Chapter XXVII.
Reconciliation of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles—Pentecostal Times in Kirtland.
Saturday, 16.—By request I met with the Council of the Twelve in company with my Counselors, Frederick G. Williams and Sidney Rigdon.
Special Council Meeting with the Twelve.
Council opened with singing, and prayer by Thomas B. Marsh, President of the Twelve. He arose and requested the privilege, in behalf of his colleagues, of each speaking in his turn without being interrupted; which was granted them.
Elder Marsh proceeded to unbosom his feelings touching the mission of the Twelve, and more particularly respecting a certain letter which they received from the Presidency of the High Council in Kirtland, while attending a conference in the state of Maine; also spoke of being placed, in the council on Friday last, below the Councils of Kirtland and Zion, having been previously placed next the Presidency in our assemblies; also observed that they were hurt on account of some remarks made by President Hyrum Smith, on the trial of Gladden Bishop, (who had been previously tried before the Council of the Twelve, while on their mission in the east,) who had by their request, thrown his case before the High Council in Kirtland, for investigation; and the Twelve considered that their proceedings with him, were in some degree discountenanced.
Elder Marsh then gave way to his brethren, and they arose and spoke in turn until they had all spoken, acquiescing in the observations of Elder Marsh, and made some additions to his remarks, which, in substance, were as follows: That the letter in question, which they received from the Presidency, in which two of their members were suspended, and the rest severely chastened, and that, too, upon testimony which was unwarranted; and particular stress was laid upon a certain letter which the Presidency had received from Dr. Warren E. Cowdery, of Freedom, New York, in which he preferred charges against them, which were false, and upon which the Presidency had acted in chastening them; and therefore the Twelve had concluded that the Presidency had lost confidence in them; and that whereas, the Church in this place had caressed them at the time of their appointment to the Apostleship, they now treated them coolly, and also appeared to have lost confidence in them.
They spoke of their having been in the work from the beginning almost, and had borne the burden in the heat of the day, and passed through many trials, and that the Presidency ought not to suspect their fidelity, nor lose confidence in them, neither ought they to have chastened them upon such testimony as was lying before them; also urged the necessity of an explanation upon the letter which they received from the Presidency, and the propriety of their having information respecting their duties, authority, etc., that they might come to an understanding in all things, that they might act in perfect unison and harmony before the Lord, and be prepared for the endowment; also that they had preferred a charge against Doctor Cowdery, for his unchristian conduct, which the Presidency had disregarded; also that President Oliver Cowdery, on a certain occasion, had made use of language to one of the Twelve that was unchristian and unbecoming any man; and that they would not submit to such treatment. The remarks of the Twelve were made in a very forcible and explicit manner, yet cool and deliberate.
President Smith observed that the Presidency had heard them patiently, and, in turn, should expect to be heard patiently also. And first, he remarked that it was necessary that the Twelve should state whether they were determined to persevere in the work of the Lord, whether the Presidency were able to satisfy them or not.
Vote called, and carried in the affirmative, unanimously.
President Smith then said to the Twelve that he had not lost confidence in them; they had no reason to suspect his confidence; and that he would be willing to be weighed in the scale of truth, today, in this matter, and risk it in the day of judgment. Respecting the chastening contained in the letter in question, which he acknowledged might have been expressed in too harsh language, which was not intentional, he asked their forgiveness, inasmuch as he had hurt their feelings; but nevertheless, the letter that Elder M'Lellin wrote back to Kirtland, while the Twelve were in the east, was harsh also, and he was willing to set the one against the other.
President Smith next proceeded to explain the duty of the Twelve, and their authority, which is next to the present Presidency, and that the arrangement of the assembly in this place, on the 15th instant, in placing the High Councils of Kirtland next the Presidency, was because the business to be transacted, was business relating to that body in particular, which was to fill the several quorums in Kirtland, not because they were first in office, and that the arrangements were the most judicious that could be made on the occasion; also the Twelve are not subject to any other than the first Presidency, viz., "myself," said the Prophet, "Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, who are now my Counselors; and where I am not, there is no First Presidency over the Twelve."
