Kirtland August 11th 1834

This day a number of high priests and elders of the church  of the Latter-Day Saints assembled in the new school-house  in this place, for the purpose of investigating a matter  of difficulty growing out of certain reports or statements  made by brother Sylvester Smith, one of High coun sellors of this Church, accusing brother Joseph Smith Junr.  with criminal conduct during his journey to and from  Missouri this Spring & Summer. After coming to order,  brother Joseph commenced and spake to a considerable  length upon the circumstances of their journey to and  from Missouri, and very minutely laid open the causes  out of which those jealousies of brother Sylvester’s and  others had grown. He made a satisfactory statement  concerning his rebukes and chastisements upon  Sylvester & others, and also concerning the distribution  of monies and other properties, calling on brethren  present who accompanied him to attest to the same.  All of which, was satisfactory to the brethren present as  appeared by their own remarks afterward. After  brother Joseph had closed his lengthy remarks, brother  Sylvester made some observations relative to the  subject of their difficulties and begun to make a  partial confession for his previous conduct, ask ing forgiveness for accusing brother Joseph publicly  on the Saturday previous, of prophsying lies in the name  of the Lord, and for abusing (as he had said) his (Sylvester’s)  character, before the brethern while journeying to  the West. Brother Sidney Rigdon made some  remarks by way of reproff upon the conduct of  brother Sylvester, J. P. Green [John P. Greene], and others, followed by  the Clerk, after which by motion of brother S. Rigdon  the assembly arranged itself into a council. brother  N[ewel] K. Whitney presiding, and proceeded to discuss how this [p. 52]