| Excommunication of
W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer for profiteering and failing to fulfill the
$2,000 subscription they had pledged for the House of the Lord. They are
delivered over to the buffetings of Satan "until they learn to blaspheme
no more against the authorities of God, nor fleece the flock of Christ."
Provisions are also made for certificates of standing and ordination recommends.
Priesthood holders not fully engaged in church work are eligible for militia
duty. |
| Date |
|
March 10, 1838 |
|
FWR,
145–149; also Elders' Journal 1, no. 3 (July 1838): 46. |
| Location |
|
Far West, Missouri. |
|
| Description |
|
The High Council of
Zion, met … |
|
Members
are also present. |
| Presidents |
|
Thomas B. Marsh (h)
and David W. Patten (h) |
|
|
| Clerk |
|
Ebenezer Robinson |
|
|
| Council
members |
|
Simeon Carter
Jared Carter
Isaac Higbee
Thomas Grover
Levi Jackman
Samuel Bent
|
George Morey
Newel Knight
G. M. Hinkle
George W. Harris
Elias Higbee
John Murdock |
|
Names
are arranged in order of numbers drawn.
Numbers are drawn by
lot to determine speakers in difficult cases.
Presidents
of the High Priesthood can only be tried by a "common
council," consisting of the bishop and "twelve
Counselors of the High Priesthood." D&C
107:82–83 (Nov. 1831) No bishop is present at this meeting.
This might account for Jared Carter's presence, apparently as a substitute counselor. He held the High
Priesthood and had been a member of the Kirtland high council, but did not become
a permanent member of the Far West High Council until April. Minutes
of April 7, 1838 |
| Open |
|
Thomas Grover sings
and prays. |
|
| Duty
of elders |
|
President Marsh reads
from the Doctrine and Covenants about the duty of elders in holding conferences,
and comments on the same. |
|
| Resolutions |
|
After instructions from
Presidents Marsh and Patten, the high council resolves to advise the branches: |
|
|
|
Do not receive new arrivals
without a certificate of standing. |
|
The
first recommendation was not reported in Elders' Journal 1, no. 3 (July 1838): 46. |
| |
|
Prepare recommends for
those wishing to receive ordination, and pass the recommends "through
the hands of the different quorums for inspection" before the ordinations
take place. |
| |
|
[Priesthood] license
holders between the ages of 18 and 45 who do not officiate in their offices,
are subject to military duty. |
|
Missouri
law excused licensed ministers from military duty. This resolution provided
that men who were "not actively employed in the ministry" be eligible
for mlitia service. HC 3:6. |
| |
|
Ordain George W. Harris
a high priest. |
| Intermission |
|
Adourn to 2:00 p.m. |
| Reconvene |
|
Open by singing and
prayer. |
|
|
| Unchristian-like
conduct |
|
George W. Hinkle charges
W. W. Phelps and John
Whitmer with "persisting in unchristian-like conduct." |
|
|
| Speakers |
|
Being considered a difficult
case, six counselors are appointed to speak: |
|
|
|
|
For the plaintiff: Simeon
Carter, Isaac Higbee, Levi Jackman. |
|
|
|
|
For the defendant:
Jared Carter, Thomas Grover, Samuel Bent. |
|
|
| Letter
to Thomas B. Marsh |
|
Marcellus Cowdery reads
letter written to Thomas B. Marsh, "one of the travelling Councellors,"
on March 10, 1838 by David Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, and John Whitmer: |
|
|
| Claim
hearing is illegal |
|
Sir: It is contrary to the principles of the revelations of Jesus Christ,
and of his gospel, and the laws of the land to try a person for an offence,
by an illegal tribunal, or by men prejudiced against him or by authority
that has given an opinion, or decision before hand or in his absence. |
|
|
|
|
Very Respectfully |
|
|
|
|
we have the honor to
be |
|
|
|
|
David Whitmer,
W. W. Phelps, and
John Whitmer:
Presidents of the Church of Christ in Mo. |
|
The current name of the church (Church of the Latter Day Saints)
is not used, probably intentionally. (David was unhappy with many post-1830
developments). |
|
|
Oliver Cowdery, "Clerk of High Council," affixes his signature
certifying that the letter as a true copy from the original. |
|
| Council
feels insulted |
|
All the effect the above letter had upon the Council, was to convince
them, still more, of the wickedness of these men, by endeavoring to palm
themselves upon the Church as her Presidents, after the Church had by
a united voice, removed them from their presidential office, for their
ungodly conduct. and the letter was considered no more, nor less, than
a direct insult, or contempt, cast upon the authorities of God, and the
Church of Jesus Christ, therefore, the Council proceeded to buisness |
|
| John
Whitmer uses his authority for personal gain |
|
Albert Perry: loaned
money to W. W. Phelps and John
Whitmer, telling them he would want it soon to buy some land. Later
he approached John, who told him all he could buy was the timber on the
land, "as it was on the commons; but shortly after this entered the
land himself" |
|
|
| John's
liberal interpretation of the Word of Wisdom |
|
Br [Lyman] Newberry:
regarding the Word of Wisdom, John Whitmer told him "that a man could
drink liquor once in a while, but not make a free use of it &c." |
|
|
| W.
