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Minutes, 17 August 1840

Source Note

Nauvoo high council, Minutes,
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
, Hancock Co., IL, 17 Aug. [1840]. Featured version copied [between 14 Feb. 1842 and 1 Jan. 1843] in Nauvoo High Council Minutes, fair copy, pp. 70–74; handwriting of
Hosea Stout

18 Sept. 1810–2 Mar. 1889. Farmer, teacher, carpenter, sawmill operator, lawyer. Born near Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Stout and Anna Smith. Moved to Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, 1819; to Wilmington, Clinton Co., fall 1824; to...

View Full Bio
; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minutes, 27 Oct. 1839.

Historical Introduction

On 17 August 1840, the
First Presidency

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
of the
church

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
met with the
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
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
and the
Iowa

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. First permanent white settlements established, ca. 1833. Organized as territory, 1838, containing all of present-day Iowa, much of present-day Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota. Population in...

More Info
high council to consider a dispute between
Elijah Fordham

12 Apr. 1798–9 Sept. 1879. Carpenter. Born at New York City. Son of George Fordham and Mary Baker. Married first Jane Ann Fisher, 23 Nov. 1822. Married second Bethiah Fisher, 12 Apr. 1830. Lived at Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan Territory, 1831–1833. Baptized...

View Full Bio
and
John Patten

14 Apr. 1787–12 Mar. 1847. Physician, farmer. Born in New Hampshire. Son of Benoni Patten and Edith Cole. Married first Abigail Stiles, 5 May 1810, in Vermont. Wife died, 19 Sept. 1821. Married second Hannah Ingersol, 25 Apr. 1824, in Greene Co., Indiana....

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, both of whom had been appointed to the Iowa high council in October 1839.
1

Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839. John Smith characterized the meeting as a “council of 24 High Priests” who were “try[ing] a case before the first Presidency.” (John Smith, Journal, 1840–1841, 17 Aug. 1840.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1.

The difficulties between Fordham and Patten extended back to February 1840, when Fordham and
Willard Snow

6 May 1811–21 Aug. 1853. Farmer. Born in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia Co., Vermont. Lived at Waterford, Caledonia Co., by 1820. Son of Levi Snow and Lucina Streeter. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Orson Pratt, 18 June 1833. Moved...

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“expressed some dissatisfaction with
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
J. Patten for some of his teaching at a meeting on the preceding Sabath” in
Montrose

Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River. Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War. Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834. Fort abandoned; remaining settlement...

More Info
, Iowa Territory.
2

Iowa Stake Record, 21 Feb. 1840, 87.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Iowa Stake, Record. / Iowa Stake. “Church Record,” 1840–1841. CHL. LR 7817 21.

When the Iowa high council discussed the issue in a meeting on 6 March 1840 (which JS attended), “an unpleasant scene” unfolded, and Patten, Snow, and Fordham were all removed from the high council “till the affair was Settled.”
3

Minutes and Discourse, 6 Mar. 1840.


According to these 17 August minutes, the situation between Patten and Fordham had escalated to encompass issues relating to Patten’s land claims in Iowa Territory and the actions of a Rogers, who was likely
David W. Rogers

4 Oct. 1787–21 Sept. 1881. Born in New Hampshire. Son of Samuel Rogers and Hannah Sinclair. Married Martha Collins, 5 Dec. 1811, in Montreal, Lower Canada. Moved to Pomfret, Chautauque Co., New York, by 1820. Moved to New York City, 1830. Baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
.
4

David W. Rogers lived in Montrose close to Fordham and Patten. Charges were leveled against him at the October 1839 general conference, at the April 1840 general conference, and in Nauvoo high council meetings in 1840, but he was exonerated. (1840 U.S. Census, Township 66, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, 199; Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839; Minutes and Discourse, 6–8 Apr. 1840; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 8, 15, and 29 Mar. 1840, 49–50, 52–53.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Patten accused Fordham, among other offenses, of sanctioning the destruction of Patten’s garden, perjuring himself in court over the matter, and preventing Rogers from paying off his debts. The Iowa high council assigned a committee to investigate the difficulties. At a 1 August 1840 high council meeting, this committee reported that conflict between Patten and Fordham continued, leading to the convening of this 17 August meeting at JS’s office in Nauvoo, Illinois.
5

Iowa Stake Record, 1 Aug. 1840, 92.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Iowa Stake, Record. / Iowa Stake. “Church Record,” 1840–1841. CHL. LR 7817 21.

After JS admonished Fordham and Patten, the two men reconciled.
As clerk pro tempore,
Hosea Stout

18 Sept. 1810–2 Mar. 1889. Farmer, teacher, carpenter, sawmill operator, lawyer. Born near Pleasant Hill, Mercer Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Stout and Anna Smith. Moved to Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, 1819; to Wilmington, Clinton Co., fall 1824; to...

View Full Bio
took the minutes of the meeting. Sometime after 14 February 1842—but likely still in 1842—he entered the minutes into the
Nauvoo

Principal gathering place for Saints following expulsion from Missouri. Beginning in 1839, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased lands in earlier settlement of Commerce and planned settlement of Commerce City, as well as surrounding areas....

