| In fulfillment of the revelation given the preceding
July (D&C 118), five members of the Twelve
return to Far West, excommunicate Isaac Russell and his followers, ordain
Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith apostles, and officially commence their
mission to England (though they return to Illinois for a time before departing). |
| Date |
|
April 26, 1839 |
|
WWJ
Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 9 vols., compiled by Scott G. Kenney (Midvale: Signature Books, 1981-1984).
1:326–327;
HC
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by B. H. Roberts, 7 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1902-1912, 1932).
3:336–339 differs from Woodruff only in
spelling, punctuation, etc., but also has Brigham Young president and John
Taylor clerk. |
| Location |
|
Far West |
|
| Description |
|
… a Council held at Far West by the Twleve, High Priests,
Elders, & Priests … |
|
| Apostles
present |
|
Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball (h1)
Orson Pratt (h1)
John E. Page (h)
John Taylor |
|
| Excommunications |
|
… the following persons should be no more
fellowshiped in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but excommunicated
from the Same … |
|
term:
disfellowship = excommuicate (sometimes) |
|
|
Isaac and Mary Russell
John Goodson and wife
Jacob Scott Sr. and wife
Jacob Scott Jr.
Isaac Scott
Ann Scott
Sister Walton
Robert Walton
Sister Cavanaugh
Ann Wanlass
William Dawson Sr. and wife
George Nelson
Joseph Nelson, wife, and mother
William Warnock and wife
Jonathan Maynard
Nelson Maynard
George Miller
Brother Griggs and wife
George Walters
Luman Gibbs
Simeon Gardner
Freeborn Gardner |
|
The
Russells and Waltons, among Parley P. Pratt's first converts in Toronto
(1834), were related by marriage. Isaac Russell was one of the first missionaries
to England, with Heber, Willard, Orson Hyde, and Joseph Fielding. He organized
the Alston branch in 1837. As the Saints were fleeing Missouri in the winter
of 1838–1839, Isaac received revelations directing him to lead the
church into Indian territory where the Three Nephites would join them to
convert the Lamanites. His organization was called the Alston church (
Divergent paths
Divergent Paths of the Restoration, 4th ed., Steven L. Shields (Independence: Herald House, 2001).
,
23–25). Most, if not all, of the others listed here are his followers.
Isaac died in 1844. His widow and children moved to Utah and rejoined the
LDS Church.
For Joseph's characterization of Isaac and his family, see ¶
Try the Spirits.
Isabella Walton: ¶ Parley's Toronto
Letters |
| Site
of Lord's house |
|
"The Council" proceeds
to the site of "the Lords house" and sing part of a hymn on the
mission of the Twelve. |
|
| Recommence
foundation |
|
Master workman Alpheus
Cutler "recommenced laying the foundation of the LORD'S house"
by rolling a large stone to the southeast corner of the temple site. |
|
The corner stones
had been laid on July 4, 1838.
¶ Order
of the Day
|
| Ordain
apostles |
|
The apostles step onto the "chief corner stone,"
where they ordain Wilford Woodruff (h1)
and George A. Smith "(who had been previously nominated by the first
Presidency, accepted by the Twelve, & acknowledged by the Church,) …." |
|
|
| Ordain
seventies |
|
Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer,
recently released from Richmond jail, are "Ordained to the office of
the Seventies." |
|
term:
office |
| Prayer |
|
The Twelve "then offered up
vocal Prayer in the following order:" |
|
|
|
|
Brigham Young
Heber C Kimball
Orson Pratt
John E. Page
John Taylor
Wilford Woodruff
George A. Smith |
|
|
|
|
Sing "Adam-ondi-Ahman." |
|
Adam-ondi-Ahman
Lyrics |
|
|
The Twelve take "the parting
hand … of the following Saints agreeable to revelation:" |
|
|
| Members
present |
|
William Burton
Alpheus Butler
Darwin Chase
Hiram Clark
John W. Clark
William C. Clark
Artimisha Grainger
Sarah Granger
Richard Howard
Stephen Markham
Hezekiah Peck
Mary Ann Peck
Martha Peck
Shadrack Roundy
Daniel Shearer
Norman Shearer
Elias Smith
Theadore Turley
|
|
I
have alphabetized these names. |
| Adjourn |
|
Alpheus Cutler then returns the
stone to its "regular position" and the meeting adjourns until
the Lord opens the way for construction to resume.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Far
West Minutes
|