The Prophet also stated to the Twelve that he did not countenance the harsh language of President Cowdery to them, neither would he countenance it in himself nor in any other man, "although," said he, "I have sometimes spoken too harshly from the impulse of the moment, and inasmuch as I have wounded your feelings, brethren, I ask your forgiveness, for I love you and will hold you up with all my heart in all righteousness, before the Lord, and before all men; for be assured, brethren, I am willing to stem the torrent of all opposition, in storms and in tempests, in thunders and in lightnings, by sea and by land, in the wilderness or among false brethren, or mobs, or wherever God in His providence may call us. And I am determined that neither heights nor depths, principalities nor powers, things present or things to come, or any other creature, shall separate me from you. And I will now covenant with you before God, that I will not listen to or credit any derogatory report against any of you, nor condemn you upon any testimony beneath the heavens, short of that testimony which is infallible, until I can see you face to face, and know of a surety; and I do place unremitted confidence in your word, for I believe you to be men of truth. And I ask the same of you, when I tell you anything, that you place equal confidence in my word, for I will not tell you I know anything that I do not know. But I have already consumed more time than I intended when I commenced, and I will now give way to my colleagues."
President Rigdon arose next and acquiesced in what President Smith had said, and acknowledged to the Twelve that he had not done as he ought, in not citing Dr. Warren A. Cowdery to trial on the charges that were put into his hands by the Twelve; that he neglected his duty in this thing, for which he asked their forgiveness, and would now attend to it, if they desired him to do so;[[1]] and President Rigdon also observed to the Twelve, if he had spoken or reproved too harshly at any time, and had injured their feelings by so doing, he asked their forgiveness.
President Williams arose and acquiesced in the above sentiments, expressed by the Prophet and President Rigdon, in full, and said many good things.
The President of the Twelve then called a vote of that body, to know whether they were perfectly satisfied with the explanations given them, and whether they would enter into the covenant the Presidency had proposed to them, which was most readily manifested in the affirmative, by raising their hands to heaven in testimony of their willingness and desire to enter into this covenant, and their entire satisfaction with the explanation upon all the difficulties that were on their minds. The brethren then took each other by the hand in confirmation of the covenant, and there was a perfect union of feeling on this occasion, and the hearts of all overflowed with blessings, which the brethren pronounced upon one another's heads as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In conclusion, the Prophet said: "My scribe is included in that covenant, and these blessings with us, for I love him for the truth and integrity that dwell in him. And may God enable us to perform our vows and covenants with each other, in all fidelity and righteousness before Him, that our influence may be felt among the nations of the earth, in mighty power, even to rend the kingdoms of darkness asunder, and triumph over priestcraft and spiritual wickedness in high places, and break in pieces all kingdoms that are opposed to the kingdom of Christ, and spread the light and truth of the everlasting Gospel from the rivers to the ends of the earth."
Elder Beaman came in for counsel, to know whether it was best for him to return before the solemn assembly or not. After consideration, the Council advised him to tarry.
Council dismissed by singing and prayer.
Warren Parish, Clerk.
Testimonies of Presidency and Twelve.
Sunday, 17.—Attended meeting at the school house at the usual hour; a large congregation assembled. I proceeded to arrange the several quorums present, first the Presidency, then the Twelve, and the Seventy who were present, also the Councilors of Kirtland and Zion.
President Rigdon then arose and observed that instead of preaching the time would be occupied by the Presidency and Twelve, in speaking each in his turn until they had all spoken. The Lord poured out His Spirit upon us, and the brethren began to confess their faults one to the other, and the congregation was soon overwhelmed in tears, and some of our hearts were too big for utterance. The gift of tongues came on us also, like the rushing of a mighty wind, and my soul was filled with the glory of God.
Marriage and Sacrament.