Sundry Affairs at Kirtland--The Pledge to Redeem Zion.
[Sidenote: Conference at New Portage.]
I went to New Portage on the 2nd of September, in company with Oliver
Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon, to attend a conference; and returned on
the 8th. I was engaged in various spiritual and temporal matters for
several days.
[Sidenote: Provision Made for Remunerating the Patriarch; Oliver
Cowdery Appointed Church Recorder.]
_September 14_.--In a meeting of a High Council and the Presidency at
Kirtland, it was decided that, as the laborer is worthy of his hire,
whenever President Joseph Smith, Sen., is called upon to pronounce
Patriarchal blessings upon the Church, he be paid for his services
at the rate of ten dollars per week and his expenses. It was further
decided that President Frederick G. Williams be appointed and hereafter
serve as scribe, to attend blessing meetings, and that he receive for
his services, at the same ratio, having his expenses borne also. It was
further decided that President Oliver Cowdery be appointed, and that
he act hereafter as Recorder for the Church. It was further decided
that Sister Emma Smith proceed to make a selection of Sacred Hymns,
according to the revelation; [1] and that President W. W. Phelps be
appointed to revise and arrange them for printing.
[Sidenote: Agents for the "Literary Firm" of the Church Appointed.]
_September 16_.--The Presidency of the Church assembled and appointed
David Whitmer and Samuel H. Smith a committee and general agents to act
in the name of, and for, the "Literary Firm."
{274} Minutes of a High Council Held in Kirtland, September 16th,
1835.
_The trial of Elder Henry Green--Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery and
Frederick G. Williams presiding_.
A complaint was preferred by President Joseph Smith, Jun., against
Brother Henry Green, for accusing President Joseph Smith, Jun., "of
rebuking Brother Aldridge wrongfully, and under the influence of an
evil spirit."
Brother Green being absent, President Rigdon arose and said, that
it was the decision of the Presidency, that the Council proceed
to examine the charge preferred, because Brother Green had been
regularly summoned by himself.
The Council appointed one to speak on each side; after which the
following testimony was heard:
Elder Sylvester Smith testified that Brother Green, on Monday
morning last, said that Brother Aldridge was justified in what he
said, and that Presidents Joseph and Hyrum Smith were wrong in
abusing the old man; and after Elder Smith explained the matter to
him, said, that if any man should do so by him, he should call him
a scoundrel; and that he should say that any man who would talk as
Joseph did, must have the devil in him.
Elder Lorin Babbitt said he was present when the above conversation
took place, and heard a considerable part of it, and fully
concurred in the statement of Elder Smith; and he heard Brother
Green say, previous to the above talk, that although they accused
Brother Aldridge of having an evil spirit, yet, if the truth were
known, the devil was in them, (namely, Presidents Joseph and
Hyrum); for if any man should ask my opinion, and then abuse me in
that way, I should call him a scoundrel or a knave.
President Cowdery stated to the Council, that Brother Aldridge was
not called upon to give his opinion concerning the book, but said
what he did without being called upon to speak; for the book was
only handed to him and others to look at, that they might see the
quality and goodness.
President Joseph Smith arose and stated that he knew that Brother
Aldridge was under the influence of an evil spirit, and had been
for a long time.
Councilor Orson Johnson also said that he knew that this was so, by
what he had seen and learned, and that he had heard from credible
authority, that the old gentleman had been in the habit, for a long
time, of neglecting prayer and family worship.
Councilor Samuel H. Smith said, that President Joseph Smith was
{275} in the line of his duty when he reproved Brother Aldridge for
his evil; and, consequently, Brother Green must have been wrong in
opposing him, and saying he [Joseph] acted like a scoundrel, and
that the devil was in him.
Councilor Levi Jackman said that Brother Green could not be
justified in opposing the servant of the Lord, while in the actual
discharge of his duty, and that it was evident that Satan hath
sought to make divisions in the Church, and had taken advantage of
the occasion of presenting the book, to do this.
The book referred to, was purchased for recording "The Patriarchal
Blessings."
President Frederick G. Williams said, that the wickedness of
Brother Green in condemning President Smith is evident from the
testimony; and that Brother Aldridge also did act foolishly, and
by the influence of a wrong spirit, in questioning the integrity
of the head of the Church, in the purchase of the book, and that
President Smith was and is justifiable in doing as he has done in
the matter, and should not be censured, as he has been by Brother
Green.
President Oliver Cowdery then arose, and showed, by a few plain
remarks who Satan had sought, from the beginning, to destroy
the Book of Mormon; and in order to do this, had been actually
levelling his shafts against the servants of God, who were called
to bring it forth and bear testimony of it to the world; and now
had sought occasion against the servants of God, in tempting
brethren to say they had equivocated in the price of the record
book, which was presented last Sabbath; and that Brother Aldridge,
and perhaps others, fell under this evil influence, and Brother
Green justifies them in this thing, and condemns President Smith,
and is not, and ought not to be justified in so doing.
