I arrived at Far West some time in the latter part of October or first of November. A meeting of some of the Church was called on the sixth to counsel on certain affairs of the Church, which I attended with Brothers Rigdon and Hyrum Smith. There were present also Elders Thomas B. Marsh, William E. M'Lellin, Lyman E. Johnson, William Smith, and Vinson Knight, from Ohio, the High Council of the Church of Far West, and some other Elders. Prayer by W. W. Phelps. Several topics were discussed, when it was unanimously voted that it be recommended to the proprietors of the corporation of Far West to petition the trustees of said corporation to alter the streets or lessen them so as to make each block contain four acres of ground, and each block to be divided into four lots. Also voted unanimously that it is the opinion of this council that there is sufficient room in this country for the churches to continue gathering from abroad; also that the building of the House of the Lord be postponed until the Lord shall reveal it to be His will to have it commenced.
The Settlement of Difficulties.
Adjourned until early candle light, and met accordingly, when remarks were made by many of the authorities present upon the previous disposition of the town plat, the purchase of land, etc.; and all difficulties were satisfactorily settled except a matter between Oliver Cowdery, Thomas B. Marsh, and myself, which was referred to us with the agreement that our settlement of the affair would be sufficient for the council.
W. W. Phelps presided at this meeting, and Oliver Cowdery acted as clerk.
Minutes of a High Council at Kirtland.
The High Council and Bishop of Kirtland met in the Lord's House on Tuesday evening, November 7th to discuss the question, "Who presides when the presidents are absent?" but upon discussion were not able to come to any conclusion.
Thomas Burdick was appointed High Councilor in the place and absence of Phinehas Richards; and Harlow Redfield clerk for the time being.
President Joseph Smith, Sen., proposed that Brother Phinehas Richards be ordained under the hands of President John Smith and Bishop Whitney, and he was accordingly blessed for his mission.
Phinehas Richards, Clerk.
Minutes of a Conference at Far West, Missouri, November 7th, 1837.
At a general assembly of the Church of Latter-day Saints, assembled at Far West to take into consideration and transact the business of said Church, Elder Thomas B. Marsh was chosen as moderator and Oliver Cowdery clerk.
After singing the moderator addressed the throne of grace in prayer, after which President Sidney Rigdon explained the object of the meeting, giving a relation of the recent reorganization of the Church in Kirtland. The minutes of said meeting at Kirtland were read by the moderator who also nominated Joseph Smith, Jun., the first President of the whole Church, to preside over the same.
All were requested (male and female) to vote; and he was unanimously chosen.
President Smith then made a few remarks accepting the appointment, requesting the prayers of the Church in his behalf. He also nominated President Sidney Rigdon to be one of his counselors, and he was unanimously chosen.
He then nominated Frederick G. Williams to be his second counselor, but he was objected to by Elder Lyman Wight in a few remarks referring to a certain letter written to this place by the said Frederick G. Williams.
Also Elder Marsh objected to President Williams.
Elder James Emmet also objected to President Williams.
Bishop Edward Partridge said he seconded President Williams' nomination and should vote for him; and as to said letter, he had heard it and saw nothing so criminal in it.
President David Whitmer also made a few remarks in President Williams' favor.
Elder Marsh made further remarks.
Elder Thomas Grover also objected to President Williams.
President Sidney Rigdon then nominated President Hyrum Smith to take President Williams' place.
The moderator called for a vote in favor of President Williams, but he was rejected.
He then called for a vote in favor of President Hyrum Smith, which was carried unanimously.
Some few remarks were made by Presidents David Whitmer and Sidney Rigdon.
David Whitmer was nominated as the President of this branch of the Church, but was objected to by Elder Marsh.
Bishop Edward Partridge said he should vote for President Whitmer.
Elder William E. M'Lellin made a few marks.
Elder George M. Hinkle and Elder King Follet made a few remarks in favor of President Whitmer.
Elders Caleb Baldwin and Seymour Brunson spoke against President Whitmer.
Elder Elisha H. Groves spoke in favor of President Whitmer.
Further remarks from Elder M'Lellin, by request of President Whitmer gave general satisfaction.
Remarks were also made by President Joseph Smith, Jun., who called for an expression, which was carried by almost a unanimous vote in favor of President Whitmer.
President Joseph Smith, Jun., then nominated John Whitmer for an assistant president, who was objected to, and Elder Marsh spoke in opposition to him, and read a list of charges from a written document against him and President Phelps.
President John Whitmer then spoke a few words by way of confession and was followed by Elder Isaac Morley.
The vote sustaining him was called, and carried unanimously.
The meeting adjourned for one hour.
Meeting convened according to adjournment, a hymn was sung and prayer offered by the moderator.
W. W. Phelps was nominated for an assistant president for this branch of the Church by President Joseph Smith, Jun.
Brother Phelps rose and made certain remarks on the subject of the charges referred to above by way of confession, whereupon the vote was put by President Rigdon and passed unanimously.
Elders John Murdock, Solomon Hancock, Elias Higbee, Calvin Bebee, John M. Hinkle, Thomas Grover, and Simeon Carter were unanimously chosen High Councilors.
Lyman Wight was nominated a member of the High Council but was objected to by John Anderson; they went aside to converse.
Newel Knight was unanimously chosen. George M. Hinkle was nominated, and objected to by Elder James Emmet, because he was too noisy; by King Follet because of his military office; and by James Durfee because he was a merchant.
Elder Hinkle made a few remarks.
The vote was called and was unanimous in Elder Hinkle's favor.
Levi Jackman and Elisha H. Groves were unanimously chosen.
