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Minutes, 20 December 1840

Source Note

Nauvoo high council,
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
, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL, 20 Dec. 1840. Featured version copied [after 14 Feb. 1842] in Nauvoo High Council Minutes, fair copy, p. 88; 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...

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

Historical Introduction

On 20 December 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
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
at JS’s house to preside over and deliver a verdict in a disciplinary trial for
Robert D. Foster

14 Mar. 1811–1 Feb. 1878. Justice of the peace, physician, land speculator. Born in Braunston, Northamptonshire, England. Son of John Foster and Jane Knibb. Married Sarah Phinney, 18 July 1837, at Medina Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of ...

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. The trial originated in a high council meeting on 28 November 1840 and continued for another two meetings before this 20 December council.
1

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 28 Nov. 1840; 12 and 13 Dec. 1840, 85–87. Minutes of two of these earlier meetings indicate that the council met in JS’s office, but they do not record if he attended or participated.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

On 28 November, the Nauvoo high council considered accusations that council member
William Huntington

28 Mar. 1784–19 Aug. 1846. Farmer, brick maker, potash manufacturer. Born in New Grantham, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of William Huntington and Prescendia Lathrop. Married first Zina Baker, 28 Dec. 1806, in Plainfield, Sullivan Co. