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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...

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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...

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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...

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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 110

Counsellor Samuel

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811...

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then arose and spoke of the Doctrine of Christ and the duty of the Servants of God in preaching the gospel, & building upon the
church of Christ

The Book of Mormon related that when Christ set up his church in the Americas, “they which were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.” The first name used to denote the church JS organized on 6 April 1830 was “the Church of Christ...

View Glossary
, to reprove error and wickedness whenever they should see them, especially in the church, and that President Smith was in the lines of his duty
4

A June 1831 revelation instructed elders to watch over the church and “labour with their own hands that there be no Idolitry nor wickedness practiced.” The “articles and covenants of the Church of Christ” gave teachers the duty of ensuring there was no “iniquity in the church, nor no hardness with each other, nor no lying, nor backbiting, nor no evil speaking” and further instructed that disciplinary measures should be taken against “any member of this church of Christ transgressing, or being overtaken in a fault.” Samuel Smith could be interpreting JS’s actions as fulfilling such duties. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:39]; Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:54, 80].)


when he reproved <​bro​> Aldridge for his evil, and consequently brother Green must have been wrong in opposing him, and saying that he acted like a scoundrel and that the Devil was in him.
Counsellor
Levi Jackman

28 July 1797–23 July 1876. Carpenter, wainwright. Born at Vershire, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Moses French Jackman and Elizabeth Carr. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, 1810. Married first Angeline Myers Brady, 13 Nov. 1817, at Alexander, Genesee...

View Full Bio
arose and said, that he conceived that brother Green could not be justified in opposing the servant of the Lord, while in the actual discharge of his duty, and that it is evident that Satan hath sought to make divisions in the church and hath taken the advantage of the occasion of presenting the Book to do this.
President

The highest presiding body of the church. An 11 November 1831 revelation stated that the president of the high priesthood was to preside over the church. JS was ordained as president of the high priesthood on 25 January 1832. In March 1832, JS appointed two...

View Glossary
F. G. Williams

28 Oct. 1787–10 Oct. 1842. Ship’s pilot, teacher, physician, justice of the peace. Born at Suffield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. Son of William Wheeler Williams and Ruth Granger. Moved to Newburg, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, 1799. Practiced Thomsonian botanical system...

View Full Bio
arose & said, that he was disposed to exercise all the charity for brethren that he could, yet at the same time he did not feel willing to justify wickedness nor cover or hide iniquity in the church but rather to expose it and rebuke it. that it may be brought to light: And that the wickedness of brother Green in condemning President Smith is evident from the testimony, and that brother Aldridge also did act foolishly and by the influence of a wrong Spirit in questioning the integrity of the heads of the Church in the purchase of the Book, &, that President Smith was and, is, justifiable in doing as he has done, in this matter, & should not be censured as has been done in this matter by brother Green.
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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then arose and showed, by a few very plain remarks, how Satan, had sought from the beginning to destroy the book of Mormon, and in order to do this, had been continually leveling his shafts [p. 110]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 110

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. [4]

    A June 1831 revelation instructed elders to watch over the church and “labour with their own hands that there be no Idolitry nor wickedness practiced.” The “articles and covenants of the Church of Christ” gave teachers the duty of ensuring there was no “iniquity in the church, nor no hardness with each other, nor no lying, nor backbiting, nor no evil speaking” and further instructed that disciplinary measures should be taken against “any member of this church of Christ transgressing, or being overtaken in a fault.” Samuel Smith could be interpreting JS’s actions as fulfilling such duties. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:39]; Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:54, 80].)

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