W. Phelps tries to profit from position |
|
Bro. Leonard: en route
to Lexington last fall with W. W. Phelps, William "remarked that if
he (Leonard) wanted to be a man of God in full he must by land of him" |
|
|
| John
and William on lots, return of $2,000 donation for house of the Lord |
|
[Edward
Partridge asked the brethren to:] come in and settle—to which they
complied the second invitation, when Br. Phelps said the Bishop should not
complain of his not living to his covenant, therefore, endorsed on the mortgage,
fifty dollars for his lot: but John Whitmer thought the lots which
had been appropriated for the benefit of certain individuals ought to be
granted &c. also, that if the house of the Lord was not built, the $2,000
which they had subscribed ought to come to them and they seemed to claim
it on the ground that others withdrew their subscriptions. The above sums
are the avails of the profits of the Town Plot. |
|
John
Whitmer, William W. Phelps, Edward Partridge, Isaac Morley, and John
Corrill were authorized to sell the town plot of Far West for the church
in May 1837. Minutes of May 1837 |
| Fry
money, Poor Bleeding Zion funds, $2,000 |
|
The bishop understood
that the land purchased with the [William?] Fry money was to be transferred
to him rather than the land that was purchased (after expenses) with funds
raised for the "Poor Bleeding Zion" campaign in the South; "and
that 2,000 dollars be applied to the purpose of building a house of the
Lord out of the avails of this land." |
|
|
| John
and William's fees |
|
The charged the bishop
over $600 for their work for the church in addition to the purchase price. |
|
|
| $2,000
subscription |
|
W. Snow: heard John and
William tell the council that the $2,000 they had subscribed for the house
of the Lord "depended upon the profits of the Plot," and one of
them "said it was as easy for the Church to pay it out of the profits
as for them" |
|
|
| Subscription
and town plot problem |
|
A number of charges were sustained against those men; the principal
of which, was, for claiming $2,000 Church funds which they had subscribed
for the building an house to the Lord in this place, when they held in
their possession the City Plot, and were sitting in the Presidential
chair,
which subscription they were intending to pay from the avails of the
town lots; but when the town plot was transfered into the hands of the
Bishop,
for the benefit of the Church, it was agreed that the church should take
this subscription from off the hands of W.
W. Phelps & John Whitmer,
but in the transactions of the business they bound the Bishop in a
heavy mortgage,
to pay them the above $2,000 in two years from the date thereof; a part
of which they have already received, & claim the remainder. |
|
|
| Unanimous |
|
The six counselors speak,
"none of whom felt to plead for mercy, as it had not been asked on
the part of the accused, but all, with one consent, declared that justice
ought to have his demands." |
|
|
| $2,000
claim unjustified |
|
Presidents Marsh and
Patten discuss the "iniquity" of the two in claiming the $2,000,
which did not belong to them. |
|
|
Excommunicated
Buffetings of Satan
Blaspheme against authorities |
|
[Verdict:] … that
W. W. Phelps and John
Whitmer be no longer members of the church of Christ of Latter Day Saints,
& be given over to the buffetings of Satan, until they learn to blaspheme
no more against the authorities of God, nor fleece the flock of Christ." |
|
term:
buffetings of Satan |
| Unanimous
vote |
|
Council members stand
to manifest their concurrence. |
|
|
| Congregation
nearly unanimous |
|
The vote was then put
to the congregation which was carried unanimous; the negative was then called
but no one voted. |
|
|
| Marcellus:
hearing illegal |
|
[Marcellus Cowdery rises
and states:] he did not vote either way, because he did not consider it
a legal tribunal; he also offered insult to the High Council & to
the Church by reading a letter belonging to Thomas B. Marsh (h)
before giving it to him, & in speaking against the authorities of the
Church." |
|
|
| Disfellowshipped |
|
David W. Patten (h) moves
that fellowship be withdrawn from Marcellus. Seconded and carried unanimously.
|
|
|
| |
|
Minutes of March 3, 1838
Minutes of March 15, 1838
Far
West Minutes
|