considers such men are scarce, and he would wish the council to try him again. He dont know but may be the means of getting us into difficulty again; he is not wise.
Er s motion then passed
Coun. said there was one item of business proposed which he would like to have renewed, and that is the subject spoke of, that we may be prepared with a place of retreat in times difficulty. He thinks we ought to have some understanding or advice as to what course would be best to pursue in case of alarm or difficulty. If we were to be broken up here what would be best for us to do. If the thinks it best to agitate this subject I feel to do so. [p. [167]]
This vote apparently rescinded the 4 February action of the council removing Adams, thereby leaving his fate in the hands of Young. Young did not bring him back into the council. Adams was excommunicated on 10 April by a council of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Soon after, Adams organized a separate church in Augusta, Iowa Territory, arguing that Joseph Smith III should succeed his father as president of the church. (Council of Fifty, “Record,” 4 Feb. 1845; Historian’s Office, Journal, 10 Apr. 1845; Clayton, Journal, 23 May 1845; George J. Adams, Burlington, Iowa Territory, to Abijah R. Tewkesbury, 14 June 1845, CHL.)