are also from Norton, though the other respective towns are also, perhaps
indicating their former places of residence. |
| Lyman
Johnson and Heber affirm |
|
Lyman Johnson and Heber
C. Kimball also sign,
affirming that they accompanied Joseph to and from Missouri and that "the
above is a correct statement concerning his character and conduct."
|
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Minutes of August 28, 1834
Minutes of August 21, 1834
Ohio Minutes
Zion's Camp
|