Minutes of May 2, 1835

Mormon History 1830-1844

Minutes of May 2, 1835

Conference of First Presidency, Twelve, Seventy, Kirtland High Council, bishoprics of Kirtland and Zion. Priesthood prerogatives and responsibilities. The Twelve: seated by age, rotate presiding responsibilities, regulate church affairs abroad, but not in any of the stakes of Zion §. 144,000 seventies §. Seven presidents of the Seventy §. Thirty-eight mission calls §. Redeem Zion or die §.

Date	May 2, 1835		Kirtland council, 187–190.
Location	Kirtland, Ohio.
Description	According to appointment the Presidency, the Twelve a part of the Seventy, and some other Elders of the church met in conference this morning …		Also Kirtland High Council, Kirtland and Zion bishoprics (see below).
Presiding	President J. Smith Junr.
Clerk	William E. McLellin
Open	Prayer by Brigham Young		This is an anomoly. Usually the presiding officer (moderator) delivers the opening prayer. Brigham is the third ranking apostle.
Seat the Twelve by seniority Rotate presiding	Joseph: oldest member of the Twelve to preside in their meetings, "beginning at the oldest and so on until the youngest has presided and then beginning at the oldest again. &c." The Twelve are seated according to age:
	Thomas B. Marsh (h) David W. Patten (h) Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball Orson Hyde William E. McLellin Parley P. Pratt (h) ~~J. H. Boynton~~ Luke S. Johnson William Smith Orson Pratt John F. Boynton (h) Lyman E. Johnson
Twelve not to regulate Zion or any stakes	The president then stated that the Twelve will have no right to go into Zion or any of its Stakes and there undertake to regulate the affairs thereof where there is a standing High Council.
Regulate branches abroad	But it is their duty to go abroad and regulate all matters relative to the different branches of the church. …
Standing high councils not to regulate abroad	and the standing high councils may not "go into the churches abroad and regulate the matters thereof, for this belongs to the Twelve."
Standing high councils only in Zion or stakes	No High Council will ever be established only in Zion or one of its Stakes. …
Ordinations require church consent	No one may "go into any church [188] and ordain any minister for the Church, unless it is by the Voice of the Church."
Presiding elder's consent for branch affairs	No elder may go into a branch and call meetings "or regulate the Church without the consent or voice of the presiding Elder of said branch."
Seven presidents of Seventy Call and ordain more to 144,000	If the first Seventy are all occupied, and there is a call for more laborers it will be the duty of the seven presidents of the first seventy to call and ordain other Seventy and send them forth to labor, in the vineyard until if need be they set apart seven times Seventy, even until there shall be one hundred & forty and four thousand.		First mention of seven presidents of the Seventy.
Seventy do not meet with Twelve	The Seventy are not to attend the conferences of the Twelve unless they are called upon or requested to by the Twelve.
Seventy and Twelve paid	The Seventy and the Twelve may call upon the church to assist them and their families financially.
Ordain Henry Harrison	Henry Harriman is ordained a seventy.
Twelve to call presidents of the Seventies on missions	The circumstances of Presidents Joseph Young, Sylvester Smith, Lyman Sherman, Leonard Rich, Hazen Aldrich, Zebedee Coltrin, and Levi Hancock are considered and are voted to hold themselves "in readiness to go at the call of the Twelve, when the Lord opens the way."
Presidents of Seventy call seventies on missions	Elder Hiram Winters to go on a mission when called by "the president of the 70 when the Lord opens the way."		Hiram Winters' Zion's Camp
Others to be ready	[189] The following are to be ready to go when called upon and circumstances permit:
	Elder Elias Hutchings Elder Henry Shibley Elder Roger Orton Harvey Stanley Jedediah Grant Joseph Hancock Lyman Smith David Elliott Almon Babbitt Levi Gifford Lorenzo Booth Zera S. Cole Harrison Burgess	Alden Burdick William F. Cahoon Harpin Riggs Alexander Badlam Solomon Angel Bates Nobles Nathan B. Baldwin Burr Riggs Lewis Robbins Darwin Richardson John D. Parker Daniel Stevens
High council and both bishoprics join	[190] After an hour's adjournment, the Kirtland high council and the bishop of Zion "and his council," and the bishop of Kirtland "and his council" join the conference.
	Hiram Stratten to hold himself in readiness.
Ezra Thayer suspended	Ezra Thayer is "suspended as an Elder and member until an investigation could be had before the Bishop's Court" (complaint by Oliver Granger).
Others to go	Ten more are called "to go [on missions] when circumstances permit:"
	William D. Pratt Jenkins Salisbury Salmon Warner Israel Barlow Charles Kelly	Alexander Whitesides Hiram Blackman George W. Brooks Jacob Chapman Stephen Winchester
	Lorenzo Barnes is ordained a seventy.
	More to hold themselves in readiness:
	Henry Bennor Michael Griffith Royal Barney Libeus T. Coon Zerubabel Snow Willard Snow George A. Smith	David Evans Jesse Harmon Milo Andrus Harry Brown Jesse Huntsman [191] Henry Harriman Lorenzo Barnes
Cases considered Elders enrolled	These men's circumstances and cases were considered and they were disposed of as the council directed. The Elders of Kirtland and its vicinity were next called upon, or their circumstances were considered. Their names being enrolled.
Joseph: redeem Zion or die	Joseph Smith arises with the list and comments on the deliverance of Zion "and so much of the Authority being present, he moved that we never give up the struggle for zion even until Death. or until Zion is Redeemed. The vote was unanimous and with apparent deep feeling."
All elders bound to be missionaries when circumstances admit	Vote: All elders are "bound to travel in the World to preach the gospel with all their might mind & Strength when their circumstances will admit of it, and that the door is now opened."
Brigham,, others to open the door to Indians	Motioned, seconded & voted that Elder Brigham Young, John P. Greene, and Amos Orton are appointed to go and preach the gospel to the remnants of Joseph. ~~Motioned, seconded & voted~~ <the door to be opened by> Elder B. Young and this will open a door to all the house of Joseph.		Original: Green ¶ Minutes of May 22–25, 1835
Presidency of Seventy ordain new seventies	[Vote:] … when another Seventy is required, the presidency of the first Seventy shall choose, ordain and set them apart from among the most experienced Elders of the Church.		First Quorum of Seventy
But not in Zion or her stakes Presidency of the Seventy	Vote: When additional Seventy are needed, Elders living in the Kirtland area are to be "set apart & ordained … by the Presidency of the Church in Kirtland." The presidency of the Seventy select the best qualified elders abroad and ordain and set them apart seventies, but not in [192] "Zion or any of the stakes thereof."		Joseph organized a high council and presidency in Clay county in 1834. Minutes of July 3, 1834 These men continued to lead after the move to Caldwell county in 1836. On November 7, 1837, David Whitmer was sustained as President of the Church in Missouri with John Whitmer and W. W. Phelps as assistant Presidents. Minutes of November 7, 1837 A stake was organized in Adam-ondi-Ahman in Daviess county June 28, 1838.
Close	Prayer by Sidney Rigdon.
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