Dear Brethren

Some documents relating to difficulties Existing among the of Mo respecting who should be President of the Elders was decided in council as follows A held 31 Aug of August 1835. The high council of the presidency of and Say that the Lord has manifested unto <​them​> by revelation of his spirit that the , Elders, and or in other words all the officers in the Land of M belonging to the are included more or less in transgressio[n] because they have not enjoyed the spirit of God sufficiently to be able to comprehend their Duties Respecting themselves & the welfare of , thereby having been left to act, in a manner that is detrimental to the interest, and also a hindrance to the redemption of Zion, now if they will be wise they will humble themselves in a peculiar manner that God may open the eyes of their understanding, it will be clearly manifest that the designs and purposes of the almighty are with regard to them and the children of Zion, that they should let the high council which is appointed of God and for that purpose make and regulate all the affairs of Zion, & that it is the will of God that her children should stand still and see the <​his​> salvation in her redemption And the officers of the Church should go forth inasmucch as they can leave their families in comfortable circumstances and gather up even the strength of the Lords house and those who cannot go forth consistently with the will of the Lord & their circumstances preventing them let them remain in deep humility and inasmuch as they do any thing let them confine themselves to teaching the first principles of the gospel not endeavoring to institute regulations or laws for Zion without having been appointed of God Now we say there is no need of ordinations in Zion or appointing more officers but let all those that are ordained magnify themselves before the Lord by going forth into the vineyard and cleansing their garments from the blood of this generation it is one thing to be ordained to preach the Gospel & to push the people together to Zion & it is another thing to be to lay the foundation & build up the city of Zion & execute their laws therefore it is certain that many of the Elders have come under great condemnation in endeavoring to steady the ark of God in places where they have not been sent the [p. [1]]