President Cowdery went on to show that the book was purchased as
cheap as it could be, and was actually worth what was given for it,
namely, twelve dollars.
Elder Cahoon requested leave to interrupt President Cowdery a
moment, to inform the Council that, a moment before, Brother Green
passed the house, and when the speaker told him the Council was
considering his case, and requested him to come in, he said he
should go about his own business, so went on his way regardless of
the Council.
President Cowdery resumed, showing that the design of Brother
Aldridge, or at least of the spirit that was in him, was to destroy
the character of the heads of the Church, by charging that we
intended to speculate out of the brethren, and extort from them
more than the cost of the book; and now, instead of regarding our
feeling, he disregards us altogether, and shows that he has no
faith in the High Council.
{276} Soon afterwards Brother Green came in, and said that he had
been detained longer than he intended, having been to Chagrin on
business, and had to deliver the horse and harness to the owner
before he could attend the Council.
President Rigdon then arose and decided that Brother Green should
not have been hindered from being here, by any other business;
and if so, he should have notified the Council, and requested an
adjournment.
President Cowdery then observed, that he thought the case
sufficiently brought before the Council, and would say no more. And
President Rigdon proceeded to give his decision--that Brother Green
should have gone, if he were grieved with President Smith, and told
him of his difficulty, and should not have said anything about it
to his neighbor. And again, that Mr. Aldridge, as has been shown,
has been guilty of neglecting his prayers before God, and therefore
has not had the Spirit of God to preserve him from the temptations
of Satan, and has fallen into evil, and actually did do wrong in
raising objections to the price of the book presented last Sabbath,
and was under the influence of an evil spirit.
Brother Green fellowships the evil spirit in Brother Aldridge,
and says he is justified in what he has done, and therefore it is
evident that an evil spirit is reigning in the breast of Brother
Green. And it is also as evident, that President Joseph Smith,
Jun., was justified in rebuking that evil spirit, and it was not
only justifiable in President Smith to rebuke that evil spirit,
but it was also his duty as President and First High Priest in
the Church of Christ, appointed of God to lead the same in all
righteousness.
The decision, then, of the Presidency of the High Council is, in
short, that Brother Green be and is now, excluded from this Church,
and shall be a member no more, until he comes in by the ordinance
of baptism, as appointed by the Gospel, to be done in the Church.
This was agreed to by all the Councilors except Joseph Coe,
who queried whether Mr. Green should not have the privilege of
confessing his faults, and still be retained in the Church. He
therefore thought that it was the privilege of Brother Green to
have a reorganization of the Council, and a rehearing. This was
about to be granted and the council to be adjourned till tomorrow,
but Councilor Coe requested some explanation from the President,
and was instructed as follows:--
"When a serious offense is committed, and indignity offered to the
High Council, then it is the privilege of the Presidency of the
High Council to stamp it with indignation under foot, and cut off
the offender as in the case just decided."
Councilor Coe then withdrew his objection to the decision of the
{277} Presidency, which was acknowledged by the whole house, and
council adjourned.
Sylvester Smith, Clerk.
_Minutes of a High Council held in Kirtland, September 19, 1835.
The trial of Elder Jared Carter. President Joseph Smith, Jun.,
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Frederick G. Williams, Sidney Rigdon
and W. W. Phelps, present_.
Councilors.
John Smith, Orson Johnson, Newel Knight, John Whitmer, Samuel H.
Smith, John Johnson, Joseph Smith, Sen., Joseph Coe, Hyrum Smith,
Levi Jackman, Noah Packard, Roger Orton,
The object of the Council was stated by President Joseph Smith,
Jun., as follows: "Some weeks since Elder Jared Carter preached on
the Sabbath in the Church, and some of the brethren found fault
with his teachings; and this Council is called upon to decide this
matter, and to see who was in fault."
Six were appointed to speak.
Elder Jared Carter proceeded to speak largely, and explain his
designs in teaching as he did, saying he believed God directed him
by His Spirit, and afterwards being rebuked by Presidents Cowdery,
Rigdon and Phelps, he called upon the Lord, and received again a
witness of the Spirit that he was right, and the Presidents were
wrong. Elder Carter taught in his concluding remarks, that God had
shown him by laying His hand upon him in judgment, and delivering
him therefrom, that he was thus rebuked by heaven for his iniquity,
and that he was made an example to the whole Church, and God would
curse them if they did not hold up the committee, [2] for he was
made an example in this thing.
