Minutes of September 3, 1837

Mormon History 1830-1844

Minutes of September 3, 1837

In Kirtland, Joseph Smith is sustained as president of the whole church, with Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams as counselors. Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith Sr., and Hyrum Smith are sustained as assistant counselors. The First Presidency and assistant counselors are considered "the heads of the Church" §. The Kirtland bishopric is sustained §. Apostles Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, and John F. Boynton are rejected (and, according to the letter, "cut off") §. Boynton's justification: the bank failed. Joseph: no one was authorized to say that the bank was guaranteed. Boynton's confession is rejected §. In the afternoon, four are dropped from the high council and nine new counselors named §. New seven presidents of the Seventy are sustained §. Licenses of dissatisfied should be taken and they will no longer be members §.

Two sets of minutes are known to exist. One in the copy of a letter from Joseph to John Corrill, the other in the Kirtland Council Minute Book. Both are in the hand of George W. Robinson and both were inscribed in 1838 (the letter in March 1838).

		Joseph to John Corrill and the Church in Zion (Scriptory, Journal 1, 240–241) Scribe: George W. Robinson March 1838		Kirtland Council Minute Book (Kirtland council, 234–238) Scribe: George W. Robinson 1838
			¶	Sunday ~~4th~~ <3rd> Sept 1837 Minutes of a Conferance assembled in the house of the Lord, in committee of the whole at 9 O Clock A.M.
				G.W. Robinson was requested by Joseph Smith jr to take the proceedings of this meeting,
	¶	The following letter I wrote previous to my leaving Kirtland and sent by the hand of T B. Marsh			Marsh had come from Far West to attend a July meeting of the Twelve to address differences with Joseph (no minutes are known). He also accompanied Joseph and Sidney on a trip to Upper Canada, returning in late August. He. and Oliver Cowdery arrived in Far West in October; Joseph, Sidney, Hyrum, and others arrived in the first week of November. Editors of Journal 1 observe that by addressing the letter to John Corrill, who was the "Keeper of the Lord's Store House," Joseph intentionally bypassed the bishops and presidents of the Church in Missouri.
	¶	Sept 4th A.D. 1837 Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio
	¶	[241] Joseph Smith Jr. Prest of the Church <of Christ> of Latter Day Saints in all the world
	¶	To John Corroll [Corrill] & the whole Church in Zion Sendeth greeting, Blessed be the God of and father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who hasw blessed you with many blessings in Christ, And who has delivered you manpy times from the hands of yor enimies And planted you many times in an heavenly or holy place,			For the balance of the introduction to this letter see Joseph Smith to John Corrill (September 4, 1837)
		My respects & love to you all, and my blessings upon all the faithfull & true harted in the new & everlasting covenants
Church sustains Joseph		S Rigdon then presented Joseph Smith Jr to the Church to know if they still looked upon & would still receive & uphold him, as the Prest. of the whole Church And the vote was unanymous in the affirmative:		The meeting was opened by prayer by S. Rigdon who then introduced Joseph Smith Jr to the congregat[i]on to know if he should Still act as their Pres.. as the presiding officer of the church, was chosen by a unanimous vois of the same.	This is the first time Joseph is referred to as the president "of the whole church," establishing his authority over the "presidents of the church" in Missouri. Note that he uses the term in the salutation of the letter.
Three first presidents		Prest Smith then presented S. Rigdon & F. G. Williams for his counselors, the three constituting three first Prest of the Church. Vote unanymous in the affirmative.		Pres.. Smith then introduced Sidney Rigdon & Frederick G. Williams for councillors to Pres.. Smith and together with him to constitute the three first presidents of the church, carried by a unanimous vote,	Frederick's status was tenuous, having been on
Heads of the church		Prest. Smith then introdused O. Cowdery, J. Smith Sen.—Hyrum Smith & John Smith for assistant Councilors. These last four together with the three fi<r>st are to be concidered the heads of the Church, Carried unanymously.		Pres.. Smith then introduced O Cowdery J. Smith Sen.. Hyrum Smith, [235] & Orson Hyde (April 17, 1845) to High Priests quorum for assistant councillors & carried by a unanimous voice of the church these last four are allso, together with the first three to be concidered the heads of the Church	"Assistant counselor" is a new position. Joseph and Sidney would be in Missouri in October and November, and Frederick's loyalty was suspect. In July, Warren Cowdery, had come out against religious leaders involving themselves in secular matters. Oliver had similar feelings, but he would be going to Missouri where Joseph could keep an eye on him. Thus, his father, older brother, and uncle were three of the four "heads of the church" in Kirtland.
