| Oliver Cowdery charges
Jenkins Salisbury and Charles Kellogg with unchristian-like conduct. Both
are excommunicated. Jenkins is the husband of Katharine (or Catherine)
Smith (1813–1900), Joseph Smith's younger sister. William E. McLellin
told Joseph that Jenkins told him he had "been intimate with every
woman he could" since joining the church. John Johnson says Jenkins
had some hard liquor once or twice a month. Hyrum accuses him of deserting
his family in the winter. Jenkins confesses he is guilty of "tale-bearing"
but denies cheating on his wife. In another case, two sisters admit
telling falsehoods and are forgiven. |
| Date |
|
May 16, 1836 |
|
Kirtland council, 205–207. |
| Location |
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Kirtland, Ohio. |
|
|
| Description |
|
… high council met in the
house of the Lord. |
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| Presiding |
|
Sidney Rigdon |
|
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| Clerk |
|
Warren A. Cowdery |
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| Council members |
|
Jared Carter
John Murdock
Samuel H. Smith
<Prest.> David Whitmer
Josiah Butterfield
James Foster |
Noah Packard
Joseph Kingsbury
Joseph Coe
John Gould
Isaac H. Bishop
Truman Angel |
|
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| Oliver Cowdery charge |
|
President Sidney Rigdon reads charge Oliver Cowdery's charge
of May 14: |
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| Unchristian-like
conduct |
|
To the presedincy of the high Council of the Church of Latter
Day Saints: I prefer a charge of unchristian like conduct against <Elders> Jenkins
Salisbury and Charles Kellogg. |
|
|
| One counselor per
side |
|
It is decided that one counselor will speak for each side. |
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| Open |
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Prayer and some remarks were made by S. Rigdon,
relative to the importance of the case now defending. |
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|
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Accusor states "what he expected to prove and then called
on J. Smith Junr. to testify." |
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| Joseph Smith testimony |
|
… stated that said Salisbury has not walked orderly,
but has pursued such a course, as to bring unnecessary persecution on him.
that he neglected his family, [206] luft them in a starving {them}condition
and without Wood just before the solemn Assembly, when he ought to have
been home. |
|
solemn Assembly: dedication of the House of the Lord, beginning March 27, 1836. ¶ Heber
C. Kimball (3) |
|
|
Complainant asks about his use of "tobacco <{and}
liquor> &c. &c." |
|
|
| John Johnson: occasional liquor |
|
John Johnson testifies,
regard "String liquor," that "the defendant had taken some once or twice
in a few months past." |
|
|
| Hyrum Smith: deserted family |
|
Hyrum Smith testifies that he left his family without sufficient
wood to last more than two days, and no provision of any consequence in
the house. He gave his family no intimation where he was going or when
he should return, he also states that it is his full belief that when he
went away he never intended to return. |
|
|
| Joseph Smith: hearsay that he
is a rake |
|
J. Smith Junr. Stated that Elder Wm. E. McLellin (h) had
learned from defendant that he had been intimate with every woman he could
since he belonged to the church. |
|
Original: McLelin |
| David Elliot: hasn't heard any
complaints |
|
David Elliot testifies he has not heard any complaints against
J. Salisbury since he became a Seventy. |
|
David Elliot (1799-1855), blacksmith; 1831
convert from Ithaca, New York; member, Zion's Camp and first quorum of
seventy; died, Salt Lake City. |
|
¶ |
Testimony closed. |
|
| Counselors speak |
¶ |
[Jared Carter:] spoke at
some length touching the evidence setting it in a clear light, and pointing
out the criminality before the court. |
|
|
|
|
[Joseph Coe:] Spoke on the other
part and touched the case but lightly. |
|
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| Oliver's summation |
¶ |
Oliver Cowdery speaks for the prosecution, "setting the whole
case in a clear light before the court according to the evidence addressed." |
|
|
| Jenkins admits drinking and tale-bearing,
denies infidelity |
¶ |
Jenkins Salisbury admits
"his strong propensity to talebearing and drinking strong liquor,
but denies the charge of unchastity to his wife, {stated} suggested by
J. Smith Junr. as stated by Wm. E. McLellin. |
|
Original: McLelin |
|
¶ |
President Sidney Rigdon renders decision: |
|
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| No longer elder, excommunicated |
|
He expressed his deep regret to have to act in this case.
Guilt he said was fixed on the head of the defendant and not rebutted. [207]
He therefore decided that Jenkins Salisbury can be no longer an Elder or
a member in this church until there be a thorough reformation. |
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Council concurs. |
|
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| Adourn |
¶ |
Adjourn for one hour. |
|
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| Hannah
Brown and Lusenia Elliot |
¶ |
When council reconvenes in the afternoon, Sidney Rigdon reads
Oliver Cowdery's complaint addressed to "the Presidency of the High
priesthood of the church of Latter Day Saints" against Hannah Brown
and Lusenia Elliot, charging them with "unchristianlike
conduct." |
|
|
| Council members |
¶ |
Jared Carter
John Murdock
S. H. Smith
John Johnson
Josiah Butterfield
Giles Cook |
Noah Packard
Joseph Kingsbury
Joseph Coe
George Morey
Isaac H. Bishop
Truman Angel |
|
John Johnson replaces David Whitmer, Giles Cook replaces
James Foster, George Morey replaces John Gould. |
| Confess to falsehoods |
¶ |
Defendants confessed [to] having been guilty of telling a
number of falsehoods. |
|
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| Council accepts |
¶ |
Counsel called on to give their assent to the confession
and the Sisters retain their Standing in the church. |
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| |
¶ |
They are reproved but retain their memberships. |
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| Excommunication of Charles Kellogg |
¶ |
Counsel then withdrew their fellowship from from [sic] Charles
Kellogg an Elder in this Church by a unanimous vote. |
|
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| |
¶ |
dismissed by Prayer of Brother Coe |
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Minutes of June 16, 1836
Minutes of April 2, 1836
Ohio Minutes
|