| Minutes of April 26, 1839 |
| In fulfillment of the revelation given the preceding July (D&C 118), five members of the Twelve return to Far West, excommunicate Isaac Russell and his followers, ordain Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith apostles, and officially commence their mission to England (though they returned to Illinois for a period before departing). | ||||
| Date | April 26, 1839 | WWJ 1:326–327; HC 3:336–339 differs from Woodruff only in spelling, punctuation, etc., but also has Brigham Young president and John Taylor clerk. | ||
| Location | Far West | |||
| Description | … a Council held at Far West by the Twleve, High Priests, Elders, & Priests … | |||
| Apostles present | Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball (h1) Orson Pratt (h1) John E. Page (h) John Taylor |
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| Excommunications | Council resolves "the following persons should be no more fellowshiped in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but excommunicated from the Same …" | term: disfellowship = excommuicate (sometimes) | ||
| Isaac and Mary Russell John Goodson and wife Jacob Scott Sr. and wife Jacob Scott Jr. Isaac Scott Ann Scott Sister Walton Robert Walton Sister Cavanaugh Ann Wanlass William Dawson Sr. and wife George Nelson Joseph Nelson, wife, and mother William Warnock and wife Jonathan Maynard Nelson Maynard George Miller Brother Griggs and wife George Walters Luman Gibbs Simeon Gardner Freeborn Gardner |
The
Russells and Waltons, among Parley P. Pratt's first converts in Toronto
(1834), were related by marriage. Isaac Russell was one of the first missionaries
to England, with Heber, Willard, Orson Hyde, and Joseph Fielding. He organized
the Alston branch in 1837. As the Saints were fleeing Missouri in the winter
of 1838–1839, Isaac received revelations directing him to lead the
church into Indian territory where the Three Nephites would join them to
convert the Lamanites. His organization was called the Alston church (Divergent,
23–25). See HC
3:343–344 for the letter that he wrote to his Alston converts for support.
Most, if not all, of the others listed here are his followers. Isaac died
in 1844. His widow and children moved to Utah and rejoined the LDS Church.
For Joseph's characterization of Isaac and his family, see ¶ Try the Spirits. Isabella Walton: ¶ Parley's Toronto Letters |
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| "The Council" proceeds to the site of "the Lords house" and sing part of a hymn on the mission of the Twelve. | ||||
| Master workman Alpheus Cutler "recommenced laying the foundation of the LORD'S house" by rolling a large stone to the southeast corner of the temple site. |
The corner stones
had been laid on July 4, 1838. |
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| The apostles step onto the "chief corner stone," where they ordain Wilford Woodruff (h1) and George A. Smith "(who had been previously nominated by the first Presidency, accepted by the Twelve, & acknowledged by the Church,) …." | ||||
| Ordain two seventies | Darwin Chase and Norman Shearer, recently released from Richmond jail, are "Ordained to the office of the Seventies." | term: office | ||
| Prayer | The Twelve "then offered up vocal Prayer in the following order:" | |||
| Brigham Young Heber C Kimball Orson Pratt John E. Page John Taylor Wilford Woodruff George A. Smith |
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| Sing "Adam-ondi-Ahman." | Adam-ondi-Ahman Lyrics | |||
| The Twelve take "the parting hand … of the following Saints agreeable to revelation:" | ||||
| Members present |
William Burton |
I have alphabetized these names. | ||
| Alpheus Cutler then returns the stone to its "regular position" and suggests "in consequence of the peculiar situation of the Saints he thought it wisdom to adjourn untill some future time when the Lord should open the way expressing his determination then to procede with the building." | ||||
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