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Minutes, 16 September 1835

Source Note

Minutes,
Kirtland Township

Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, 16 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 108–113; handwriting of
Warren Cowdery

17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...

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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

On 13 September 1835, church leaders presented a newly purchased leather-bound volume to a gathering of church members for their inspection.
1

About this same time, patriarchal blessings given by Joseph Smith Sr. began to be copied into a large leather-bound volume. That book, which came to be known as Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, is almost certainly the volume under discussion here. (Minutes, 14 Sept. 1835.)


During the course of that meeting, individuals were allowed to examine the book, and an elderly man identified as “Brother Aldridge,” apparently Andrew Aldrich,
2

Andrew Hazen Aldrich was the father of Hazen Aldrich. He was present in Kirtland in August 1835 and, at sixty-seven years old, was the only Kirtland resident of that name who could have been considered an “old man” at the time. He died the following year on 26 July 1836 in Missouri. (“General Assembly,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:161; Obituary for Andrew Aldrich, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1836, 3:393.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

complained that the price paid had been too expensive. Minutes from that meeting do not exist, but apparently JS and
Hyrum Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

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charged Aldrich with being under the influence of an evil spirit. The next day, Henry Green declared that JS’s treatment of Aldrich indicated that the devil was in JS. In response, a
high council

A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...

View Glossary
met on 16 September 1835 to hear a complaint from JS against Green for the comments he had publicly aired against him.
3

Thomas Henry Green, known as Henry, was born 15 May 1808 in Acworth, New Hampshire, and was raised by John and Rebecca Reed from the time he was a small boy. When they converted to the church and migrated to Ohio, he went with them. (Nebeker, Rebecca Bearce, 110–112; Meadows, Descendants of Reade or Reed, 7, 34.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nebeker, Lionel. Rebecca Bearce, By the author, 1987. Copy available as microfilm 1,697,283, item 4, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

Meadows, Fanny L. S., comp. Descendants of Reade or Reed. Cleveland: Jennie M. Ames, 1937.

Although JS normally presided as president of the high council,
Sidney Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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presided in this case to consider the charge made by JS. Members of the council testified concerning the original exchange between Aldrich and JS, as well as Green’s subsequent critical comments against JS. The council found that JS had fulfilled his duty in rebuking Aldrich and that Green had been wrong to criticize JS. The minutes indicate that counselors were appointed to “speak on each side of the council,” but no defense of Green is recorded.
4

Without a record of the defense, it is not known if the counselor assigned to argue for the defendant, as required by established guidelines, did so. (See Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93]; and Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102].)


Joseph Coe

12 Nov. 1784–17 Oct. 1854. Farmer, clerk. Born at Cayuga Co., New York. Son of Joel Coe and Huldah Horton. Lived at Scipio, Cayuga Co., by 1800. Married first Pallas Wales, 12 Jan. 1816. Married second Sophia Harwood, ca. 1824. Moved to Macedon, Wayne Co....

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raised a concern on behalf of Green, but not until after judgment had been pronounced. Green was cut off from the church and instructed that rebaptism would be necessary to reenter.
5

Green’s long-term standing with the church is unclear. When the Quincy, Illinois, branch made an accounting of members’ standings on 21 June 1840, Green was listed, but his name is crossed out with an X to the left and a notation reading “out” to the right. Green likely moved to Iowa Territory with the Reed family, and later moved to Utah. (Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book, 21 June 1840; Nebeker, Rebecca Bearce, 114; Meadows, Descendants of Reade or Reed, 61; 1860 U.S. Census, Tooele, Tooele Co., Utah Territory, 311; 1870 U.S. Census, Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah Territory, 306; 1880 U.S. Census, Tintic, Juab Co., Utah Territory, 417.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book / “Record of the Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Quincy, (Ill),” 1840–1846. CHL. LR 5361 21, fd. 1.

Nebeker, Lionel. Rebecca Bearce, By the author, 1987. Copy available as microfilm 1,697,283, item 4, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

Meadows, Fanny L. S., comp. Descendants of Reade or Reed. Cleveland: Jennie M. Ames, 1937.

Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

No immediate commentary on the fate of Aldrich is mentioned, but his obituary the following year stated that he was “in good standing with the church of Latter Day Saints and died in full faith of the everlasting gospel.”
6

Obituary for Andrew Aldrich, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1836, 3:393.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Sylvester Smith

25 Mar. 1806–22 Feb. 1880. Farmer, carpenter, lawyer, realtor. Born at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Chileab Smith and Nancy Marshall. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, ca. 1815. Married Elizabeth Frank, 27 Dec. 1827, likely in Chautauque...

View Full Bio
acted as clerk for the meeting and kept the minutes.
Warren Cowdery

17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...

View Full Bio
later copied the minutes into Minute Book 1.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    About this same time, patriarchal blessings given by Joseph Smith Sr. began to be copied into a large leather-bound volume. That book, which came to be known as Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, is almost certainly the volume under discussion here. (Minutes, 14 Sept. 1835.)

  2. [2]

    Andrew Hazen Aldrich was the father of Hazen Aldrich. He was present in Kirtland in August 1835 and, at sixty-seven years old, was the only Kirtland resident of that name who could have been considered an “old man” at the time. He died the following year on 26 July 1836 in Missouri. (“General Assembly,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:161; Obituary for Andrew Aldrich, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1836, 3:393.)

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

  3. [3]

    Thomas Henry Green, known as Henry, was born 15 May 1808 in Acworth, New Hampshire, and was raised by John and Rebecca Reed from the time he was a small boy. When they converted to the church and migrated to Ohio, he went with them. (Nebeker, Rebecca Bearce, 110–112; Meadows, Descendants of Reade or Reed, 7, 34.)