President Rigdon arose and said that he attended the meeting in
which Elder Carter spoke, and was certain, and is certain, that he
did not have the spirit of wisdom to direct; and after he had sat
down, and Elder Samuel H. Smith had occupied some half an hour,
filled with the Spirit, he arose again and said, that if any man
spoke against the committee, God would curse him, and set the
committee away above the common brethren, and said that God would
take care of the committee, and the brethren had nothing to do with
them, for {278} their station was appointed them of God, and not
of man; therefore God will curse any man or woman in the Church
who shall speak evil of the committee. He told Elder Carter at the
time, in private, that he did wrong; and in company with other of
the Presidents, advised him after he should fill a certain mission
to the east, that he should make a confession to the Church, in
order to satisfy many of the brethren who were aggrieved with him.
President Phelps then arose, and said President Rigdon had
truly related the matter, as far as he had gone; but one thing
more--Elder Carter commanded the brethren to pray for the
committee, and demanded it in the name of the Lord, with an
authoritative voice and gesticulation, which are not according to
the meekness of the spirit of Jesus.
President Oliver Cowdery arose and said: I do not intend to occupy
much time in speaking for those who have spoken have expressed
pretty much my mind and feelings on the subject; that in the advice
which he and the other two Presidents had given Elder Carter, in
the talk they had with him, they did have the spirit of meekness,
and only desired to do him good, and had no personal feelings
against him, and did not express any, but to the contrary.
President John Whitmer concurred in the statements of the above
brethren, and said that he did not believe that God had made an
example of Elder Carter, for he was not before the Church as
such; and God had not so revealed it to the Saints; and again, it
is vain that Elder Carter should command the Saints to pray for
the committee, for in so doing, if they did not fellowship him,
they must pray for his removal, and so all his designs would be
frustrated.
Several others were called upon, and all testified that these
things which have been expressed above were true and as they
understood them; and one thing further, Elder Carter did say that
even the faults of the committee might be charged back upon the
brethren if they neglected to pray for them.
After hearing the testimony, the six Councilors spoke, and the sum
of their conviction upon the matter was as follows:
Councilor John Smith said he thought that Elder Carter did not
express the feelings of his heart, so as to be understood, and
perhaps his heart was not so hard as his words.
Father Joseph Smith said that Elder Carter was exalted, and did not
receive the admonitions of the Presidents, and in consequence lost
the true spirit, and so has erred since the time of his discourse,
and needs admonishing.
Councilor Orson Johnson agreed with the above.
Councilor Joseph Coe said that Elder Carter had a small degree of
{279} the Spirit in his discourse, and a greater degree in his
remarks afterwards, but was awkward in expressing his views, not
having much of the Spirit, and that the feelings of his heart were
not as expressed by his words.
An inquiry was made of the Court whether this Councilor [Joseph
Coe] was correct in appealing to the feelings of men's hearts, and
not to the words and actions, as they appeared.
The Court decided that the Council must be confined to facts,
words, and actions; and not go into feelings and designs which were
not expressed.
The other Councilors concurred in the above.
Councilor Hyrum Smith said that Elder Carter had been blessed of
God, and by the prayer of faith the sick had been healed under
his administration; yet he does not always have the gift of God
and wisdom to direct; so in the case before the Council. Pride
had engendered in Elder Carter's heart a desire to excel, and the
spirit of meekness was withdrawn, and he was left to err, as has
been shown by the testimony, because he is not yet perfect. But he
erred in understanding, and his words were wrong; yet the spirit of
his heart, or the integrity of the same, might be good in the main.
Elder Carter then arose and said that he was willing to acknowledge
his faults, and that he lacked wisdom. He went on to explain how
he had erred, and why--being seized with the cholera while at the
east, he called upon God for deliverance, and finally received the
Spirit of God which healed him, and he then thought it was the same
spirit which he had when preaching in Kirtland.
When he was through, President Oliver Cowdery arose, and said that
Presidents Rigdon and Phelps had requested him to speak, and they
would say nothing as it was getting late, and the case was already
plain before the Court. He showed that a man might be highly
excited and yet neither have the Spirit of God nor the spirit
of Satan; but it came by his own spirit and judgment; therefore
some things may be of God, others of men, and others from the
adversary; and Elder Carter had in his sermon some of the Spirit
of God, but in his last remarks he had it not, but his own spirit
of justification and pride, commanding in the name of Jesus, and
not by the spirit of Jesus or of meekness, and was very wrong in
this thing, also in exalting the committee above the brethren, as
if they might not be touched by the brethren; and again, when Elder
Carter was healed, it came in answer to his earnest prayer before
God; but his impressions about being made an example to the Church
were not an answer to prayer, and might be wrong.
