Minutes of August 31, 1835

Mormon History 1830-1844

Minutes of August 31, 1835

Manuscript copy of letter signed by five of six presidents of the church. Clay County high priests, elders, priests, teachers, and decons to recognize the jurisdiction of the bishop and his counselors, and the high council. Others may be authorized to preach, but not to govern. Maintain a low profile: do not perform any more ordinations, speak of punishments, or dispute with neighbors.

In Personal Writings of Joseph Smith (364–367), Dean Jessee includes the version of this document, with a postscript to Hezekiah Peck, found in "The Book of John Whitmer" in the archives of the Community of Christ. He indicates a draft copy of the letter is in the LDS Church Archives, which may be this document; and a transcript dated 1 September 1835 in the Manuscript History of the Church B-1.
This version from the Jameson Family Papers appears to be an earlier version of the Whitmer copy, simply because of apparent literary refinements in the latter. None of the textual differences (noted in the right column) appear significant, though it is interesting to note that Whitmer omits the phrase branding certain elders who claimed to be apostles as "liars." Apostles are elders (¶ Articles and Covenants) and elders other than the recently called Twelve were occasionally called apostles, hence the confusion.
Provenance speculation: The Jameson Family Papers in the LDS Church Archives include an 1831 revelation calling John Burk on a mission and John M. Burk's 1833 ordination certificate as a deacon. John Mathias Burk and Charles Jameson, a survivor of the Haun's Mill massacre, lived their final years in Minersville, Utah. The following document might have come from either family's records as both were living in Missouri in 1835.

Date	August 31, 1835	Jameson Family Collection, Church Archives, MS 14052, fd. 3.
Location	Kirtland, Ohio
Description	A high council
[Presiding]	[Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Frederick G. Williams, W. W. Phelps, John Whitmer]	David Whitmer, president of Missouri high council not present.
Clerk	Not named.
Open	Dear Brethren
Who should preside?	Some documents relating to the difficulties Existing among the Elders of clay co Mo respecting who should be President of the Elders was decided in council as follows
Council August 31, 1835	A high council held 31 day of Aug 1835.
Presidencies of Kirtland and Zion by revelation	The high council of the presidency of Kirtland and Zion say that the Lord has manifested unto <them> by revelation of his spirit
All officers in Clay in transgression	that the high priests, elders, teachers and Deacons or in other words all the officers in the land of Clay Cou[nty] belonging to the church are included more or less in transgression because they have not enjoyed the spirit of God sufficiently to be able to comprehend their Duties respecting themselves & the welfare of Zion thereby having been left to act in a manner that is detrimental to the interest and also a hindrance to the redemption of Zion,
Humble themselves	now if they will be wise they will humble themselves in a peculiar manner that God may open the Eyes of their understanding it will be clearly manifest that the designs and purposes of the almighty are with regard to them and the children of Zion,
Follow high council	that they Should let the high council which is appointed of God and ordained for that purpose make and regulate all the affairs of Zion, & that it is the will of God that her children should stand still and see the <his> salvation in her redemption
Travel, gather Saints	And the officers of the Church should go forth inasmuch as they can leave their families in comfortable circunstances and gather up even the strength of the Lords house	leave: have in Whitmer, JS personal, rev. ed., 365. Also gather up the saints,.
Teach only first principles Regulate only if authorized	and those who cannot go forth consistently with the will of the Lord & their circumstances preventing them let them remain in deep humility and inasmuch as they do any thing let them confine themselves to teaching the first principles of the gospel not endeavoring to institute regulations or laws for Zion without having been appointed of God	the Lord & their: God their in Whitmer. thing let them: thing confine themselves
Cease ordinations	Now we say there is no need of ordinations in Zion or appointing more officers but let all those that are ordained magnify themselves before the Lord by going forth into the vineyard and cleansing their garments from the blood of this generation	ordinations: ordaining appointing more: appointing any more
Authority to preach not administrative authority	it is one thing to be ordained to preach the Gospel & to push the people together to Zion & it is another thing to be anointed to lay the foundation & build up the city of Zion & execute their laws
Some stady the ark	therefore it is certain that many of the Elders have Come under great condemnation in endeavoring to steady the ark of God in places where they have not been sent
Bishop's court and high council only recognized authorities	the {2} Bishops court and the high council have been established to do the business of Zion & her children are not bound to acknowledge a[n]y of those who feel disposed to reign and set themselves up to be their rulers let not the children be duped in this way	Bishops court and the high council: The high council and bishops court to reign and set themselves up to be: to run to Zion and set themselves to be
False apostles	But let them prove those who say they are apostels and are not But [faned?] them liars	But [faned?] them liars: not in Whitmer
Elders do not regulate	the Elders have no right to regulate the affairs of Zion	regulate the affairs of Zion: regulate Zion
All admonished, including ourselves	But they have aright to preach the gospel they will all do well to repent & humble themselves & all the church & also we ourselves receive this admonition and do endeavour and pray to this end	this admonition: the admonition & when: when
	& when the children of Zion are strangers in a strange land their harps must be hung up on the willow & they cannot Sing the Song of Zion But Should mourn and not dance	willow: willows "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land? " Ps. 137:1–4 Song: songs
Pray	Therefore Brethren it remaineth for all such to be exercis[ed] with prayer and continual suplication until Zion is redeemed
Disadvantages of being separated from authorities	we realize the Situation all the Brethren & Sisters must be in in being deprived of their spiritual privileges which are enjoyed by those who sit in heavenly places in christ Jesus where there are no [such?] to rise up and bring their conciencies	Situation all: situation that all be in in being: be in being sit: set
Lay low Wait on governor's promise to restore lands	nevertheless it is wisdom that the church Should make but little or no stir in that region & cause as little excitement as possible & endure their afflictions, patiently until the time appointed & the governor of Mo fulfil this promise in setting the church <over> up on their own lands	fulfil this: fulfils his
Advise bishop of addresses	we sudyest [suggest] an idea that it would be wisdom for all members of the church on the return of the Bishop to make known to him their names places of residence &c that it may be known where they <all> are when the Gov Shall give directions for you to be set over up on you lands	we sudyest: we would suggest
Keep Sabbath	Again it is the will of the Lord that the church—Should attend to their communion on the Sabbath day
Keep quiet about judgments	& let them remember the commandment which saith talk not of Judgment	saith: says
Pearls before swine	we are commanded not to give the childrens bread unto dogs neither to cast your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet and they turn again and rend you	neither to cast your pearls: neither cast our pearls "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." Matt. 7:6.
Be wise, keep commandments	therefore let us be wise in all things & keep all the commandments [of] <god> that your salvation may be sure having your armour ready & prepa[red] against the time appointed & having on the whole armour of righteousness we may be able to stand in that trying {3} ~~hour~~ day	your salvation: our salvation your armour: our armour "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Eph. 6: 13, also 6:11.
Preach as opportunities present themselves but don't criticize	we say also that if there are any door[s] open for the Elders to preacch the first principles of the gospel let them not keep silent & rail not against the sex [sects] neither talk against tenets but preach Christ & hin crucified	silent &: silence tenets: their tenets
Republican principles	live to god and to call men observing always to make mention of our republican principles that thereby we may allay the prejudice of the people—	live: love to all men: to man that thereby: thereby if possible
Humility	be meek and lowly of heart & the Lord God of our fathers shall be with you forever <more> Amen
Signed	Sanctioned and Signed by the council Joseph Smith O cowdry F G Williams W W Phelps J Whitmer	by the council: by the Presidents Whitmer includes Sidney Rigdon.
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