    Nebeker, Lionel. Rebecca Bearce, By the author, 1987. Copy available as microfilm 1,697,283, item 4, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

    Meadows, Fanny L. S., comp. Descendants of Reade or Reed. Cleveland: Jennie M. Ames, 1937.

  4. [4]

    Without a record of the defense, it is not known if the counselor assigned to argue for the defendant, as required by established guidelines, did so. (See Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93]; and Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102].)

  5. [5]

    Green’s long-term standing with the church is unclear. When the Quincy, Illinois, branch made an accounting of members’ standings on 21 June 1840, Green was listed, but his name is crossed out with an X to the left and a notation reading “out” to the right. Green likely moved to Iowa Territory with the Reed family, and later moved to Utah. (Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book, 21 June 1840; Nebeker, Rebecca Bearce, 114; Meadows, Descendants of Reade or Reed, 61; 1860 U.S. Census, Tooele, Tooele Co., Utah Territory, 311; 1870 U.S. Census, Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah Territory, 306; 1880 U.S. Census, Tintic, Juab Co., Utah Territory, 417.)

    Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book / “Record of the Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Quincy, (Ill),” 1840–1846. CHL. LR 5361 21, fd. 1.

    Nebeker, Lionel. Rebecca Bearce, By the author, 1987. Copy available as microfilm 1,697,283, item 4, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.

    Meadows, Fanny L. S., comp. Descendants of Reade or Reed. Cleveland: Jennie M. Ames, 1937.

    Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.

  6. [6]

    Obituary for Andrew Aldrich, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1836, 3:393.

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

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 16 September 1835 Minute Book 1 History, 1838–1856, volume B-1 [1 September 1834–2 November 1838] “History of Joseph Smith”

Page 109

council

A governing body of twelve high priests. The first high council was organized in Kirtland, Ohio, on 17 February 1834 “for the purpose of settling important difficulties which might arise in the church, which could not be settled by the church, or the bishop...

View Glossary
proceed to examine the charge preferred, because brother Green had been regularly summoned by himself.
The council appointed that one should speak on each side of the council.
2

According to guidelines established in 1834, the fact that only two counselors were chosen to speak indicates that the council did not deem this a difficult case. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:13].)


After which testimony was examind as follows,
Elder

A male leader in the church generally; an ecclesiastical and priesthood office or one holding that office; a proselytizing missionary. The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto...

View Glossary
Sylvester Smith

25 Mar. 1806–22 Feb. 1880. Farmer, carpenter, lawyer, realtor. Born at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Chileab Smith and Nancy Marshall. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, ca. 1815. Married Elizabeth Frank, 27 Dec. 1827, likely in Chautauque...

View Full Bio
testified that brother Green (on monday morning last
3

14 September 1835.


) said that brother Aldridge was justified in what he said, and that President Joseph &
Hiram Smith

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

View Full Bio
were wrong in abusing the old man, and after
Elder Smith

25 Mar. 1806–22 Feb. 1880. Farmer, carpenter, lawyer, realtor. Born at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Chileab Smith and Nancy Marshall. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, ca. 1815. Married Elizabeth Frank, 27 Dec. 1827, likely in Chautauque...

View Full Bio
explained the matter to him, said that if any man should do so by him, he should call him a scoundrel, and that he should say that any man who should talk as Joseph did must have the Devil in him. Elder
Lorin Babit [Loren Babbit]

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said he was present when the above conversation took place & heard a considerable part of it and fully concurred in the statement of
Elder Smith

25 Mar. 1806–22 Feb. 1880. Farmer, carpenter, lawyer, realtor. Born at Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Chileab Smith and Nancy Marshall. Moved to Amherst, Lorain Co., Ohio, ca. 1815. Married Elizabeth Frank, 27 Dec. 1827, likely in Chautauque...

View Full Bio
. And he heard brother Green say previous to the above talk that although they accused brother Aldridge of having an evil Spirit, yet if the truth was known the Devil was in them. (Viz.)
Presidents

An organized body of leaders over priesthood quorums and other ecclesiastical organizations. A November 1831 revelation first described the office of president over the high priesthood and the church as a whole. By 1832, JS and two counselors constituted ...

View Glossary
Joseph &
Hyrum

9 Feb. 1800–27 June 1844. Farmer, cooper. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Randolph, Orange Co., 1802; back to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co...

View Full Bio
: for if any man should ask my opinion and then abuse me in this way, I should call him a scoundrel or a knave[.] President
O. Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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said before the council that brother Aldridge was not called upon to give his opinion concerning the Book but said what he did without being called upon to speak, for the book was only handed to him and others, to look at, that they might see its quality and goodness. President Joseph S. arose and stated that knew brother Aldridge was under the influence of an evil spirit and had been for a long time. And Counsellor
Orson Johnson

15 June 1803–21 Mar. 1883. Shoemaker, innkeeper, farmer. Born at Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Thomas Johnson and Elizabeth (Betsey) Smith. Married first Nancy Mason, 24 Oct. 1827, at Bath, Grafton Co., New Hampshire. Baptized into Church...

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also said that he knew that this thing was so. by what he had seen and learned, & that he had heard from credible Authority that the old man had been in the habit for a long time of neglecting prayer & family worship. [p. 109]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 109

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 16 September 1835
ID #
7236
Total Pages
6
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:415–420
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren A. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [2]

    According to guidelines established in 1834, the fact that only two counselors were chosen to speak indicates that the council did not deem this a difficult case. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:13].)

  2. [3]

    14 September 1835.

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