Minutes of August 28, 1834

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Minutes of August 28, 1834

Bishop Whitney convenes high council to try Sylvester Smith for his accusations against Joseph Smith. The prophet's conduct in Zion's Camp is upheld and Sylvester is rebuked.

Date	August 28, 1834	Kirtland council, 59–63.
Location	Kirtland, Ohio.
Description	… the high council of the church of the Latter-Day Saints assembled according to direction of Newel K. Whitney bishop of this church, to try brother Sylvester Smith who has been charged with a misdemeanor, Sidney Rigdon complainant.
Moderator	[Newel K. Whitney]
Clerks	Oliver Cowdery and Orson Hyde
Roll call	Counselor names called, four absent.
Open	Prayer by Bishop Whitney
Orson Johnson new counselor	Joseph Smith nominates Orson Johnson to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John S. Carter. Frederick G. Williams seconds the nomination [60] and the council approves.
Sidney ordains	After making a few remarks, Orson comes forward. Sidney prays, then ordains him.
Luke Johnson seeks to recuse himself	Luke Johnson asks to be excused "because he had been previously tempted on some matters, and that he had sinned and wished to make a more public confession than he could make here."
	After discussion it is decided that Luke should remain.
Substitute counselors	John P. Greene, Amos Durfee, and Lyman Johnson substitute for Sylvester Smith, John Johnson Sr., and Martin Harris respectively.
Charge read	Counselors are "arranged and the charge read to the Council."
Six counselors	Agree on six counselors to speak.
Bishop gives charge	The Bishop then gave the council their charge in the name of the Lord to act according to truth and righteousness.
Reynolds Cahoon Council decided the matter on the 11th	Reynolds Cahoon: on the 11th the council heard testimony that Joseph Smith conducted himself properly on the journey to and from Missouri and concluded that Sylvester Smith's accusations were wrong and he was at fault.	Minutes of August 11, 1834
John P. Greene Sylvester acknowledged spirit	John P. Greene concurs, adding that at the time, Sylvester said he hadn't been aware of the spirit that had prompted him to make the charge.
Alpheus Cutler Joseph's conduct proper	Alpheus Cutler: evidence given on the 11th demonstrated that Joseph's conduct was proper.
Jacob Bump Agitated by rumors, but Joseph vindicated	J. Bump: his mind had been "agitated" by rumors of Joseph's conduct on the journey, but when he heard the testimony on the 11th, he was satisfied Joseph had done nothing wrong.
Asa Lyman Agitated too, but Joseph vindicated	Asa Lyman: his mind had been agitated also, but he was [61] satisfied by the evidence presented at the council.
Jacob Bump Agitated by Sylvester	J. Bump: conversation with brother Sylvester before the 11th also agitated his mind.
Edmund Bosley N. K. Whitney John Rudd E. Rider Samuel H. Smith	E. Bosley: agrees with Reynolds Cahoon and Bishop Whitney. John Rudd, E. Rider, and Samuel H. Smith concur.	Edmund Bosley (1776–1846), moved to Kirtland in 1833, to Missouri by 1838, Illinois in 1839. Died in Winter Quarters. Papers 2:528–529.
Orson Hyde Sylvester supposed to send confession	Orson Hyde: Sylvester was supposed to send a confession to the Star acknowledging he had been in fault, not Joseph.
General agreement	Alpheus Cutler, John P. Greene, E. Rider, Jacob Bump, Samuel H. Smith, John Rudd, and Frederick G. Williams concur.
Oliver Cowdery Sylvester was to confess	Oliver Cowdery: understood that Sylvester was "to acknowledge that all the charges previously preferred in public against brother J. were ungrounded, and that he, (Sylvester) was to acknowledge the one, and the only one in the fault, touching all circumstances, transpiring [62] between himself and brother Joseph, and that the other charges indirectly preferred as grievances of others, were also without a foundation."
John Smith	John Smith concurs.
C. Durfee	C. Durfee: Joseph was acquitted on the 11th.
Orson Hyde Reproof was proper	Orson Hyde: accompanied Joseph Smith to Missouri, from Mansfield, Ohio, except during a short visit to the governor of Missouri, was present when Joseph reproved Sylvester regarding a complaint about a dog. Recalls telling Joseph that the reproof was just and does not believe that it had "any tendency to lessen the esteem of the brethren for brother Smith," but if it had, Joseph's "confession in general terms … about that time" was "sufficient to heal every hard feeling then existing against him, or that might exist."
Joseph professional	He did not see anything in Joseph's conduct, "contrary to the true principles of his profession as a man of God."
Luke Johnson Reproof was severe but just	Luke Johnson: joined Joseph at Mansfield, Ohio, and accompanied him the most of the way. Did not see "any thing in his conduct to lessen his esteem of him as a man of God." He heard Joseph reprove Sylvester about some bread, "and thought at the time the reproofs were rather severe, but had learned since, they were not any more severe than were just."
Joseph Smith J. S. Carter asked about Sylvester and Parley's bread	Joseph is asked to make a statement. [63] He says, J. S. Carter asked him whether Sylvester had acted properly when Parley. P. Pratt (h) called upon him for some bread for supper. Parley told him that Sylvester "had more bread than he needed at the time, and directed him to some [one] else who, he (brother Sylvester) said had a sufficient."	John Sims Carter (b. 1796, brother of Jared Carter); Vermont mission with Jared, May–July 1832; called on a mission with Jesse Smith, ¶ Minutes of February 20, 1834; died of cholera June 26, 1834 in Clay county (Zion's Camp). Moses Martin journal, 11, cited by Journal history; Heber C. Kimball journal cited by HC 2:116n.
Sylvester tried to justify himself	Joseph went with Pratt and Carter to Sylvester's tent, where he "justified himself in not imparting a part of his bread to brother Pratt."
Joseph rebuked Sylvester	He then rebuked Sylvester, saying as long as he had bread, "he was bound to impart to those who had none and that under these circumstances, brother Sylvester, had conducted contrary to the principles of Christ and that his (Sylvesters) mind was darkened in consequence of this covetous Spirit."
Adjourn	The Moderator then adjourned the council to 9 o clock tomorrow at this place.
Close	Prayer by Hyrum Smith.
	Minutes of August 29, 1834 Minutes of August 23, 1834 Ohio Minutes Zion's Camp Home