Minutes of October 29, 1835

Parents "use the rod." Neighbors call it child abuse. Daughter threatens suicide. Joseph faults her (exaggerating, lying?). Parents should have raised her better. They promise to do better and are restored to fellowship.
Date		October 29, 1835		KCMB
Location		Kirtland
Description		… a High Council was called at E. Bosleys for the purpose of trying certain cases.		Edmund Bosley (1776-1846), moved to Kirtland from New York in 1833. Living in Missouri by 1838. Moved to Illinois in 1839. Died at Winter Quarters. Papers 2:528–529.
Presiding		Not named, but Joseph, Sidney, and Oliver are present
Clerk		Orson Hyde
Present		David W. Patten (h) Brigham Young John F. Boynton (h) Joseph Coe Lyman Sherman James Emmitt John Smith William E. McLellin (h) Orson Hyde (h) Simeon Carter Alpheus Cutler Selah J. Griffin
Open		After the council had taken their seats according to their respective numbers President O. Cowdery opened the council by prayer.		procedure: take a number, sit
Charge parents with whipping child		William Smith prefers a charge against David Elliott and his wife for whipping and beating their daughter.		David Elliott (1799–1855) of Ithaca, New York, baptized 1831 and married Mary Cahoon (sister of Reynolds Cahoon) the same year. Zion's Camp, First Quorum of Seventy. Moved to Zion with the Kirtland Camp, 1838. Then to Springfield, Illinois. Died in Salt Lake City. Joseph: "I was then called to appear before the high Council which was setting to give my testimony in an action against Br. David Eliot for whiping his Daughter unreasonably my testimony was in his favour."JS journal, 1835–1836 in Personal, 2nd ed., 95.
Spealers		Counselors David W. Patten and Brigham Young speak on one side; John Smith and William E. McLellin on the other. Prosecution witnesses are Aaron C. Lyon and his wife, Roxana.
15-year-old girl contemplates suicide		Aaron C. Lyon: about ten days ago, the fifteen-year-old Elliott girl came to his house, complaining that "her father had abused her, and whipped her & that same marks were found upon her arms, body &c. … she said she would, or had a mind to make away with herself, hang herself or something of the kind to get rid of her trouble and affliction.
Mother threatens to kill her		Roxana Lyons: corroborates her husband's testimony and adds that "Mrs. Elliott threatened to take the broomstick and kill her."
Suicide attempt		Sister Osgood: three years ago, as she was leaving the Elliott home, the girl said, "I know how I shall fare when you leave, I shall run away or destroy myself." She went down into the well to drown herself but Sister Osgood prevented her.
Public knowledge in Chagrin		Erastus Babbit: the people of Chagrin, where the incident took place, were very agitated about it; and "it was a topic of public conversation."
Joseph: girl to blame		Joseph Smith: talked to the girl and her parents at their house in Chagrin "… he was satisfied that the girl was in the fault, and that the neighbors were trying to create a difficulty."
Grandfather: girl lies, never saw her abused		Brother Elliott's father: she is "refractory and stubborn, and would sometimes vary from the truth and had never seen brother or Sister Elliot abuse her."
All sides heard		The counselor, the accuser, and the accused speak.
Presidency renders decision		"The Presidents" render a decision: the complaint is
Father brought disgrace Child shouldn't need the rod at 15		not without foundation, Yet the charge had not been fully sustained, but he has acted injudiciously and brought a disgrace upon himself, upon his daughter & upon this Church, because he ought to have trained his child in a way, that she should not have required the rod at the age of 15 years.
Evening session		Council re-convenes at candle-light. Hezekiah Fisk replaces Alpheus Cutler and Almon Babbit substitutes for Joseph Coe.		Joseph, Emma, and "others" of the household after the session begins. He is invited to sit with the presidency and preside. Emma is called to testify. She "began to relate circumstances that had been brought before the church and settled," so Joseph objects. William jumps up, accusing Joseph of "invalidating or doubting" their mother's testimony. Joseph tells him is out of order and tells him to sit down. William refuses. Joseph repeats his "request" and William is "enraged." Joseph orders him to sit down and William refuses, daring his older brother to knock him down. Joseph, "agitated," is ready to leave, but their father intercedes. Joseph remains and the council resumes its business. JS journal, 1835–1836 in Personal, 2nd ed., 96–97.
Mother accused		"After the Council was organized," William Smith accuses Mary Elliot of abusing her daughter and the rest of her children.
Difficult case (6 counselors)		Six counselors are appointed to speak.
Sister Elliot confesses, is forgiven		Testimony of Sister Childs was that she lived in the house with Sister Elliot[. Sister Elliott] confessed her wrong and promised to do so no more consequently the council forgave her.
Brother Elliott confesses, is forgiven, both restored		Brother Elliott made his confession and was forgiven, and both he and his wife were restored to fellowship.
Close		Prayer by Sidney Rigdon.
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