| Sylvester Smith's accuses
Joseph Smith of "criminal conduct" during Zion's Camp. Joseph
is exonerated. A notice from the high council and Sylvester's confession
to be published in the Evening and Morning Star. |
| Date |
|
August 11, 1834 |
|
Kirtland council, 52–55. |
| Location |
|
School house, Kirtland, Ohio. |
|
|
| Description |
|
… a number of high priests
and elders of the church of the Latter-Day Saints assembled … |
|
|
| Presiding/Moderator |
|
[Joseph Smith Jr.], then Newel
K. Whitney |
|
|
| Clerk |
|
Oliver Cowdery |
|
|
| Purpose |
|
… for
the purpose of investigating a matter of difficulty growing out of certain
reports or statements made by brother Sylvester
Smith,
one of the High counsellors of this Church, accusing brother Joseph Smith
Junr. with criminal
conduct during his journey to and from Missouri this Spring & Summer. |
|
¶ Argument
to Argument
|
Joseph
Smith
Sylvester's jealousy |
|
After coming to order, brother
Joseph Commenced and spake to a considerable length upon the circumstances
of their journey to and from Missouri, and very minutely laid open the
causes out of which the Gealousies
of brother Sylvesters and others had grown, |
|
Joseph
was furious. ¶ Joseph
Smith to Leaders in Clay County |
| Rebukes, distribution of money |
|
He made a satisfactory statement
concerning his rebukes and chastisements upon Sylvester and others, and
also the distribution of monies and other properties, calling on brethren
present who accompanied him to attest to the same. All of which, was satisfactory
to the brethren present as appeared by their own remarks afterward. |
|
|
| Sylvester
Smith on difficulties, partial confession |
|
Sylvester
comments on "their difficulties" and begins a "partial
confession for his previous conduct, asking forgiveness for accusing
brother Joseph publicly 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
Sylvester,s: comma correct |
| Sidney
Rigdon |
|
Sidney reproves Sylvester's conduct. |
|
|
| Others |
|
John P. Greene and others
speak, then Oliver. |
|
Original:
Green throughout |
| Organize
council |
|
[On Sidney's motion,] the assembly
arranged itself into a council, brother N.
K. Whitney presiding and proceded to discuss how this [53] difficulty
should be disposed of. |
|
|
| John Smith, Reynolds
Cahoon calls
for public confession
|
|
John
Smith: "the
way to heal the wound" would be for Sylvester to "make a public confession"
in the Evening
and Morning Star. Reynolds Cahoon concurs. |
|
|
| Isaac Hill,
I. Bishop wants to quash
it |
|
Isaac Hill: "it
ought to be quashed here, and go no farther." Elder I. Bishop concurs. |
|
|
| Samuel H.
Smith calls for confession |
|
Samuel
H. Smith: Sylvester should "make a more public confession,
and send by letter to those who are in the same transgression
with himself. and inform them of this decision, and then if necessary.
make it public in the Star." |
|
|
| Orson Hyde wants
confession published |
|
Orson
Hyde: the confession should be "as
liberal as the accusation, or that it ought to be written and published."
|
|
|
| John P. Greene speaks
for the sake of the branches |
|
John P. Greene: if
Sylvester "would view this thing in its proper light, he
would be willing to make a public confession and send [it] forth, and
he advised him to do this for the salvation of the Churches abroad." |
|
|
| Isaac Story wants confession published |
|
[Isaac Story:] the plaster
ought to be as large as the wound that a proper statement ought to be
published abroad. |
|
|
| Oliver Cowdery |
|
Oliver
Cowdery proposes
the council send a notice to the churches abroad that: |
|
|
| Notify branches 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. and also let brother Sylvester make a proper confession following
the same minutes. |
|
|
| Others |
|
Amasa Lyman (h),
Peter Shirts, Truman Wait, Roswell Evans, Alpheus
Cutler, and Thomas Burdick agree. |
|
|
| Sidney Rigdon on
Sylvester's reputation |
|
[Sidney:] made a few remarks upon
the attitude in which, he, Sylvester now stands before the world, in endeavoring
to preach the gospel. |
|
|
| Orson Hyde calls
the question |
|
[54] [Orson Hyde] moved
for a decision, relative to the first question, (viz.) What is
to be done to arrest the evil? |
|
|
| Newel K. Whitney |
|
The moderator
then proceeded, after a few remarks to give a decision according to a
motion previously made (viz.) |
|
|
| 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 {the} <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 of three be appointed to write the article for the Star.
Oliver Cowdery, Thomas Burdick, and Orson Hyde are "nominated and appointed
by a unanimous vote." |
|
|
| Sylvester
will confess |
|
[Sylvester says:] that he was willing
to publish a confession published in the Star. |
|
|
| Letters to be sent |
|
John P. Greene moves, and N. K. Whitney seconds,
that the committee "write letters in the name of the council to bros Z.
Snow. C. Snelling & J. P. Parker |
|
|
| Close |
|
Prayer by Sidney Rigdon. |
|
|
|
|
Minutes
of August 21, 1834
Minutes of August 7, 1834
Ohio Minutes
Zion's Camp
|