Chapter XVII

Sundry Council Meetings in Vermont, Ohio, and New York.

_Minutes of the Vermont Conference_.

_July 17th_.--The Twelve met in conference, agreeably to previous
appointment, at St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

_Resolved_:--That this State be within the limits of this
conference, and include the branches in Littleton, Dalton, and
Landaff, in New Hampshire, to be called the Vermont Conference.

The St. Johnsbury branch numbered forty-one members; Danville,
twenty-three; Charlton, twenty-one; Jay, eleven; Dalton, fifteen;
Landaff, four; Littleton, ten; Andover, Vermont, fifteen; Beneeon,
seven; and Lewis, New York, seventeen.

Six of the council addressed the conference on principles of faith
and action.

Adjourned to the 18th, when the remaining six members of the
council enforced the necessity of sending up wise men, and
purchasing lands, according to the commandments--which the Saints
readily agreed to do.

_Sunday, 19th_.--Our public meeting was attended by more than a
thousand people, and during our conference nine were baptized.

Orson Hyde,

Wm. E. M'Lellin, Clerks.

[Sidenote: The Prophet at work on the Book of Abraham.]

The remainder of this month, I was continually engaged in translating an alphabet to the Book of Abraham, and arranging a grammar of the Egyptian language as practiced by the ancients.

August 2nd, being the Sabbath, I preached a part of the day.

{239} _Minutes of the High Council at Kirtland_.

Kirtland, August 4th, 1835, a High Council of the Church of Christ
of Latter day Saints assembled in conference, consisting of
Presidents Joseph Smith, Jun., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum
Smith, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and W. W. Phelps, and others,
to take into consideration certain items contained in letters from
abroad--one from Warren A. Cowdery, Presiding Elder of the Freedom
Conference, and one from Elder William E. M'Lellin. The first reads
as follows:

Freedom, July 29th, 1835.

"Dear Brother:--Elder Jared Carter called on this church last
Thursday, on his way east, soliciting donations and subscriptions
for finishing the house in your place. Although the subject of
such a mission, in connection with his name, had been mentioned
in the _Messenger and Advocate_, still, as no other method had
been taken to impress the subject on our minds, it had measurably
passed out, or ceased to make any impression--therefore, we were
in some degree taken on surprise. To the recollection of any
of the church, neither the Twelve, the Bishop, nor any others
clothed with authority have ever mentioned this subject to us,
except incidentally. It surely was never made a subject of public
instruction--as Brother Carter had just reasons to expect it had
been, he felt an embarrassment peculiar to such a situation.
He undertook to preach to us yesterday, but from the aforesaid
embarrassment, or the deadness, or the covetousness of the church,
he could get none of the Spirit of the Lord to assist him. I
am free to say that I attributed more to the latter cause than
the former; yet notwithstanding, we made out in donations and
subscriptions which I trust will realize $341.37 1/2. May the Lord
bless and prosper him, and all His faithful servants; and may they
find favor in the sight of God and man, is the prayer of your
unworthy brother,

Warren A. Cowdery.

"_To Oliver Cowdery_."

From this short letter we discover that the Elders failed in the
outset to fill their great and important mission, as they know the
Lord has commanded us to build a house, in which to receive an
endowment, previous to the redemption of Zion; and that Zion could
not be redeemed until this takes place. Knowing that the committee
were to journey for the express purpose of soliciting donations,
they have failed to hold them up and set forth this first important
thing; and in consequence God has not blessed them as He otherwise
would. We remind you of these things in the name of the Lord,
and refer you to the Book of {240} Covenants, 2nd section, 2nd
part, and 12th paragraph, and ask, did we not instruct you to
remember first the house, secondly the cause of Zion, and then the
publishing of the word to the nations?

The other item referred to is an extract from Elder William E,
M'Lellin's letter to his wife, as follows:--

"You say that it will not be in your power to go to school this
summer. I am glad that it is not, since Elder Hyde has returned
and given me a description of the manner in which it is conducted;
though we do not wish to cast any reflections."

This the Council considered to be a libel on the face of it. Elder
M'Lellin says, "We do not wish to cast any reflections," when the
highest insult and reflections are cast by it upon the Church, the
Presidency, and those who are held in much higher estimation in the
sight of God and this Church than themselves.

The vote of the Council was: We hereby inform Elders M'Lellin and
Hyde that we withdraw our fellowship from them until they return
and make satisfaction face to face.

