Minutes of June 28, 1838

Mormon History 1830-1844

Minutes of June 28, 1838
Joseph Smith organizes a stake in Adam-ondi-ahman, Daviess county, Missouri, while a meeting of the Far West stake overturns a bishop's disfellowshipping of a member §.
Date	June 28, 1838	FWR, 190–194.
Location	Grove near Lyman Wight's home in Adam-ondi-Ahman, Daviess county, Missouri.
Description	A conference meeting of Elders, and members of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints was held … for the purpose of organizing this stake of Zion called Adam-ondi-Ahman.
Chairman	Joseph Smith Jr.
Clerks	Reynolds Cahoon, Isaac Perry
Open	[10:00 a.m.] President Joseph Smith Jr. was called to the chair, who explained the object [70] of the meeting, which was to organize a presidency and High Council to preside over this stake of Zion …
John Smith president	It is motioned, seconded and carried that John Smith be president of the stake.
Counselors	Reynolds Cahoon and Lyman Wight (h) (swh) are "unanimously chosen" first and second counselors, with Vinson Knight, acting bishop "pro tempore."
High council	President John Smith organizes the council, present the following as counselors:
	John Lemon 1st, Daniel Stanton 2nd, Mayhew Hillman 3rd, Daniel Carter 4th, Isaac Perry 5th, Harrison Sagers 6th, Alanson Brown 7th, Thomas Gordon 8th, Lorenzo Barnes 9th, George A. Smith, 10th, Harvey Olmstead 11th, Ezra Thayer 12th.
Unanimous vote	Selections approved by "unanimous vote."
Ordinations	Counselors who have not "previously been ordained to the high priesthood" are ordained.	No ordination or setting apart of others?
Joseph's charge	[Joseph Smith makes] "remarks by way of charge to the Presidents and counsellors instructing them in the duty of their callings, and the responsibility of their stations, exhorting them to be cautious and deliberate, in all their councils, and to be careful to act in righteousness in all things."
Presidency speaks	John Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Lyman Wight speak.
Clerk chosen	Lorenzo Barnes is "unanimously chosen clerk" of the council and stake.
Sing	Sing "the well-known hymn Adam-ondi-ahman."
Close	[P]rayer by Pres. Cahoon, and a benediction by Pres. J. Smith Jr.

