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Kirtland high council drops Sylvester Smith and adds Hyrum Smith. Joseph
Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams are
to create a Book of Covenants and the proceeds of the book sales will
be theirs. Bishop Whitney to manage his store as he sees fit. |
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| Date |
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September 24, 1834 |
|
Kirtland council,
74–76. |
| Location |
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Kirtland, Ohio. |
|
|
| Description |
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… a High Council
of the Church of Latter Day Saints … |
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|
| Presiding |
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Joseph Smith Jr., assisted
by Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams. |
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|
| Clerks |
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Oliver Cowdery and Orson
Hyde |
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| High
council |
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Samuel
H. Smith
Orson Johnson
John Johnson
Jared Carter [absent]
John Smith
Oliver Cowdery
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1
2
3
4
5
6
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Luke Johnson (h)
Sylvester Smith
Orson Hyde (h)
Joseph Smith Sr.
Martin Harris [absent]
Joseph Coe |
1
2
3
4
5
6 |
|
Apparently
numbers were preassigned for each side of the hearing. John P. Greene and Brigham
Young substitute for Jared Carter and Martin Harris (see "Substitute counselors"
in left column below). |
| Open |
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[75] After prayer, Joseph
makes some remarks. |
|
|
| Sylvester
Smith case |
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Discussion on whether
"under existing circumstances," Sylvester
Smith "can fill
the office of high counsellor." |
|
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| Speakers |
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Samuel H. Smith and
Orson Johnson, Luke Johnson and Orson Hyde are chosen to speak on the case. |
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| Sylvester
speaks |
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Sylvester speaks after
them, followed by the "assisting presidents." |
|
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| Joseph
decides |
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Joseph renders the
decision: |
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Dropped
from council
Retains office of high priest and preaching privileges |
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brother Sylvester stand no longer a high counsellor but that he retain
the office of high priest and continue to lift up his voice in the name
of Jesus, in preaching the Gospel. The names of the counsellors were
then called and severally gave their assent to this decision when brother
Sylvester gave his own assent with thankfulness. |
|
|
| Hyrum
replaces Sylvester |
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Joseph nominates Hyrum
to fill Sylvester's position. The clerk seconds the motion. "The counsellors
then voted for the nomination, as also the conference present." |
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Pray,
ordain, bless, confirm blessing
|
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Brother Joseph then took the lead in prayer after which he ordained
brother Hyrum to the office of high counsellor, pronouncing the blessing
of the Lord upon him in his name. After which brother Joseph Smith Snr.
proceeded to bless him also in the name of the Lord, confirming the
same blessing. |
|
term:
office of high counselor |
| Substitute
counselors |
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Elders John P. Greene
and Brigham Young are appointed as substitute counselors for Jared Carter
and Martin Harris. |
|
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| Committee
to arrange doctrinal items |
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[76] The council then proceeded to appoint a committee
to arrange the items of the doctrine of Jesus Christ for the government
of the church of Latter Day Saints …
from the bible, book of mormon, and the revelations which have been given
to the church up to this date or shall be, until such arrangement is
made. |
|
While
Joseph was gone on Zion's Camp, Sidney and Oliver were preparing the
"church covenants." ¶ Minutes
of April 20–21, 1834. |
| Joseph,
Oliver, Sidney, Frederick |
|
Samuel
H. Smith nominates Joseph, Oliver, Sidney, and Frederick
to be the committee. Seconded by Hyrum. Vote in the affirmative "by
the whole conference." |
|
| Proceeds
of Book of Covenants |
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Council decides that
the committee should "have the avails" of the "book of covenants"
when it is published. |
|
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| Ordination
of high priests |
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[Council decides to
notify] the churches and conferences abroad, that high priests be ordained
hereafter, in the high council at Kirtland, signed by the clerk of the council. |
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| Bishop
Whitney's store |
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Council
decides that considering Bishop Whitney's
"embarrassed circumstances," he should be allowed "to make
such arrangements with his store as he shall deem most advisable." |
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| Close |
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Sidney closes with prayer. |
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Minutes of November 5, 1834
Minutes of September 10, 1834
Ohio Minutes
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