More Info
high council record book.
6

Stout indicated that he had recorded minutes of earlier meetings on 14 February 1842. He misdated these minutes as 17 August 1842, suggesting that he was recording the minutes sometime in 1842. A rough draft of the minutes has the correct date of 17 August 1840. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 19 Apr. 1840, 56; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, draft, 17 Aug. 1840, 14.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. Draft. CHL.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839. John Smith characterized the meeting as a “council of 24 High Priests” who were “try[ing] a case before the first Presidency.” (John Smith, Journal, 1840–1841, 17 Aug. 1840.)

    Smith, John (1781-1854). Journal, 1833–1841. John Smith, Papers, 1833-1854. CHL. MS 1326, box 1.

  2. [2]

    Iowa Stake Record, 21 Feb. 1840, 87.

    Iowa Stake, Record. / Iowa Stake. “Church Record,” 1840–1841. CHL. LR 7817 21.

  3. [3]

    Minutes and Discourse, 6 Mar. 1840.

  4. [4]

    David W. Rogers lived in Montrose close to Fordham and Patten. Charges were leveled against him at the October 1839 general conference, at the April 1840 general conference, and in Nauvoo high council meetings in 1840, but he was exonerated. (1840 U.S. Census, Township 66, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, 199; Minutes and Discourses, 5–7 Oct. 1839; Minutes and Discourse, 6–8 Apr. 1840; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 8, 15, and 29 Mar. 1840, 49–50, 52–53.)

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

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

  5. [5]

    Iowa Stake Record, 1 Aug. 1840, 92.

    Iowa Stake, Record. / Iowa Stake. “Church Record,” 1840–1841. CHL. LR 7817 21.

  6. [6]

    Stout indicated that he had recorded minutes of earlier meetings on 14 February 1842. He misdated these minutes as 17 August 1842, suggesting that he was recording the minutes sometime in 1842. A rough draft of the minutes has the correct date of 17 August 1840. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 19 Apr. 1840, 56; Nauvoo High Council Minutes, draft, 17 Aug. 1840, 14.)

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. Draft. CHL.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. Minutes, 17 August 1840, Rough Copy
*Minutes, 17 August 1840

Page 70

August. 17th 1842 [1840] The
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 according to adjournment at the office of Joseph Smith jr together with the
First Presidency

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
of the
Church

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
and the High Council of the
Stake

Ecclesiastical organization of church members in a particular locale. Stakes were typically large local organizations of church members; stake leaders could include a presidency, a high council, and a bishopric. Some revelations referred to stakes “to” or...

View Glossary
in
Iowa Territory

Area acquired by U.S. in Louisiana Purchase, 1803. First permanent white settlements established, ca. 1833. Organized as territory, 1838, containing all of present-day Iowa, much of present-day Minnesota, and parts of North and South Dakota. Population in...

More Info
John Patten

14 Apr. 1787–12 Mar. 1847. Physician, farmer. Born in New Hampshire. Son of Benoni Patten and Edith Cole. Married first Abigail Stiles, 5 May 1810, in Vermont. Wife died, 19 Sept. 1821. Married second Hannah Ingersol, 25 Apr. 1824, in Greene Co., Indiana....

View Full Bio
against
Elijah Fordham

12 Apr. 1798–9 Sept. 1879. Carpenter. Born at New York City. Son of George Fordham and Mary Baker. Married first Jane Ann Fisher, 23 Nov. 1822. Married second Bethiah Fisher, 12 Apr. 1830. Lived at Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan Territory, 1831–1833. Baptized...

View Full Bio
Charge. Unchristian conduct.
Firstly For libelous, slanderous, and infamous reports in the High Council of the Church of Latter Day Saints at
Montrose

Located in southern part of county on western shore of Mississippi River. Area settled by Captain James White, 1832, following Black Hawk War. Federal government purchased land from White to create Fort Des Moines, 1834. Fort abandoned; remaining settlement...

More Info
, against
John Patten

14 Apr. 1787–12 Mar. 1847. Physician, farmer. Born in New Hampshire. Son of Benoni Patten and Edith Cole. Married first Abigail Stiles, 5 May 1810, in Vermont. Wife died, 19 Sept. 1821. Married second Hannah Ingersol, 25 Apr. 1824, in Greene Co., Indiana....

View Full Bio
’s character; charging said
Patten

14 Apr. 1787–12 Mar. 1847. Physician, farmer. Born in New Hampshire. Son of Benoni Patten and Edith Cole. Married first Abigail Stiles, 5 May 1810, in Vermont. Wife died, 19 Sept. 1821. Married second Hannah Ingersol, 25 Apr. 1824, in Greene Co., Indiana....

View Full Bio
of being guilty of lieing, theft, burglary, and attempt to murder and done in the spirit of malevolence & high toned wickedness.
Secondly, For having told a positive lie.
Thirdly, For affirming to things which he [p. 70]
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Page 70

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 17 August 1840
ID #
8998
Total Pages
5
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:376–379
Handwriting on This Page
  • Hosea Stout

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