| Minutes of August 11, 1834 |
| Sylvester Smith's accusations of "criminal conduct" by Joseph during Zion's Camp are investigated. Joseph is exonerated., Sylvester's confession is to be published and the branches notified. | ||||
| Date | August 11, 1834 | Kirtland council , 52–55. | ||
| Location | Kirtland school house | |||
| Description | … a number of high priests and elders of the church of the Latter-day Saints assembled … | |||
| Presiding | [Joseph Smith Jr.], then Newel K. Whitney (moderator) | |||
| Clerk | Oliver Cowdery | |||
| Purpose | Investigate statements of Sylvester Smith accusing Joseph with "criminal conduct during his journey to and from Missouri this spring & summer." | |||
| Joseph: Sylvester's jealousy | Joseph speaks at "considerable length" on the trip to and from Missouri, "very minutely" laying out the "jealousies of brother Sylvester and others had grown." | |||
| Explains rebukes, distribution of money | Explains "his rebukes and chastisements" of Sylvester and others and the distribution of funds "and other properties." He calls on others who went "to attest the same. All of which was satisfactory to the brethren present as appeared by their own remarks afterwards." | |||
| Sylvester: difficulties, partial confession | Sylvester comments on "their difficulties" and begins a "partial confession," asking forgiveness for publicly accusing Joseph, "on the Saturday previous, of prophesying lies in the name of the Lord, and for abusing (as he had said) his (Sylvester's) character, before the brethren while journeying to the west." | ¶ Heber's Accounts of Zion's Camp (1) | ||
| Sidney reproves Sylvester | Sidney reproves Sylvester's conduct. | |||
| Others speak | John P. Greene and others speak, then Oliver. | Original: Green throughout | ||
| Organize council | On Sidney's motion, "the assembly arranged itself into a council" with Newel K. Whitney presiding. | |||
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Solutions |
[53] John Smith: "the way to heal the wound" would be for Sylvester to confess in The Evening and the Morning Star. Reynolds Cahoon concurs. | |||
| Quash it | Isaac Hill: "it ought to be quashed here, and go no farther." Elder I. Bishop concurs. | |||
| Confess publicly, write others | Samuel H. Smith: Sylvester should confess publicly and send a written notice of his decision to those likewise involved. Then, "if necessary," publish it in the Star. | |||
| Publish it | Orson Hyde (h): the confession should be "as liberal as the accusation, or that it ought to be written and published." | |||
| For the sake of the branches | John P. Greene: if Sylvester could see the matter "in its proper light," he would make a public confession publicize it "for the salvation of the churches abroad." | |||
| Isaac Story: "the plaster ought to be as large as the wound that a proper statement ought to be published abroad." | ||||
| Notify branches also | Oliver Cowdery: the council should send a notice to the "churches abroad" that: | |||
| Joseph cleared | the conduct of brother Joseph has been investigated, and that he has acted in a proper manner and in every respect has conducted himself to the satisfaction of the church in Kirtland. | |||
| Sylvester should also make a proper confession. | ||||
| Amasa Lyman (h), Peter Shirts, Truman Wait, Roswell Evans, Alpheus Cutler, and Thomas Burdick agree. | ||||
| Sidney: Sylvester's reputation | Sidney talks about "the attitude in which Sylvester now standsbefore the world, in endeavoring to preach the gospel." | |||
| Question called | [54] Orson Hyde moves the question, "What is to be done to arrest the evil?" | |||
| Newel, "the moderator," makes a few comments, then announces his decision: | ||||
| Decision: Joseph vindicted | that an article be published in the Evening & the morning Star, by the direction of the Council, that the church in Kirtland has investigated the conduct of brother Joseph Smith Junr., while journeying to the West and returning, and that we find that he has acted in every respect in an honorable and proper Manner with all monies and other properties entrusted to his charge. | |||
| A vote is taken "and carried." | ||||
| Committee | Orson Hyde moves, and Sidney seconds, that a committee be appointed to write the article for the Star. Oliver Cowdery, Thomas Burdick and Orson Hyde are appointed. | |||
| Sylvester will confess | Sylvester says he is willing to have his confession published in the Star. | |||
| Write three brethren | John P. Green moves, and "the Moderator" seconds, that the committee write in the name of the council to Z. Snow, C. Snelling & J. P. Parker. | Results not mentioned. | ||
| Close | Prayer by Sidney Rigdon. | |||
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