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Minutes, 16 March 1835

Source Note

Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 16 Mar. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 84–85; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

On 16 March 1835, JS presided over a , Ohio, called to discuss “church business.” Among other things, the council considered a charge raised by , one of the members of the high council, against and , workmen on the in Kirtland, for speaking evil against , a counselor in the Kirtland and member of the committee to build the House of the Lord. The council followed established procedures, including replacing counselors who were absent or had a conflict of interest. Six counselors were appointed to speak, signifying that the council considered the case to be difficult. John Smith’s statement to the council indicates that he had attempted unsuccessfully to reconcile the aggrieved parties before he turned to the high council to help settle the matter.
A week before this meeting, on 7 and 8 March 1835, both and participated in a two-day meeting of the church convened to bless those assisting in the construction of the in . On 7 March, pronounced a joint blessing upon Cutler, Lyman, and for their support in building the House of the Lord, stating that their consecration, donations, and labor had earned them a “right in the House of the Lord.” They had committed themselves to the construction of the house, and JS promised the three, along with others who had worked on the structure, that they would own and “have the control” of it. Cutler, Lyman, and the other present at the 7–8 March meeting unanimously pledged to continue their labors on the House of the Lord.
was appointed to the committee to build the on 4 May 1833. These minutes explain that Cutler in particular had begun to complain about not receiving due recompense for his labors. While the charges against and were brought jointly and both were commanded to admit fault before the church for speaking ill of Cahoon, Cutler was singled out for additional rebuke. The council decision, as voiced by JS, indicates that Cutler had already been confronted concerning the matter and that he subsequently “declared before the Church” that he had not spoken against Cahoon. That declaration was found to be untrue, and Cutler was instructed to publicly acknowledge his former public discontent. Although documents from the period offer no explicit mention of how Cutler and Lyman reacted to the decision, both continued to be involved in the church and its endeavors.
served as clerk during the high council meeting and kept the minutes. later copied the minutes into Minute Book 1.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes, 17 Feb. 1834; Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:13–29].

  2. [2]

    Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:13–14].

  3. [3]

    Minutes and Discourses, 7–8 Mar. 1835.

  4. [4]

    In May 1833, Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter were appointed as a committee to oversee the construction of the House of the Lord. (Minutes, 4 May 1833.)

  5. [5]

    Though largely absent from church records, Lyman was a signatory of the Kirtland Safety Society in 1837, was listed as a high priest and endowed in the Nauvoo temple on 17 December 1845, and died in Winter Quarters in 1847—all suggesting he was active with the body of the Saints throughout the remainder of his life. No public apology from Cutler appears in extant records, but his continued appearance in church documents suggests he remained in church activity and leadership for some time. (See Minutes, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Mar. 1837, 3:476; Temple Records Index Bureau, Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 21; Coleman, Genealogy of the Lyman Family, 122–123; Minutes, 17 Aug. 1835; Kirtland Elders Quorum, “Record,” 29 Apr. 1836; “Proceedings of the General Conference,” Times and Seasons, Dec. 1839, 1:30–31; and “Conference Minutes,” Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1845, 6:1009.)

    Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.

    Temple Records Index Bureau of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nauvoo Temple Endowment Register, 10 December 1845 to 8 February 1846. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1974.

    Coleman, Lyman. Genealogy of the Lyman Family, in Great Britain and America; the Ancestors and Descendants of Richard Lyman, from High Ongar in England, 1631. Albany: J. Munsell, 1872.

    Kirtland Elders Quorum. “A Record of the First Quorurum of Elders Belonging to the Church of Christ: In Kirtland Geauga Co. Ohio,” 1836–1838, 1840–1841. CCLA.

    Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 16 March 1835 Minute Book 1

Page 85

opened the case in few words stating that the matter being so intricate that he could not bring it as a charge against any one of these brethren particularly, and the brethren severally were called upon to make their own remarks. After this the counsellors severally spoke, and the complainant and the accused made their remarks, when the case was submitted, being short, spoke one hour When J. Smith Junr proceeded to give decision After speaking to considerable extent said: The decision is, that as well as be rebuked and stand reproved, until they openly acknowledge before the , that they have injured by speaking evil of his character, and conduct without any just ground or occasion, and that as has heretofore declared before the Church, that he has not murmured nor complained, because he has not received pay for working on the , to his satisfaction, and it is known to the contrary, that he be as frank in acknowledging this fact, as he has been in making the declaration. The vote was then taken and passed by unanimous voice, and the closed by prayer of President .
The next council will be arranged as follows:
clerk of Council [p. 85]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 85

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 16 March 1835
ID #
6727
Total Pages
2
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:289–293
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren A. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    That is, Frederick G. Williams spoke briefly.

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