John Anderson then took the stand and made his objections to Lyman Wight; after which Elder Wight also spoke.
The vote was called and Elder Wight was unanimously chosen.
The Twelve Apostles were then called, namely, Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, William E. M'Lellin, Parley P. Pratt, William Smith, Luke Johnson, Orson Pratt, John F. Boynton, and Lyman E. Johnson, and were unanimously sustained.
Bishop Edward Partridge was nominated to still act as Bishop, and was unanimously chosen; he then nominated Isaac Morley and Titus Billings for his counselers, who were also unanimously chosen.
Elder Isaac Morley was unanimously appointed Patriarch of this branch of the Church.
Elder John Corrill was chosen to be keeper of the Lord's Store House.
Elder Isaac Morley was then ordained to the office of Patriarch under the hands of Presidents Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon and Hyrum Smith.
The congregation, after a few remarks from Sidney Rigdon, unanimously voted not to support stores and shops selling spirituous liquors, tea, coffee, or tobacco.
A vote was called on the subject of the presidents of the Seventies; and those who have recently been appointed to that office, were unanimously received.
The congregation then united with President Sidney Rigdon, who, in the closing prayer, called upon their Lord to dedicate this land for the gathering of the Saints, and their inheritances.
Thomas B. Marsh, Moderator,
Oliver Cowdery, Clerk.
Far West, Missouri, November 10, 1837.
At a general meeting of the ordained members of the Church in this place Elder Thomas B. Marsh opened the meeting by prayer, and President Sidney Rigdon read the memorial of the Bishop of Kirtland and his counselors, of September 18th, 1837, to the churches abroad. He then laid before the meeting the subject of laying off cities, of consecrating lands for public purposes, and for remunerating those who lay them off. It was unanimously voted that all city plats hereafter laid off, after remunerating those for their labor who may be engaged in appointing and laying off the same shall be consecrated for the public benefit of the Church, for building houses for public worship, or such other purposes as the Church shall say.
President Rigdon then read the prospectus of the Elders' Journal, which was unanimously received.
It was then unanimously voted that the persons present use their exertions to support said paper.
It was then voted that the town of Far West be enlarged so that it contain four sections, that is, two miles square.
Voted that Bishop Partridge and his counselors be appointed a committee to appraise the land adjacent to the present town plat and see that it is enlarged according to the above vote, provided the present holders of those lands will take such a price for the same as the above appraisers think them to be worth; and that the same be then disposed of as voted above.
A call was then made for those whose circumstances were such as to permit them to go out to preach to present themselves. There were twenty-three who arose.
Sylvester H. Earl, Henry Jackman, Harrison Sagers, and John W. Clark were ordained Elders, and William J. Levans was ordained a Priest.
President Rigdon then closed the meeting by prayer.
Thomas B. Marsh, Moderator.
Oliver Cowdery, Clerk.
About this time I left Far West on my return to Kirtland.
Minutes of a High Council at Kirtland.
Kirtland, November 20th. The High Council met in the Lord's House, John Smith presiding.
Reuben Hedlock preferred the following charge against Zenos H. Brewster, Jane Brewster, Collins Brewster, D. H. Dustin and wife, Moses R. Norris and wife, Eliza Norris, Samuel Barnet, Jemima Butler, Osman M. Duel,—Butler, and Roxanna Repsher, for giving heed to revelations said to be translated from the Book of Moroni by Collins Brewster, and for entering into a written covenant different from the articles and covenants of the Church of Latter-day Saints, and following a vain and delusive spirit.
Two were appointed to speak on each side.
The writings and revelations kept and received by the accused were presented, and read by the clerk of the Council.
The accused pleaded not guilty.
Brother Felshaw was called forward by the plaintiff, who stated that he had visited the accused and labored with them according to the law of the Church; that the accused justified themselves, seeing the Church had not lived according to the former revelations, and they considered the High Council and others were in transgression; and that most of the accused appeared to be determined to pursue their own way, whether right or wrong.
Brother Allen said the accused appeared to manifest a hard spirit against the Presidents of the Church and the High Council.
Brother Dunn concurred.
Brother Sawyer stated that he heard Brother Norris say that those in authority were against him and if he could not establish an order of things here to his mind he would go out among the Gentiles and do it.
Brother Knight confirmed the foregoing testimony.
The accused called Brother Freeman, who stated that he had attended a number of the meetings of the accused and saw nothing out of the way.
Brother E. Strong confirmed Brother Freeman's statement, but did not know when he attended the meetings at which they received revelations for themselves.
Brother J. Foster agreed with the last two witnesses. Brother Preston was called by the accuser, who testified that the accused refused to admit him into their meetings and that others were rejected
Several witnesses testified that they attended their meetings and saw nothing wrong.
Others testified they had heard them speak against the heads of the Church and that Brother Joseph had many things to repent of, and one of them said he thought some put too much stress on the Priesthood, and that he was informed that Brother Norris laid his hands on Collins Brewster and ordained him a prophet, and that one of the accused said he was determined to pursue his own course whether it suited the High Council or not.
After the pleas of his councilors the accused spoke in justification of their course generally, when the Council decided that the charge had been fully sustained and withdrew fellowship from those who persisted in their course of conduct as before mentioned.
Harlow Redfield, Clerk.
Reuben Hedlock Chosen President of Elders.
At a conference of Elders, consisting of all the authorities of the Church in Kirtland, November 27th, Elder Reuben Hedlock was chosen President of the Elders' quorum, in place of Elder Beaman deceased.
Excommunication of Rodger Orton.