Kirtland bishopric		Voted that N. K. Whitney hold his office as [218] Bishop & continue to act as such in Kirtland & that R Cahoon & V[inson] Knight continue to act as councilors to the Bishop		Voted that N K Whitney continue to act as Bishop of this Church in Kirtland. Voted that R. Cahoon & Vincon Knight be councillors to the Bishop,
Nine of the Twelve		The Twelve Apostles were then presented one by one When T. B. Marsh (h), D. W. Patten (h), B. Young, H. C. Kimball, O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt (h), O. Pratt, Wm Smith Wm E McLellin, were received unanumously in their Apostleship;		The question was then asked the church if the Twelve apostles Should hold their office of Apostleship They were named by the President individually Voted that Thomas. B. Marsh, David W. Patten Brigham Young Heber. C. Kimble Orson Hyde P. P. Pratt Orson Pratt William Smith Wm. E. McLellin Should retain their office of apostleship,
The Johnsons and John Boynton rejected and cut off		Luke & Lyman Johnson & J. F. Boynton (h) were rejected & cut off though privileged with conffesing and making sattisfaction,		Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson John F Boyngton, were rejected from Serving in that office Privilege was given to those that were rejected of making their confession if they had any to make,	The status of the three apostles is not clear. In the letter, the apostles are "cut off," while in the minutes they are only "rejected from Serving in that office." Because they were given the opportunity to repent, replacements were not named. In Far West they will be retained as apostles and Hyrum will replace Frederick in the First Presidency. ¶ Minutes of Nov. 7, 1837
Boynton response		Elder Boynton (which was the only one present at the time) arose and endeavoured to confess, Justifying himself in his former conduct by reason of the failure of the Bank &c.		Elder Boyngton which was the onley one present at the time arose and parsally confessed his sins and partly justifying his conduct by reason of the failure of the bank.
Brigham rejects Boynton		his conduct was strongly protested by Elder Brigham Young in a plain and energetic manner, Stating various reasons why he would or could not receive him into fellowship until a hearty conffession and repentance was manifested,		his acknowledgments appeared not to be satisfactory, his conduct was Strongly protested against, by Elder Brigham Young in a plain and energetick manner Stating various reasons why he could not receive him into fellowship untill a hearty repentance was manifested,
		He was followed by Elder Marsh who acquiesed in testimony & resolution		the Elder <Young> was followed by Elder Marsh who acquiesed in testimony, and allso disfellowshiped the conduct of Elder Boyngton
Boynton: Understood it could not fail				[236] President Rigdon then arose, & made an address of conciderable length, Showing the Starting point or cause of all the difficulty of Elders Boyngton & Johnson, he allso cautioned all the Elders, concerning leaving their calling to persue any occupation derogatory to that calling, assuring them that if persued, God would let them run themselves into difficulties, that he may stop them in their career, that Salvation may come unto them,
		Elder Boynton again arose & still attributed his difficulties to the failure of the Bank Stating that he had understood the Bank was instituted by the will of God, and he had been told that it never should fail let men do what they would.		Elder Boyngton then arose and still attributed his difficulties & conduct to the failure of the bank, Stating that the bank he understood was instituted by the will & revilation of God, & he had been told that it never would fail let men do what they pleased,
Joseph's promise was always conditional		Prest Smith then arose and stated that if this had been declared, no one had authority from him for so doing, For he had allways said unless the institution was conducted on richeous principals it would not stand.		Pres.. Smith then arose, and Stated that if this had been published, it was without authority, at least from him, he stated that he allways said that unless the institution was conducted ~~uppon~~ <upon> righteous principles it could not stand,
Boynton's confession rejected		A Vote was then taken to know if the congregation was sattisfied with Boyntons confession Voted in the negative		The church was then called ~~uppon~~ <upon> to know whether they were Sattisfied with the confession of Elder Boyngton, Voted in the negative	It is "the congregation"or "the church" that disposes of these matters, not the Twelve or the presidents of the church.
