Minutes of April 5-6, 1837

Minutes of April 5–6, 1837

W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer meet with the high council, bishop and counselors, and apostles Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten. They argue for a private meeting with the high council but Thomas B. Marsh threatens to convene a common council and they acquiese. Investigation begins. David characterizes their conduct as "iniquitous & fradulent in the extreme."
Date	April 5–6, 1837	FWR, 109.
Location	Far West
Moderator	Presumably the same as April 3 — John Murdock	Minutes of April 3, 1837
Clerk	Presumably the same as April 3 — Elias Higbee	Minutes of April 3, 1837
Present	Presidents W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer Bishop Edward Partridge and counselors [Isaac Morley and John Corrill] Apostles Thomas B. Marsh (h) and David W. Patten (h) High council of Far West
Open	Prayer
Phelps and Whitmer propose private meeting	Before the official business can begin, William and John propose the bishop and his counselors, and the two apostles, leave. They insist on a private meeting with the high council.
	All oppose the proposal. The bishop and apostles insist they have a right to remain.
Phelps threatens to disolve the council Marsh counters	W. W. Phelps says he will disolve the council. Apostle Thomas B. Marsh declares if the council is disolved he will prefer a charge against the two presidents "before the Bishop & 12 High Priests" [a common council].	common council: D&C 107:82–83.
Council proceeds	The two presidents then agree to let all present remain, and the investigation begins.
Rebuke	The council is not satisfied with the pair's answers to the nine items. The council and "others … strongly rebuke the late improper proceedings of the Presidents."
	David W. Patten (h)"spoke against them with apparent indignation: stating that these proceedings had been had been iniquitous & fradulent in the extreme, in unrighteously appropriating Church funds to their own emolument which had been plainly proven.
	"April 6th was occupied in like discussions."
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