| Aaron Lyons, leader
of the Salem branch, feels inspired to marry Sarah Jackson, whose husband
has been gone for several months. When Brother Jackson returns he discovers
his wife is pregnant. After council discusses testimony, Aaron confesses.
Joseph decides he may retain his membership but not his license. |
| Date |
|
April 28, 1835 |
|
FWR, 183–185. |
| Location |
|
Far West, Missouri |
|
|
| Description |
|
The High Council of Zion met … agreeable
to adjournment. |
|
Meeting took place Guymon's mill. Scriptory Book, 34. |
| Presiding |
|
Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten |
|
|
| Clerk |
|
Ebenezer Robinson |
|
|
| Council |
|
Simeon Carter
Levi Jackman
Sidney Rigdon
George Morey
George M. Hinkle
Elias Higbee |
1
3
5
7
9
11
|
Jared Carter
Zechariah Wilson
Joseph Smith jr
Newel Knight
George W. Harris
John Murdock |
2
4
6
8
10
12 |
|
"This morning Prests Smith & Rigdon & myself, were invited to attend the High Council; and accordingly attended. … It appeared … that some of the seats were vacated; the Council then [decided?] to fill those seats, eligible to that office, Presidents Smith & Rigdon, were strongly solisited to act as councilors [- -] Preside and let the three presiding oficers Sit on the council; &c they accepted of the former proposal, and accordingly Prest Smith wa[s] chosen to act on the part of the defence, and to speak upon the case, togeth[er] with Geo W Harris. and Prest Rigdon, was chosen to act on the part of the prossecution and to speak upon the case together with Geo. M. Hinckle." Scriptory Book, 34. |
| Joseph and Sidney
two spots |
|
Vote that Joseph and Sidney "act in the places of NO. 9 &
10." |
|
| Open |
|
President Marsh opens with prayer. |
|
| Appeal of Elders meeting decision |
|
George M. Hinkle reads minutes of an Elder's meeting that
heard dispute between "Jackson and Lyons." Charges and appeal read. |
|
| Defendant's plea |
|
Accused confesses to charges 1–4, but denies 5–11. |
|
|
| Counselors assigned |
|
Being considered a difficult case, four counselors are to
speak: George M. Hinkle and Sidney Rigdon "on the part of the Church and
George W. Harris and Joseph Smith jr on the part of the defendant." |
|
|
| Recess |
|
One hour adjournment. |
|
|
| Open |
|
Council assembles, sings "'This Earth was once a garden place'
&c." Prayer by David W. Patten. |
|
|
| Substitute |
|
Peter Dustan [Dustin] substitutes for Jared Carter. |
|
|
| Church court without minutes
are void |
|
[Vote:] that the proceedings of the Elder's Conference held
to investigate the case of J[ohn] Lemons and [184] S[olomon] Wixom are
null and void, as they kept no regular minutes or records of them. |
|
|
| Sarah Jackson, Aaron Lyons |
|
Sarah Jackson lived at Aaron Lyons' house last year when
her husband left. Aaron "generally took the lead of
meetings" in the Salem Branch. |
|
|
Henry Best testimony
Aaron believes Sarah to be his wife |
|
Henry Best testifies that at Brother [Baldwin?] Wheeler's
house, Aaron prophesied "that some one would be heard to mourn;" and later, at Brother Curtis,' that he had selected Sister Jackson to be his wife. He asked Henry to tell her that her
husband had died. He said the Lord "had shown her to him for his wife" and "if
she broke her covenant she would be miserable, because he had seen her
future state." When Henry told Sister Jackson what Aaron had said, "she
cried and said she hoped the Lord would be merciful to her in her afflictions." |
|
|
Sarah separated five months
Brother Jackson returns in November
|
|
He also heard Sarah say that Aaron told
her "the Lord had revealed to him that she was to be his wife and
she believed that she had a testimony that he told the truth." At
the time, she had been separated from her husband about five months. Her
husband returned shortly thereafter, in November. Aaron had been "walking
to and from meetings with her, both in night and day time, as she lived
at his house." |
|
|
Shadrach Round testimony
Aaron's expectations
|
|
Shadrach Roundy testifies that Aaron Lyons told him "he
was going to have a wife and that by revelation, because the Lord was going
to let him have a wife with whome he could live in peace &c." |
|
|
| Sarah's pregnancy |
|
Another time Aaron told him that he had asked the Lord about
a companion and "Sister Jackson was presented before him." But he said
to the Lord, "'She is pregnant by another man;' when the Lord replied 'wait
my time & it will all come right.'" |
|
|
John P. Barnam testimony
Aaron's high status
|
|
John P. Barnam testifies that Aaron told him he had a revelation
that "he sould be married in a few days, but seemed to almost doubt of
its truth." He asked the Lord and the reply was, "'I know all things,'
therefore Lyons [185] Concluded it was of God, also that Lyons was a man
of great influence in the Church, and when he spoke in the name of the
Lord, the brethren had great confidence in it &c" |
|
|
| Thomas Guyman testimony |
|
Thomas Guyman concurs and says he heard Sister Jackson say: |
|
|
| Sarah feared curse of God, so
consented to marry Aaron |
|
she was afraid of the curses of God falling upon her, therefore
she consented to have Br Lyons but was sorry for it also after Lyons said
her husband was dead she was considerably troubled about it and frequently
requested the Church to pray for her husband that he might return &c
but after some time she expressed her fears that he was dead & was
inclinded to think she had a testimony to that effect, also Lyons told
him Brother Best had given him liberty to come to his house to see Sister
Jackson. |
|
|
| Jackson: wife not pregnant when
he left |
|
Brother Jackson testifies that his wife was not pregnant
when he returned. |
|
|
| Calvin Reed's vision of Jackson
dead |
|
Br Benjamin testifies that, Calvin Reed, a boy of about 15
years of age said he had a revelation or vision, in which he saw, Br Jackson
dead or preaching to the spirits in prison &c. |
|
|
Discussion
Joseph instructs, renders decision
|
|
[After] lengthy remarks by the Councellors, and very good
instruction given by Councellor [Joseph] Smith, the accused made confession
to the satisfaction of the Council, when it as decide that Br Lyons be
retainied in the Church, but his license be taken from him, as it is {not}
considered that he is not qualified to hold an office in this Church. |
|
|
| Council concurs |
|
The council agrees with the decision and adjourns for two
weeks. |
|
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| Close |
|
Sidney Rigdon gives closing prayer. |
|
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| |
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Minutes of May 13, 1837
Minutes of April 21, 1838
Far West Minutes
Missouri 1838
|