High council 

Summary

Although JS utilized councils of elders and high priests earlier in church government, the first standing high council of the church was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834.1 The second high council was organized a few months later in Clay County, Missouri.2 These high councils ultimately consisted of twelve high priests and were organized “for the purpose of settling important difficulties, which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop’s council, to the satisfaction of the parties.”3 In addition to providing a judicial function, high councils played an important administrative role in the church.4 For congregations outside the jurisdiction of the standing high councils in Zion and her stakes, the Quorum of the Twelve constituted a traveling high council to regulate church affairs.5