		Conf—Adjourned for one hour—		Adjourned for one hour.
Afternoon session		Conference assembled at 2 O Clock P M. Opened by reading singing & prayer,		Congregation assembled at 2 O clock P.M. & called to order by the Pres.. & meeting opened by prayer by Elder Sherwood,
High counselors rejected		The Prest then arose & said he would call upon the Church to know if they were sattisfied with their High Council and should proceed to name them individualy		the Pres.. then arose and Said he Should next call upon the church to know if they were Satisfied with the high Councill & next proceeded to name them individually
		John Johnson Joseph Coe Joseph Kingsbury & Martin Harris were objected to, also John P Greene but this case put over put over [219] untill he should be present,		[237] John Johnson, Joseph Coe, Martin Harris, & Joseph Kingsbury. were objected to, allso John P. Green, but his case was put over till he Should be present.
High counselors retained		Noah Packard Jared Carter Samuel H. Smith, these were voted retain their office		Noah Packard Jared Carter & Samuel H Smith were voted to Stand in their office previously confered upon them.
				Samuel James was dropped from the councill in cons[e]quence of his being absent and his situation Such that he could not attend to the duties of the office.
New high counselors		Oliver Granger Henry G Atwood Wm Marks Mahew Hillman Harlow Redfield Asahel Smith Phineas Richards David Dort were chosen to fill the place of those objected to,		Oliver [-], Henry G Sherwood, William Marks, Mahew Hillman, Harlow Redfield, Asahel Smith, Phineas Richards, & David Dort, were chosen to fill the place of those objected to and the Seats in the Council which were vacated by reason of Thomas Grover having moved to the west John Smith having been chosen one of the Presidents of the church, & Orson Johnson being excluded from the Church, all having belonged to the high council,	Asahel Smith Jr. is Joseph's uncle (his father's brother) and father of Elias Smith. He was born May 21, 1773 in Windham, Rockingham county, New Hampshire. Baptized June 26, 1835 by Lyman E. Johnson. Served on high councils in Kirtland and Iowa. Ordained a patriarch in 1844. Died in Iowa in July 1848.
Presidents of seventies		The Prest. then called upon the congregation to know if the recent appointed presidents of the Seventies Should Stand in their calling Voted that John Gaylord James Foster Salmon Gee Daniel S Mile, Joseph Young Josiah Butterfield & Levi Hancock Should retain their office as Prests of the Seventies.		The Pres.. then called upon the church to know if the new Presidents of the Seventies Should stand in their calling. Voted that John Gaylord, James Foster, Salmon Gee, Daniel S. Miles, Joseph Young, Josiah Butterfield Should retain their office,	Hazen Aldrich (George A. Smith, Salt Lake City Tabernacle, Jan. 10, 1858, JD 7:115.)
		John Gould was objected [to].		John Gould, was objected to and on learning that Levi Handcok one of the former presidents of the Seventies was not an high priest, he was chosen in the place of John Gould,	Levi Hancock had been released in April due to the mistaken impression that he had been ordained a high priest.
Joseph: callings of the presidents of seventies		The Pres then arose and made some remarks concerning the former Prests of the Seventies, the callings and authorities of their Priesthood &c. &c.		The Pres then arose & made Some remarks concerning the former presidents of the Seventies, their calling the authority of the priesthood &c.
Presidents of seventies return to high priests quorum		Voted that the old Presidents of the Seventies be refered to the quorum of High Priests,	¶	Voted that the old or former presidents [238] of Seventies. be refered to the quorum of high priests, those which were previously ordained to the high priesthood,	¶ D&C 107:93 (March 28, 1835): the seventy "should have seven presidents to preside over them, chosen out of the number of the seventy." The "old Presidents" had been ordained high priests prior to their callings as presidents of seventies. They had been released as presidents of seventies on April 6, 1837, but continued to affiliate with the seventies rather than the high priests.
Dissatisfied should lose license, not be members		And also that if any of the members of the quorum of the Seventies Should be disattisfied & would not submit to the Present order, and receive these last Presidents that they Should have power to demand their Lisence & they should no longer be concidered members of the church.
Close		Conference Closed by Prayer by the President	¶	Closed by Singing an hymn & a Short prayer by Pres. Smith
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