{280} President Frederick G. Williams gave his decision, that
Brother Carter did err with his lips in speaking, and also erred
in understanding the Presidents who labored with him for it, and
misinterpreted their admonitions, which led him into what followed,
and finally has brought him before this Council.
President David Whitmer said, that according to the testimony it
is plain that Elder Carter has lacked in humility, and also in
confidence in his brethren, and erred as expressed by President
Williams.
President Joseph Smith, Jun., arose, and said, that the decision of
his mind was, that Brother Jared Carter erred in judgment in not
understanding what the brethren desired of him when they labored
with him; and he erred in spirit when he taught in the Church
the things testified of here; and that the hand of the destroyer
was laid upon him because he had a rebellious spirit from the
beginning; and the word of the Lord has been spoken by my mouth,
that it should come upon him, and this Council should see it, and
now that he has been seized by the destroyer comes in fulfillment
of His [the Lord's] word; and God requires him to bear testimony
of it before the Church, and warn them to be careful, and not to
do as he had done. But instead of doing this, he said he would
prove the Book of Mormon, and one thing or another, not being
sufficiently humble to deliver just the message that was required,
and so he stumbled and could not get the Spirit, and the brethren
were not edified, and he did not do the thing that God required,
but erred in choosing words to communicate his thoughts; such as
commanding the prayers of the Church instead of soliciting them,
and also of making himself an example for the Church, when it was
only the things that he suffered which were to be as a check upon
transgression.
His rebelling against the advice and counsel of the Presidents was
the cause of his falling into the hands of the destroyer again, as
he had done before when he rebelled against the counsel that had
been given him by the authorities of the Church; and that in all
this, Elder Carter has not designed to do wickedly, but he erred in
judgment, and deserves reproof, and the decision is that he shall
acknowledge his errors on the morrow, before the congregation, and
say, Brethren, I am fully convinced that I have erred in spirit, in
my remarks before you, when I spoke here a few Sabbaths since; and
now I ask your forgiveness. And if he do this in full faith, and is
truly humble before God, God will bless him abundantly as He hath
been wont to do.
Elder Carter arose, and justified the decision of the Court, and
promised to comply.
Sylvester Smith, Clerk.
{281} [Sidenote: The Prophet Seeks for Blessings.]
I labored in obtaining blessings, which were written by Oliver Cowdery.
We were thronged with company, so that our labor in this thing was
hindered; but we obtained many precious things, and our souls were
blessed. O Lord, may Thy Holy Spirit be with Thy servants forever. Amen.
[Sidenote: Delight of the Prophet in Being Honest.]
_September 23_.--I was at home writing blessings for my most beloved
brethren, but was hindered by a multitude of visitors. The Lord has
blessed our souls this day, and may God grant to continue His mercies
unto my house this night, for Christ's sake. This day my soul has
desired the salvation of Brother Ezra Thayer. Also Brother Noah Packard
came to my house and loaned the committee one thousand dollars to
assist building the house of the Lord. Oh! may God bless him a hundred
fold, even of the things of the earth, for this righteous act. My heart
is full of desire today, to be blessed of the God of Abraham with
prosperity, until I shall be able to pay all my debts, for it is the
delight of my soul to be honest. O Lord, that thou knowest right well.
Help me, and I will give to the poor.
[Sidenote: Rejoicing with Brethren Bound for Zion.]
Brothers William, John and Joseph Tippits started for Missouri, the
place designated for Zion, or the Saints' gathering place. They came
to bid us farewell. The brethren came in to pray with them, and
Brother David Whitmer acted as spokesman. He prayed in the spirit, and
a glorious time succeeded his prayer; joy filled our hearts and we
blessed them and bid them God speed, and promised them a safe journey,
and took them by the hand and bid them farewell for a season. May God
grant them long life and good days. These blessings I ask upon them for
Christ's sake. Amen.
[Sidenote: The Covenant to Work for the Redemption of Zion.]
The High Council met at my house on the 24th to take into consideration
the redemption of Zion. And it was the voice of the Spirit of the Lord
that we petition the {282} Governor, that is, those who have been
driven out, shall petition to be set back on their own lands next
spring, and that we go next season, to live or die on our own lands,
which we have purchased in Jackson County, Missouri. We truly had a
good time, and covenanted to struggle for this thing, until death
shall dissolve the union; and if one falls, that the remainder be not
discouraged, but pursue this object until it be accomplished; which may
God grant unto us in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Also, this day
drew up a subscription for enrolling the names of those who are willing
to go up to Missouri next spring and settle; and I ask God in the name
of Jesus that we may obtain eight hundred or one thousand emigrants.
I spent the 25th of September at home.
Footnotes
1. See Vol. I, p. 104. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 25
2. This was the temple building committee.
{283}