| The
Twelve air their grievances over the harsh letter
that the "presidency of the high council in Kirtland" sent them during
their mission to the East (May 5–September
26, 1835), placement after the high councils of Kirtland and Zion at
yesterday's council, and Hyrum Smith's comments during the Gladden Bishop
trial. The presidency ask forgiveness if they have hurt the Twelve's feelings,
Joseph pledges his undying confidence in them, the Twelve vote to covenant
with him, blessings, good feelings all around. |
|
| Date |
|
January 16, 1836 |
|
Diary-2
Joseph Smith diary (Sept. 22, 1835-Apr. 3, 1836). Selected Collections, 1:20 // Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, rev. ed., 221-225. Original, Church Archives, MS 155.
in
Papers
Papers of Joseph Smith, Volume 2: Journal, 1832-1842, edited by Dean C. Jessee (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1992).
2:143–148. |
| Location |
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Kirtland, Ohio. |
|
|
| Description |
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By request, Joseph Smith, Sidney
Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams meet with "the council of
the 12." |
|
|
| [Presiding] |
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Not stated. |
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|
| Clerk |
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Not stated. |
|
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| Open |
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Council organized and opened by singing and
prayer offered up by Thomas B. Marsh (h)
president of the 12. |
|
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| Permission
to speak in turn without interruption |
|
[Thomas] requested in behalf of his colleagues
the privilege of speaking, each in his turn without being interupted; which
was granted them. |
|
|
Thomas
B. Marsh
Presidency's letter to the Twelve
|
|
"… proceeded to unbosom his feelings
touching the mission of the 12, and more particularly" about the
letter the Twelve received in Maine "from the presidency of the high council
in Kirtland." |
|
|
| Status
of the Twelve changed |
|
[Also spoke] of being
plased in our council, on Friday last below
the council's of Kirtland and Zion, having been previously
placed next [to] the presidency, in our assemblies. |
|
Friday last: Jan.
15. The Minutes of January 15,
1836 do not give the quorum
rankings. There is no record of a meeting on January 8. |
| Hyrum disregarded
Twelve at Gladden trial |
|
Finally, the Twelve were "hurt" by Hyrum Smith's
comments at the trial of Gladden Bishop—the Twelve had tried Gladden
in the East and submitted his case to the Kirtland high council for investigation,
but their proceedings "were in some degree, discountenanced." |
|
Hyrum's remarks are not reported in the Minutes
of September 28, 1835. |
| Others of the Twelve |
|
The rest of the Twelve speak, "acquiessing in the observations
of Elder Marsh" and adding that the letter: |
|
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Basis of the letter
Warren Cowdery's false charges
Twelve lost face |
|
in which two of their numbers were
suspended, and the rest severely chastened, and that too upon testimony
which was unwarantable, and particularly stress was laid upon a certain
letter which the presidency had received from Dr. W. A. Cowdery of Freedom
New York in which he preferred changes against them which were false, and
upon which they <we> (the presiders) had acted in chastning them
and therefore, the 12, had concluded that the presidency had lost confidence
in them, and that whereas the church in this place, and carressed them,
at the time of their appointment, to the apostleship they now treated them
coolly and appear to have lost confidence in them … |
|
Warren A. Cowdery presided over the church in
Freedom,
Cattaraugus county, New York. Heber C. Kimball alleged that Jared Carter
and others also "tried to ruin the Twelve
in the eyes of Joseph." ¶ Jared
Carter |
| Lament presidency's
lack of confidence |
|
Some complain that they have been in
the work almost from the beginning "and had born the burden in the heat
of the day and passed through many trials," so the presidency should
have had more confidence in them and not "chastised them upon such testimony." |
|
|
| Charge Warren Cowdery
with unchristian conduct |
|
They have "prefered a charge against Dr [Warren] Cowdery for his unchristian conduct which the presidency had disregarded." |
|
|
| Language unbecoming |
|
On one occasion he had used language to one of the Twelve
that was "unchristian and unbecoming any man," and they will "not submit
to such treatment." |
|
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| Cool, deliberate |
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The remarks of all the 12 were made in a verry forcible
and explicit manner yet cool and deliberate. |
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| Joseph's response |
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I observed that we had heard them patiently and in turn
