Returned home and spent the afternoon. Towards evening President Cowdery returned from Columbus, the capital of the State. I could spend but little time with him, being under obligation to attend at Mrs. Wilcox's, to join Mr. John Webb and Mrs. Catherine Wilcox in matrimony: also Mr. Thomas Carrico and Miss Elizabeth Baker, at the same place; all of which I performed in the customary manner in the midst of a large assembly. We then partook of some refreshments, and our hearts were made glad with the fruit of the vine. This is according to the pattern set by our Savior Himself, and we feel disposed to patronize all the institutions of heaven.

The Council Meeting in the Kirtland Temple.

Friday, 15.—At nine a. m., met in council agreeable to adjournment, at the Council room in the Temple, and seated the authorities of the Church agreeable to their respective offices. I then made some observations respecting the order of the day, and the great responsibility we were under to transact all our business in righteousness before God, inasmuch as our decisions will have a hearing upon all mankind, and upon all generations to come.

Minutes of a Priesthood Meeting Held in Kirtland Temple, January 15, 1836.

Council opened in usual form, and proceeded to business by reading the rules and regulations to govern the house of the Lord, three times.

The vote of the Presidency was then called upon these rules, followed by the High Council of Kirtland, the High Council of Zion, the Twelve, the Seventy, the Bishops of Zion and Kirtland, with their Counselors, each in turn; and after a few queries, answers, and debates, the above rules passed the several quorums in their order, by the unanimous voice of the whole, and are therefore received and established as a law to govern the House of the Lord in Kirtland.

In the investigation of the subject, it was found that many who had deliberated upon it, were darkened in their minds, which drew forth some remarks from President Smith respecting the privileges of the authorities of the Church, that each should speak in his turn and in his place, and in his time and season, that there may be perfect order in all things; and that every man, before he makes an objection to any item that is brought before a council for consideration, should be sure that he can throw light upon the subject rather than spread darkness, and that his objection be founded in righteousness, which may be done by men applying themselves closely to study the mind and will of the Lord, whose Spirit always makes manifest and demonstrates the truth to the understanding of all who are in possession of the Spirit.

After one hour's adjournment of the Council, Elder Don Carlos Smith was nominated to be ordained to the High Priesthood, also to officiate as President, to preside over that body in Kirtland. The vote of the quorums was called for in their order, and their nomination passed through the whole house by unanimous voice.

Elder Alva Beaman was chosen in the same manner to preside over the Elders in Kirtland.

William Cowdery was nominated to officiate as President over the Priests of the Aaronic Priesthood in Kirtland.

The vote of the assembly was called, beginning at the Bishop's Council, and passing through the several authorities, until it came to the presidency of the High Council in Kirtland, and received their sanction, having been carried unanimously in all the departments below.

Oliver Olney was unanimously elected to preside over the Teachers in Kirtland.

Ira Bond was unanimously chosen to preside over the deacons in Kirtland.

Elders Don Carlos Smith and Alva Beaman were ordained to the offices to which they had been elected, under the hands of Presidents Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith, with many blessings.

Bishop Whitney, of Kirtland, then proceeded to ordain William Cowdery, Oliver Olney and Ira Bond, and pronounced many blessings upon them according to their offices and standing.

Moved, seconded, and carried, that all the several quorums take their turn in performing the office of doorkeeper in the House of the Lord; also, that Nathaniel Milliken, Thomas Carrico, Amos R. Orton, and Samuel Rolfe be appointed assistant doorkeepers.

Moved, and carried, that the presidency of the High Council hold the keys of the House of the Lord, except the keys of one vestry, which is to be held by the Bishopric of the Aaronic Priesthood.

Moved, and carried unanimously, that John Corrill be appointed to take charge of the House of the Lord in Kirtland immediately, and that the laws regulating the House of the Lord go into effect from this time, and that Elder Corrill see that they are enforced, with the privilege of calling as many as he chooses to assist him.

Council adjourned sine die.

Orson Hyde, Clerk

Footnotes

[1]. The agent reported these Indians as upwards of 2,000.

[2]. Adam-ondi-Ahman was known to the saints at this time as the place where the Lord appeared unto Adam our Father, three years previous to his death, and ministered unto the righteous among his posterity assembled at that place; on which occasion Adam was called "Michael," "the Prince," "the Archangel," and the Lord administered unto Adam and said unto him, "I have set thee at the head: the multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them." It was this knowledge that inspired the hymn sung on that occasion, composed by W. W. Phelps, and here follows:

This earth was once a garden place, With all her glories common; And men did live a holy race, And worship Jesus face to face, In Adam-ondi-Ahman. We read that Enoch walked with God, Above the power of Mammon; While Zion spread herself abroad, And saints and angels sang aloud, In Adam-ondi-Ahman. Her land was good and greatly blessed, Beyond old Israel's Canaan; Her fame was known from east to west; Her peace was great and pure the rest Of Adam-ondi-Ahman. Hosanna to such days to come—The Savior's second coming, When all the earth in glorious bloom Affords the Saints a holy home, Like Adam-ondi-Ahman.

(L.D.S. Hymn Book, p. 277.)