Political Motto of the Church
Shortly after the arrival of Presidents Smith and Rigdon in Far West the following political motto was adopted:
“The Constitution of our country formed by the fathers of liberty. Peace and good order in society. Love to God, and good will to man. All good and wholesome laws, virtue and truth above all things, and aristarchy, live forever! But woe to tyrants, mobs, aristocracy, anarchy, and toryism, and all those who invent or seek out unrighteous and vexatious law suits, under the pretext and color of law, or office, either religious or political. Exalt the standard of democracy; down with that of priestcraft, and let all the people say, Amen! that the blood of our fathers may not cry from the ground against us. Sacred is the memory of the blood which bought for us our liberty.”
First General Conference at Far West
April 6, 1838, the first general conference of the Church in Missouri was held at Far West. John Corrill and Elias Higbee were chosen historians and George W. Robinson general church recorder and clerk of the First Presidency. Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Patten and Brigham Young were sustained as the presidency of the Church in Zion. The following day, David W. Patten, in reporting the labors of the council of the twelve, said he could not recommend William E. McLellin, Luke S. Johnson, Lyman E. Johnson, John F. Boynton, and was doubtful of William Smith. The other brethren were faithfully discharging their duties.
John Whitmer Withholds the Church Record
A demand by letter was made, by sanction of the conference, of John Whitmer, the former historian, calling for the record of the Church in his keeping. This he refused to deliver and retained it until the day of his death. A copy of it is now in the archives of the Church.
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Others Excommunicated
Wednesday, April 11, 1838, Seymour Brunson preferred nine charges against Oliver Cowdery who was cited to appear for trial the following day. Oliver refused to appear, but sent a letter, written in a very bitter spirit, and defiant attitude, in which he boasted of his “personal liberty,” and with injured demeanor denied the right of any church tribunal to control him in his temporal interests, which was contrary to his constitutional privileges. Therefore he would voluntarily “withdraw from a society assuming they have such right.” Two of the charges when presented to the council were rejected and one was withdrawn, the other six were sustained. There was no other course for the council to take than to excommunicate the rebellious Assistant President of the Church, who had turned so bitter in his feelings against his former associates.
On the 9th, five charges were also preferred against David Whitmer, who was cited to appear for trial on the 13th. David also replied by letter, in which he refused to recognize the authority of the general assemblies of the Church and the action taken against him; nor would he recognize the authority of the present council which had been called to try his case. And, since the council would pursue its “unlawful course at all hazards,” he preferred to withdraw from their “fellowship and communion—choosing to seek a place among the meek and humble, where the revelations of heaven will be observed, and the rights of men regarded.” Action was therefore taken against David Whitmer and thus another of the special witnesses, was cut off from the Church.[1]