should expect to be heard patiently also. … |
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|
| Ready to persevere? |
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I remarked that it was necessary that the 12 should state
whether they were determined to persevere in the work to the Lord, whether
the presidency are able to satisfy them or not. |
|
|
| Yes |
|
The Twelve "vote" unanimously in the affirmative. |
|
|
| Confidence not
lost |
|
Joseph assures them he has not lost confidence in them and
"they had no reason to suspect my confidence." |
|
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Harsh language unintentional
Ask forgiveness |
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[The letter] might have been expressed in too harsh language;
which was not intentional and I ask your forgiveness in as much as I have
hurt your feelings; |
|
|
| But McLellin harsh
too |
|
but nevertheless, the letter that that Elder McLellin
(h) wrote back … was harsh also
and I was willing to set the one against the other; … |
|
Original: Mclellin |
| Twelve next to
First Presidency |
|
[Their authority] is next to the present presidency … the
arangement of the assembly … [yesterday] was because the buisness
to be transacted was buisness that related to that body in particular which
was to fill the several quorum's in Kirtland; not beca[u]se they were first
in office … also the 12, are not subject to any other than the first
presidency; … |
|
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Won't tolerate harsh
language
Except his own impulse
|
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I do not continue countinanc[e] the harsh language of
President Cowdery to them … although I have sometimes spoken to harsh
from the [147] impulse of the moment and inasmuch as I have wounded your
feelings brethren I ask your forgivness, |
|
|
| Love, upholds the
Twelve |
|
for I love you and will hold you up with all my heart in
all righteousness before the Lord, and before all men, for be assured brethren
I am willing to stem the torrent of all opposition, in storms in tempests
in thunders and lightning by sea and by land in the wilderness or among
fals[e] brethren or mobs or whatever God in his providence may call us
and I am determined that neither hights nor depths principalities nor powers
things present or to come nor any other creature shall separate me from
you; and I will now covenant with you before God that I will not listen
too nor credit, any derogatory report against any of you nor condemn you
upon any testimony beneath the heavens, short of that testimony which is
infalible, untill I can see you face to face and know of a surity and I
do place unlimited confidence in your word for I believe you to be men
of truth, and I ask the same of you, when I tell you any thing that you
place equal confidence in my word for I will not tell you I know anything
which I do not know—but I have already consumed more time than I
intended to when I commenced and I will now give way to my colleagues |
|
|
Sidney—me
too
Try Warren?
|
|
Sidney "acquiessed in what I had said" and admits he erred
in not citing Dr. Cowdery "to trial on the charges that were put into his
hands by the 12," asks their forgiveness, will do it now if they want.
Asks their forgiveness if he has "spoken, or reproved too harshly, at any
time and had injured their feelings." |
|
|
| Frederick—me
too |
|
Frederick "acquiessed in the above sentiments." |
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Harmony
Covenant
Blessings
|
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[Thomas calls a vote of the Twelve,] to know whether they
were perfectly satisfied with the [148] explenation which we had given
them and whether they would enter into the covenant we had proposed to
them, which was most readily manifested in the affirmative by raising their
hands to heaven … we then took each other by the hand in confirmation
of our covenant and their was a perfect unison of feeling … and our
hearts over flowed with blessings, which were pronounced upon each others
heads … |
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| |
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my scribe is included in this covenant… for I love
him, for the truth and integrity that dwelleth in him … |
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| Kingdom prevail |
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Joseph prays that the Kingdom of God will prevail. |
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| Elder Beamon |
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An Elder Beemon [Alvah or Henry Beaman] asks whether he should return home before
the Solemn Assembly or not. Council advises him to wait. |
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| Close |
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Singing and prayer. |
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Minutes of August 24, 1838
Minutes of January 15, 1836
Ohio Minutes
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