Far West Meeting
Case of a man who speaks harshly to his children, says Bishop Partridge is corrupt, and contests division of timber among partners. Council overturns bishop's decision to disfellowship him.
Location	Far West, Caldwell county, Missouri.
Description	The High Council of Zion met …
President	Thomas B. Marsh (h)
Clerk	Not named.
Council	Simeon Carter Jared Carter Harlow Redfield John P. Greene Levi Jackman Solomon Hancock Isaac Higbee Newel Knight John Killion George W. Harris Elias Higbee John Murdock	Arranged in order of numbers drawn. Original: Green
Open	Sing "Now Let Us Rejoice in the Day of Salvation," prayer by President David W. Patten (h).
Committee on public houses	Clerk (not named) reads report of Daniel Shearer and Benjamin Benson, who had been assigned to inform the keepers of "publick houses and groceries" of "the determination and desires of the spiritual authorities of this Stake to improve the moral condition of the same."	¶ Minutes of June 23, 1838
	…we attended to that duty, and found Mr J. Smith jr, and J. Burke and families manifested a perfectly willingness to comply with the request. Mr Adam Lightner, grocer manifested the same spirit and agreed that if it was requested he would not keep any more ardent spirits in the place &c.	John M. Burke was one of the "prominent citizens" who joined the church in Kirtland in 1830–31. Crary reminiscence. On Aug. 31, 1831 he was called to go to Independence with David Elliot and Erastus Babbitt. There he was baptized by Oliver Cowdery in Feb. 1833. Jameson Family Collection, Church Archives, MS 14052, fd. 3 The order of receiving inheritances in Zion when it is redeemed was commenced to day in council—Elder Martin for his great good in [assay]ing to bring forth the Book of Mormon, &c. is No 1 President Smith No 2 —mine Is No 16___President John M. Burke is No 37 (W. W. Phelps to Sally, May 26, 1835, Phelps Papers, BYU)
Samuel Kimball vs. Emmett, Butler, Hendrix	Samuel Kimball's charge leveled against James Emmett, John L. Butler, and James Hendrix in May is read. They allegedly forbade him "to commune under a pretence that I was not a member," tried to defraud him "in deal," and for lying, slander, etc.	Miniutes of May 13, 1838 The charge is dated April 23, 1838.
Counselors assigned to speak	Simeon Carter speaks for Samuel, and Don Carlos Smith, "pro. tem.," speaks for the accused.
Testimony for prosecution Thieves in the church Knows by spirit	Simeon Gardner: heard James Emmett preach that there were thieves in the church, that he would forbid some from partaking of the sacrament, and would name names at some future time. He intimated that he knew this by the spirit. Later he heard Emmett forbid Samuel Kimball to partake of the sacrament.
Testimony confirmed	H. Gardner: Emmett taught that he knew by the spirit that there were thieves in the church and he would name them. The following Sunday Emmett said that there was theft in Kimball's family and forbid Samuel from partaking of the sacrament. Gardner knows nothing against either party.	¶ Minutes of June 29, 1838
Kimball keeps children from church, criticizes Butler and Hendrix	Charity Butler: Emmett said Kimball prevented his boys from attending meetings, the brethren should keep their children away from Kimball's. She heard Samuel Kimball "speak hard against John Butler and James Hendrix, but his family was respectable people."
Timber partners	Julia Hendrix: her husband and James Emmett had "a forty of land" and agreed to share the timber equally. Kimball and Butler also had "a forty apiece" on the same terms but "does not know as they have divided the timber." She attended a meeting where the members disfellowshipped Kimball.
Committee divided timber Emmett forbade Kimball for non-compliance with bishop	Isaac Higbee, one of the company appointed to divide the timber among the four after they had been to the Bishop: the four seemed satisfied with the division, and "they justified Kimball instead of criminating him." He heard Emmett forbid Kimball to partake of the sacrament, because, he understood, Kimball "did not comply with the Bishop's decision."
	Simeon Gardner supports Higbee's testimony.
Second session	After an hour's intermission, the council sings "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning," and President Patten offers prayer.
Counselors to speak	Harlow Redfield is appointed to speak for the accuser, John P. Greene for the accused.	Original: Green
Butler charges Kimball	J. L. Butler prefers a charge against Samuel Kimball for slander, destruction of property, and "rendering his family unhappy." Charge is dated June 28.	¶ Minutes of June 29, 1838
Kimball calls own family lazy	Julia Hendrix: heard Kimball "call his family lazy & trifling &c."
Won't consecrate to Partridge	Charity Butler: heard Kimball say he "would never consecrate to Bishop Edward Partridge," and that he called his children lazy.
Says bishop is corrupt	Malinda Porter: heard Kimball scold children, call Emmett and Butler "rascals, villians, scape gallows, &c.," and say the bishop "would counsel for hire" and "judge for reward."	¶ Minutes of June 29, 1838
Bishop prejudiced	Jerome Benson: heard Kimball say the bishop gave "a partial decision in his case."
Treats family harshly but provides for them Teaches children	Lavina Gardner: Kimball scolds his family harshly, threatens to leave if they don't obey him, says he doesn't care if they starve, that they are "priestridden" because they attend meeting when Emmett and Butler take the lead. Also testifies that he is very industrious, provides for family as well as he can, teaches children to act in righteousness.
Fretful when discouraged Children won't help enough	Rebecca Kimball: father is "rather fretful," mostly when he gets discouraged about supporting the family and the children don't help him as much as they should. He teaches children to be industrious.
Council cancels disfellowship	Council: bishop's decision was "illegal, consequently, null and void, and therefore that Samuel Kimball was a member of the Church."	Rare instance of a higher court overturning lower court decision
Adjourn	After remarks by counselors and plaintiff, council adjourns to tomorrow.
	Minutes of June 29, 1838 Minutes of June 23, 1838 Far West Minutes Missouri 1838