We further inform the Twelve, that as far as we can learn from the
churches through which we have traveled, you have set yourselves
up as an independent council, subject to no authority of the
Church, a kind of outlaws! This impression is wrong, and will, if
persisted in, bring down the wrath and indignation of heaven upon
your heads. The other ten are directed to proceed on and finish the
conferences, and the two may act upon their own judgment whether to
proceed or return.

President Joseph Smith, Jun., read to the Council a letter from
Elder William Smith, which was approved, and filled our hearts with
joy.

A letter was presented from Elder Thomas B. Marsh. The Council
referred him to the commandment, which requires none to leave or
bring his family without revelation or decision of the High Council.

We discover an error in Elder Marsh's letter--he says, "to the able
preaching of William E. M'Lellin and Parley P. Pratt." We conclude
that if it had been he preaching of the Lord, as it should have
been, He would have had the honor, and not these men. To close,
we add that unless this epistle is heeded in all its parts, in
its full force, those who rebel against it shall be dealt with by
the Lord accordingly, for we ask this, being agreed as touching
this thing. We wish you to understand that your duty requires you
to seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness; that
is, attend to the first things first, and then all things will
be added, and that complaint about your families will be less
frequent. Don't preach yourselves crucified for your wives' sake,
but remember that Christ was crucified, and you are sent out to
be special witnesses of this thing. Men do not wish to hear these
little things, for there is no salvation in them, but there is in
the other.

{241} Let the hands of the ten be strengthened, and let them go
forth in the name of the Lord, in the power of their mission,
giving diligent heed to the direction of the Holy Spirit. We say,
be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might; for great
things await you, and great blessings are in store for you. Let
the power of the two be upon the Seventy until the two make full
satisfaction; for the Seventy shall be blessed, and are blessed.
The man who presumes to speak evil of the dignities which God has
set in His Church, to his family, or to anybody else, shall be
cursed in his generation. Remember the 109th Psalm. His bishopric
shall be taken from him unless he speedily repents. Be it known
that God is God, and when He speaks, let all the congregation say,
Amen. We have evil insinuations enough in Kirtland to grapple with
that are suggested by the father of lies, without having them from
those who are sent out to put down insinuations. May God bless you
to be more wise in the future. Amen. [1]

OLIVER COWDERY, Clerk.

_Minutes of the Massachusetts Conference_.

Bradford, Massachusetts, August 7th. Nine of the traveling High
Council met and decided that the limits of the conference embrace
the State of Massachusetts, to be called the Massachusetts
Conference.

Elder Chase had his license and membership taken from him because
of gambling for money, and then breaking bread to the Saints before
he confessed his sins.

Elder Holmes' license was taken from him in consequence of a
disagreement between him and his wife, which was of long standing.
It was therefore considered that if a man cannot preserve peace in
his own family, he is not qualified to rule the Church of God.

A letter of complaint was written to Kirtland by Elder Gibson
Smith, of Norfolk, Connecticut, against Elder Gladden Bishop, upon
which he was suspended, and referred to the conference at Bradford
for trial. No one appeared to substantiate the complaint against
Elder Bishop who was, therefore, acquitted on that point; but upon
further inquiry, it was proved that he had erred in spirit and in
doctrine, and was considerably inclined to [excessive] enthusiasm,
and much lifted up. The council therefore took his license from
him, until he became more instructed, and also get his spirit and
feelings more amalgamated with his brethren.

Elder James Patten of North Providence, Rhode Island, was
excommunicated for improper conduct, and refusing to give up his
license. This action was ordered to be published in the _Messenger
and Advocate_.

{242} The people in this region were generally hard and
unbelieving, and but little preaching called for, except by the
Church.

The appointment for our conference at Dover, New Hampshire, was
recalled on account of the small number of disciples in that
place, and no business of importance to be transacted. Also the
conferences at Saco and Farmington were altered so as to close
at Farmington one month earlier than the former appointment, and
notices accordingly were forwarded by mail.

Orson Hyde, Clerk.

[Sidenote: Blessing the "Sons of Zion."]

August 8th, a council was held in Kirtland, for the purpose of laying hands on Father Duncan and others of the sons of Zion.

_Minutes of the High Council_.

The High Council of Kirtland assembled, August 10th, to hear
complaint of President Joseph Smith, Jun., against Elder Reynolds
Cahoon, in that the latter had failed to do his duty in correcting
his children, and instructing them in the way of truth and
righteousness; which was proved and decision given accordingly.
Elder Cahoon confessed the correctness of the decision and promised
to make public acknowledgment before the Church.

Oliver Cowdery, Clerk.

Footnotes

1. It appears that the minutes of this High Council at Kirtland were intended to be sent to the Twelve as a communication.

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