Minutes of October 7

Mormon History 1830-1844

Minutes of October 7–8, 1843

Joseph charges Sidney with negligence of duties since Missouri; malfeasance as postmaster; and collusion with Missourians and John C. Bennett. Almon Babbitt, Hyrum Smith, and William Law speak on Sidney's behalf, and Joseph relents "but signified his lack of confidence in his integrity and steadfastness, judging from their past intercourse."

The September 15, 1843 Times and Seasons is the earliest source. The Manuscript History version is a copy of [SHOWRF=TS,ref2] except the omission of Joseph's conditional willingness to let him continue him in his positions and the added remark, "I have thrown him off my shoulders, and you have again put him on me. "You may carry him, but I will not." For the most part, HC 6:47–48 follows the Manuscript History.

Date		October 7–8, 1843			TS 6, no. 21 (Sept. 15, 1843) 4:329–332.
Location		Nauvoo, Illinois
Description		A SPECIAL CONFERENCE
Presiding	¶	President Joseph Smith was called to the chair, and Gustavus Hills chosen clerk.
	¶	Opened with singing by the choir, and prayer by elder Almon Babbitt. The president stated the items of business to be brought before the Conference, to be,
Agenda	¶	1st. The case and standing of elder Sidney Rigdon, counsellor to the First Presidency. 2d. The further progress of the Temple; after which, any miscellaneous business.
Sidney speaks on his situation	¶	Elder Sidney Rigdon addressed the conference on the subject of his situation and circumstances among the saints.
Joseph invites complaints Sidney neglects his duties In league with enemies	¶	President Joseph Smith addressed the conference, inviting an expression of any charges or complaints which the Conference had to make. He stated his dissatisfaction with elder Sidney Rigdon as a counsellor, not having received any material benefit from his labors or counsels since their escape from Missouri. Several complaints were then brought forward in reference to his management in the Post Office; a supposed correspondence in connection with John C. Bennett, with Ex-Governor Carlin, and with the [330] Missourians, of a treacherous character: also his leaguing with dishonest persons in endeavoring to defraud the innocent. …			This may be the only instance in which no one is reported as speaking in support of Joseph's motion.
Documents delayed Conspired to have Joseph arrested Willing to let him retain membership	¶	President Joseph Smith related to the Conference the detention of documents from J[osiah] Butterfield, Esq., which were designed for the benefit of himself, (President Smith,) but was not handed over for some three or four weeks, greatly to his disadvantage. Also, an indirect testimony from Missouri, through the mother of Orin P. Rockwell, that said Rigdon and others had given information, by letter, of President Smiths' visit to Dixon, advising them to proceed to that place and arrest him there. He stated that in consequence of those, and other circumstances, and his unprofitableness to him as a counsellor, he did not wish to retain him in that station, unless those difficulties could be removed; but desired his salvation, and expressed his willingness that he should retain a place among the saints.
Almon Babbitt questions timing	¶	Elder Almon Babbitt suggested the propriety of limiting the complaints and proofs to circumstances that had transpired since the last Conference.
	¶	President Joseph Smith replied, and showed the legality and propriety of a thorough investigation, without such limitation.
Sidney explains document delay Conspiracy rumors false	¶	Elder Sidney Rigdon plead, concerning the documents from J. Butterfield, Esq., that he received it in answer to some inquiries which he had transmitted to him that he received it at a time when he was sick, and unable to examine it—did not know that it was designed for the perusal and benefit of President Joseph Smith—that he had, consequently, ordered it to be laid aside, where it remained until inquired for by Joseph Smith. He had never written to Missouri concerning the visit of Joseph Smith to Dixon, and knew of no other person having done so. That, concerning certain rumors of belligerent operations under Governor Carlin's administration, he had related them, not to alarm or disturb any one, but that he had the rumors form good authorities, and supposed them well founded. That he had never received but one communication from John C. Bennett, and that of a business character, except one addressed to him conjointly with Elder Orson Pratt, which he handed over to President Smith—that he had never written any letters to John C. Bennett.
	¶	The weather becoming inclement, Conference adjourned until Sunday 10 o'clock A. M.

	¶	[Sunday, October 8, 1843] Conference assembled agreeably to the adjournment and opened with singing by the choir, and prayer by Elder William W. Phelps.
Sidney willing to resign Pleads to be retained Audience sympathetic	¶	Elder Sidney Rigdon resumed his plea of defence. He related the circumstances of his reception in the city of Quincy, after his escape from Missouri the cause of his delay in not going to the city of Washington, on an express to which he had been appointed—and closed with a moving appeal to President Joseph Smith concerning their former friendship, associations and sufferings, and expressed his willingness to resign his place, though with sorrowful and indescribable feelings. During this address, the sympathies of the congregation were highly excited.
Innocent of treachery	¶	Elder Almon Babbitt related a conversation he had had with Esq. Johnson, in which he exonerated elder Sidney Rigdon from the charge or suspicion of having had treacherous correspondence with Ex-Governor Carlin.
		Times and Seasons		Manuscript History of the Church
Joseph explains treachery story	¶	President Joseph Smith arose and satisfactorily explained to the congregation the supposed treacherous correspondence with Ex-Governor Carlin,	¶	President Joseph Smith arose and explained to the congregation the supposed treacherous correspondence with Ex-Governor Carlin. and	Manuscript History, 1749.
Sidney exonerated	¶	which wholly removed suspicion from elder Sidney Rigdon, and from every other person.
Conditional acceptance		He expressed entire willingness to have elder Sidney Rigdon retain his station, provided he would magnify his office, and walk and conduct himself in all honesty, righteousness, and integrity;		expressed entire
Lack of confidence		but signified his lack of confidence in his integrity and steadfastness, judging from their past intercourse.		lack of confidence in his integrity and steadfastness, judging from their past intercourse.
	¶	President Hyrum Smith followed with appropriate and expressive remarks		President Hyrum Smith followed with remarks	appropriate and expressive: restored in HC.
		Times and Seasons
		on the attribute of mercy in God, as that by which He influences, controls, and conquers—and the propriety and importance of the saint's exercising the same attribute towards their fellows; and especially towards their aged companion and fellow servant in the cause of truth and righteousness.
	¶	Elder Almon Babbitt and pres't. Wm. Law followed with remarks in defence of elder Sidney Rigdon.
	¶	On motion by President William Marks, and seconded by President Hyrum Smith, Conference voted that elder Sidney Rigdon be permitted to retain his station as Counsellor to the First Presidency.			First Presidency: First President in Manuscript History.
	¶	Singing by the choir—prayer by pres't. Wm. Law.
		Sidney Rigdon Home