Minutes of August 17, 1835

Minutes of the General Assembly called to authorize publication of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Oddly, Joseph was absent, attending to some business in Wisconsin. Oliver presented an article on marriage (monogamous), which was approved and printed as Section 101 of the 1835 D&C. He also read an article on government, which became Section 102. (As additional revelations were added, the section numbers of these statements changed.) At the October conference, 1869, Brigham Young told the Saints that Oliver Cowdery wrote the statement and "incisted on its being incerted in the Book of D. & C. contrary to the thrice expressed wish and refusal of the Prophet Joseph Smith." Joseph F. Smith's diary, October 9, 1869.

  General Assembly.   Doctrine and Covenants, 1835 edition, pp. 255–257 (concluding pages).
Consider labors of D&C committee At a General Assembly of the Church of the LATTER DAY SAINTS, according to previous notice, held on the 17th of August, 1835, to take into consideration the labors of a certain committee which had been appointed by a General Assembly of September 24, 1834, as follows:  
Committee charge: arrange items of doctrine, church government "The Assembly being duly organized, and after transacting certain business of the church, proceeded to appoint a committee to arrange the items of doctrine of Jesus Christ, for the government of his church of the Latter Day Saints, which church was organized and commenced its rise on the 6th day of April, 1830.    
From the Bible, Book of Mormon, and revelations to the church   These items are to be taken from the bible, book of Mormon, and the revelations which have been given to said church up to this date, or shall be until such arrangement is made.   Note original idea was to include items from various sources.
Committee: Joseph, Oliver, Sidney, Frederick "Elder Samuel H. Smith, for the assembly, moved that presiding elders, Joseph Smith, jr. Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams compose said committee. The nomination was seconded by elder Hyrum Smith, whereupon it received the unanimous vote of the assembly.   In 1834, Joseph, Sidney, and Frederick constituted the presidency of the high priesthood; Oliver was an assistant president.
(SIGNED.) OLIVER COWDERY,
ORSON HYDE. 		Clerks.   Orson Hyde (h)

Kirtland high council

 Wherefore Presidents O. Cowdery and S. Rigdon, proceeded and organized the high council of the church at Kirtland,   Joseph and Frederick were in Michigan.
Missouri high council   and Presidents W. W. Phelps and J. Whitmer proceeded and organized the high council of the church in Missouri.   W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer were counselors to David Whitmer in the Missouri stake presidency.
Bishop Whitney's counselors   Bishop Newel K. Whitney proceeded and organized his counsellors of the church in Kirtland,  
Acting Bishop John Corrill's counsellors   and acting Bishop John Corrill, organized the counsellors of the church in Missouri:    
Council of seventy   and also Presidents Leonard Rich, Levi W. Hancock, Sylvester Smith and Lyman Sherman, organized the council of the seventy;    
Traveling elders   and also, Elder John Gould, acting President, organized the travelling Elders;    
Priests   and also Ira Ames, acting President, organized the Priests;    
Teachers   and also Erastus Babbit, acting President, organized the Teachers;    
Deacons   and also William Burgess, acting President, organized the Deacons;    
Organize assembly   and also Thomas Gates, assisted by John Young, William Cowdery, Andrew H. Aldrich, Job S. Lewis and Oliver Higley, as Presidents of the day, organized the whole assembly.    
Hymn, prayer   Elder Levi W. Hancock appointed chorister: a hymn was then sung and the services of the day opened by the prayer of President O. Cowdery, and the solemnities of eternity rested upon the audience.    
Hymn, business, adjourn   Another hymn was sung: after transacting some business for the church the audience adjourned for one hour.   "After transacting some busineess for the Church, such as ordaining Morris Phelps to the High Priesthood; Warren Parrish, to the First Seventy; Sherman Gilbert, an Elder; and blessing James Foster, Dean Gould, Benjamin Gifford, Elisha H. Groves, and Joseph Hartshorn, the assembly adjourned for one hour."HC 2:244.

Oliver presents book

 [256] AFTERNOON. — After a hymn was sung, President Cowdery arose and introduced the "Book of doctrine and covenants of the church of the Latter Day Saints," in behalf of the committee:   Afternoon: A hymn was sung, when President Rigdon arose and rebuked some of the authorities for not being in their seats at the time appointed. HC 2:244.
Sidney explains procedures   he was followed by President Rigdon, who explained the manner by which they intended to obtain the voice of the assembly for or against said book: the other two committee, named above, were absent.    
W. W. Phelps bears witness   According to said arrangement W. W. Phelps bore record that the book presented to the assembly, was true.    
John Whitmer bears witness
   President John Whitmer, also arose, and testified that it was true.    
Kirtland high council accepts   Elder John Smith, taking the lead of the high council in Kirtland, bore record that the revelations in said book were true, and that the lectures were judiciously arranged and compiled, and were profitable for doctrine; whereupon the high council of Kirtland accepted and acknowledged them as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
Missouri high council accepts   Elder Levi Jackman, taking the lead of the high council of the church in Missouri, bore testimony that the revelations in said book were true, and the said high council of Missouri accepted and acknowledged them as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
Written testimony of the Twelve President W. W. Phelps then read the written testimony of the Twelve, as follows.   The Twelve left Kirtland on May 5 for a mission to the eastern states.
 

The testimony of the witnesses to the book of the Lord's commandments, which he gave to his church through Joseph Smith, jr. who was appointed by the voice of the church for this purpose: we therefore feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of mankind, to every creature upon the face of all the earth, and upon the islands of the sea, that the Lord has borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us, that these commandments were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for all men, and are verily true. We give this testimony unto the world, the Lord being our helper: and it is through the grace of God, the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, that we are permitted to have this privilege of bearing this testimony unto the world, in the which we rejoice exceedingly, praying the Lord always, that the children of men may be profited thereby.

    
Council of seventy accept   Elder Leonard Rich bore record of the truth of the book and the council of the Seventy accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
Kirtland bishopric accepts Bishop N. K. Whitney bore record of the truth of the book, and with his counsellors, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
Independence bishopric accepts Acting Bishop, John Corrill, bore record of the truth of the book, and with his counsellors, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote. Acting President, John Gould, gave his testimony in favor of the book, and with the travelling Elders, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
Priests accept Ira Ames, acting President of the Priests, gave his testimony in favor of the book, and with the Priests, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
Teachers accept Erastus Babbit, acting President of the Teachers, gave his testimony in favor of the book, and they accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
Deacons accept Wm. Burges acting President of the Deacons, bore record of the truth of the book, and they accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
Congregation accepts The venerable President Thomas Gates then bore record of the truth of the book, and with his five silver-headed assistants, and the whole congregation, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine and covenants of their faith, by a unanimous vote.    
    The several authorities, and the general assembly, by a unanimous vote, accepted of the labors of the committee.    
Article on marriage President W. W. Phelps then read an article on Marriage which was accepted and adopted, and ordered to be printed in said book, by a unanimous vote.   The article on marriage appeared in every edition of the Doctrine and Covenants until 1876. In the 1835 D&C it is Section 101.
Of governments and laws article President O. Cowdery then read an article on "governments and laws in general," which was accepted and adopted, and ordered to be printed in said book, by a unanimous vote.    
  A hymn was then sung. President S. Rigdon returned thanks, after which the assembly was blessed by the Presidency, with uplifted hands, and dismissed.    
    THOMAS MURDICK,
WARREN PARRISH,
SYLVESTER SMITH,		 CLERKS.    
      Minutes
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