Kirtland high council, Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 28 Dec. 1835. Featured version copied [between ca. 4 Apr. and ca. 16 May 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 131–134; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
Following the physical confrontation between JS and on 16 December, , who was a member of the Quorum of the and an active participant in the debating school in , Ohio, became outspoken in his view that JS had gotten angry simply because he had been “overpowered in argument.” Upon hearing that Babbitt was publicly slandering him, JS referred the twenty-three-year-old to the Kirtland for a disciplinary hearing.
Despite having been reproved by church leaders several months earlier, was presumably in good standing with his quorum and the in December 1835. During the previous months, Babbitt had witnessed two major confrontations between JS and . He was present during the 29 October trial of and Mary Cahoon Elliott at which JS and William engaged in a heated verbal altercation. He also appears to have participated in the 16 December debate that provoked the brothers’ fistfight, and his ongoing comments about JS’s actions that evening prompted the 28 December council meeting featured here.
After the council deliberated the charges, it ruled that had “spoken things falsely to the injury” of JS and that he needed to acknowledge his error publicly. Though the minutes indicate that Babbitt confessed to the satisfaction of most of the council members in attendance, the charges were not fully resolved during the 28 December meeting. According to JS’s journal, the council elected to adjourn the meeting without a full confession from Babbitt after “parleying with him a long time, and granting him every indulgence.” During the next council meeting, held on 2 January 1836, Babbitt fully confessed to the charges and was subsequently “restored to fellowship in the Church.”
In mid-August, Charles C. Rich preferred charges against Babbitt for failing to observe the church’s health code (the Word of Wisdom) and for making statements that de-emphasized the doctrines contained in the Book of Mormon. Babbitt confessed to and apologized for breaking the Word of Wisdom but told the council that he had “taught the Book of Mormon & commandments as he had thought to be wisdom.” The council reproved him and offered “good instruction.” (Minute Book 1, 19 Aug. 1835.)
Minutes, 2 Jan. 1836. In his journal, JS confirmed that Babbitt “confessed the charges which I prefered against him in a previous council, and was received into fellowship.” (JS, Journal, 2 Jan. 1836.)
The following complaint was presented by J. Smith Junr.
To the of the ,
Brethren, has been misrepresenting me to certain of the brethren. I therefore prefer a complaint to the council that the subject may be investigated, that my character and influence may be preserved as far as it can in righteousness.
Yours in the bonds of the —
Joseph Smith Junr.
It was decided that three should speak on each side. was called and stated what led to the affair was a difference in opinion respecting keeping their meeting. said J. Smith Junr. got mad because he got overpowered in argumint as had remarked before[.] , said men would get over the mark, in advocating error. said a man must be a very weak man if he could not argue aginst the truth without being swerved said he (Smith) got mad because he was overpowered in argument. There would have been no disturbance if he had not got mad. agreed with what had stated. Dont know whether the conversation was heard by any one else. said he could read Tho. Paine or any other work without being swerved. Said this by the door of the House, and appeared dissatisfied with J. Smith’s bad spirit. Elder thought showed a bad spirit against J. Smith.
Elder called. Has not heard say any thing against J. Smith Junr Council asked if he had seen exhibit a restless or dissatisfied spirit Says, that on one or two days after the transaction at the debate, said of his party. If it was not able one way, it was another, by knocking down. understood, that if they could not [p. 132]
Thomas Paine authored several works, including the influential Age of Reason (1795), in which he was critical of revealed religion, the Bible, and churches generally.