| High
council, bishopric, and members resolve to help bring Joseph and Sidney
to Far West, teachers to preside over branches, and high priests, elders,
and priests are not to interfere. |
| Date |
|
February 24, 1838 |
|
FWR,
141–142. |
| Location |
|
New school house, Far West |
|
|
| Description |
|
… a meeting of the High Council
& Bishoprick convened … |
|
|
| President |
|
Thomas B. Marsh (h) |
|
|
| Clerk |
|
John Corrill |
|
|
| Open |
|
Sing, prayer by Simeon Carter |
|
|
| High
council members, right of the president |
|
Calvin Beebe,
Thomas Grover, Isaac Higbee, William Snow, Jefferson Hunt, John
Murdock |
|
Original: Beebee |
| High
council members, left side of the president |
|
Simeon Carter, Levi Jackman, George W. Harris,
George Morey, G. M. Hinkle, Elias Higbee |
|
|
| Bishopric
members |
|
Bishop Edward
Partridge and his counselor, Titus
Billings |
|
|
| Joseph's
letter to W. W. Phelps |
|
At the request of President Marsh, Bishop
Partridge reads a letter from Joseph Smith to W.
W. Phelps. |
|
|
| Need Joseph and
Sidney here |
|
Counselors Isaac Higbee, William Snow, George W. Harris,
and George Morey assigned to speak, "urged the necessity of assisting the
Brethren Joseph Smith Jr and Sidney Rigdon up here." |
|
|
| |
|
Bishopric and President Marsh concur. |
|
|
| Resolutions |
|
Resolutions passed |
|
|
| Help bring Joseph
and Sidney to Far West |
|
1st |
High council, bishopric, and assembly: Edward
Partridge, George W. Harris, and Isaac Morley find and send two wagons,
teams, and funds and go meet Joseph and Sidney to assist them here. Raise
$300 "if consistent." |
|
|
| Teachers preside
over branches |
|
2nd. |
[High council:] Other than the presidency, high council,
and bishopric, no high priest, elder, or priest has authority to preside
over "any Branch, Society or neighbourhood within the bounds of this Stake:
but that the teachers, assisted by the deacons, be considered the standing
ministry to preside over his respective branch of the Stake agreeable to
the covenants." |
|
|
| High priests, elders,
and priests not to interfere |
|
3rd |
… we recommend to all High Priests, Elders and Priests … that
they do not take the lead of nor appoint meetings in any branch or neighbourhood
of Saints … without the invitation or consent of the Presiding officer
of that branch. … And also, that the teacher report, to the High
Council, such as are unruly or teach corrupt doctrine among them. |
|
|
| Branches choose
their presiding teachers |
|
4th |
[High council to recommend to each neighborhood or settlement
in the stake to choose a teacher] who is skilled in the word of God, faithful
in his ministry, full of the Holy Ghost, and a friend to Joseph Smith jr,
the Prophet of God, to take the watchcare over them, and preside agreeably
to the covenants, who shall be assisted by the other teachers and deacons
in the Branch. |
|
|
| Teachers to attend
quarterly conferences |
|
5th |
Each branch to send one or more teachers to stake quarterly
conferences
"with a written account of the true situation of his Branch, agreeably
to the Covenants." |
|
|
| Priests labor house
to house |
|
6th |
[High council to] "recommend and consider it the duty of
priests to labor from house to house, each in his respective neighbourhood
agreeably to the covenants." |
|
Rescinded after Joseph's arrival three weeks later (¶ Minutes of March 15, 1838), despite ¶ D&C 20:46–47: "The priest's duty is to … visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray
vocally and in secret, and also to attend all family duties." |
| Sunday services
and frequent prayer meetings |
|
7th |
High council to recommend to each neighborhood or settlement
that the members "go to the house of prayer on the Lord's holy day and
offer up their sacraments &c. agreeable to the Sabbath's day commandment
and also, that they meet together oft for preaching and prayer." |
|
| Branches to be notified |
|
8th |
Elias Higbee, George M. Hinkle, and George Morey are appointed
a committee to notify branches of these proceedings and furnish each branch
with a copy. |
|
|
| Adjourn |
|
9th |
Council adjourns to next Saturday at 9 a.m. |
|
|
| Close |
|
Prayer by Calvin Beebe. |
|
Original: Beebee |
| |
|
Minutes of August
24, 1838
Minutes of September 27, 1838
Far West Minutes
|