Minutes of April 28, 1838

Mormon History 1830-1844

Minutes of April 28, 1838

Aaron Lyons, leader of the Salem branch, feels inspired to marry Sarah Jackson, whose husband has been gone for several months. When Brother Jackson returns he discovers his wife is pregnant. After council discusses testimony, Aaron confesses. Joseph decides he may retain his membership but not his license.
Date	April 28, 1838				FWR, 183–185.
Location	Far West, Missouri
Description	The High Council of Zion met … agreeable to adjournment.				Meeting took place Guymon's mill. Scriptory, 34.
Presiding	Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten
Clerk	Ebenezer Robinson
Council	Simeon Carter Levi Jackman Sidney Rigdon George Morey George M. Hinkle Elias Higbee	1 3 5 7 9 11	Jared Carter Zechariah Wilson Joseph Smith jr Newel Knight George W. Harris John Murdock	2 4 6 8 10 12	"This morning Prests Smith & Rigdon & myself, were invited to attend the High Council; and accordingly attended. … It appeared … that some of the seats were vacated; the Council then [decided?] to fill those seats, eligible to that office, Presidents Smith & Rigdon, were strongly solisited to act as councilors [- -] Preside and let the three presiding oficers Sit on the council; &c they accepted of the former proposal, and accordingly Prest Smith wa[s] chosen to act on the part of the defence, and to speak upon the case, togeth[er] with Geo W Harris. and Prest Rigdon, was chosen to act on the part of the prossecution and to speak upon the case together with Geo. M. Hinckle." Scriptory, 34.
Joseph and Sidney two spots	Vote that Joseph and Sidney "act in the places of NO. 9 & 10."
Open	President Marsh opens with prayer.
Appeal of Elders meeting decision	George M. Hinkle reads minutes of an Elder's meeting that heard dispute between "Jackson and Lyons." Charges and appeal read.
Defendant's plea	Accused confesses to charges 1–4, but denies 5–11.
Counselors assigned	Being considered a difficult case, four counselors are to speak: George M. Hinkle and Sidney Rigdon "on the part of the Church and George W. Harris and Joseph Smith jr on the part of the defendant."
Recess	One hour adjournment.
Open	Council assembles, sings "'This Earth was once a garden place' &c." Prayer by David W. Patten.
Substitute	Peter Dustan [Dustin] substitutes for Jared Carter.
Church court without minutes are void	[Vote:] that the proceedings of the Elder's Conference held to investigate the case of J[ohn] Lemons and [184] S[olomon] Wixom are null and void, as they kept no regular minutes or records of them.
Sarah Jackson, Aaron Lyons	Sarah Jackson lived at Aaron Lyons' house last year when her husband left. Aaron "generally took the lead of meetings" in the Salem Branch.
Henry Best testimony Aaron believes Sarah to be his wife	Henry Best testifies that at Brother [Baldwin?] Wheeler's house, Aaron prophesied "that some one would be heard to mourn;" and later, at Brother Curtis,' that he had selected Sister Jackson to be his wife. He asked Henry to tell her that her husband had died. He said the Lord "had shown her to him for his wife" and "if she broke her covenant she would be miserable, because he had seen her future state." When Henry told Sister Jackson what Aaron had said, "she cried and said she hoped the Lord would be merciful to her in her afflictions."
Sarah separated five months Brother Jackson returns in November	He also heard Sarah say that Aaron told her "the Lord had revealed to him that she was to be his wife and she believed that she had a testimony that he told the truth." At the time, she had been separated from her husband about five months. Her husband returned shortly thereafter, in November. Aaron had been "walking to and from meetings with her, both in night and day time, as she lived at his house."
Shadrach Round testimony Aaron's expectations	Shadrach Roundy testifies that Aaron Lyons told him "he was going to have a wife and that by revelation, because the Lord was going to let him have a wife with whome he could live in peace &c."
Sarah's pregnancy	Another time Aaron told him that he had asked the Lord about a companion and "Sister Jackson was presented before him." But he said to the Lord, "'She is pregnant by another man;' when the Lord replied 'wait my time & it will all come right.'"
John P. Barnam testimony Aaron's high status	John P. Barnam testifies that Aaron told him he had a revelation that "he sould be married in a few days, but seemed to almost doubt of its truth." He asked the Lord and the reply was, "'I know all things,' therefore Lyons [185] Concluded it was of God, also that Lyons was a man of great influence in the Church, and when he spoke in the name of the Lord, the brethren had great confidence in it &c"
Thomas Guyman testimony	Thomas Guyman concurs and says he heard Sister Jackson say:
Sarah feared curse of God, so consented to marry Aaron	she was afraid of the curses of God falling upon her, therefore she consented to have Br Lyons but was sorry for it also after Lyons said her husband was dead she was considerably troubled about it and frequently requested the Church to pray for her husband that he might return &c but after some time she expressed her fears that he was dead & was inclinded to think she had a testimony to that effect, also Lyons told him Brother Best had given him liberty to come to his house to see Sister Jackson.
Jackson: wife not pregnant when he left	Brother Jackson testifies that his wife was not pregnant when he returned.
Calvin Reed's vision of Jackson dead	Br Benjamin testifies that, Calvin Reed, a boy of about 15 years of age said he had a revelation or vision, in which he saw, Br Jackson dead or preaching to the spirits in prison &c.
Discussion Joseph instructs, renders decision	[After] lengthy remarks by the Councellors, and very good instruction given by Councellor [Joseph] Smith, the accused made confession to the satisfaction of the Council, when it as decide that Br Lyons be retainied in the Church, but his license be taken from him, as it is {not} considered that he is not qualified to hold an office in this Church.
Council concurs	The council agrees with the decision and adjourns for two weeks.
Close	Sidney Rigdon gives closing prayer.
	Minutes of May 13, 1837 Minutes of April 21, 1838 Far West Minutes Missouri 1838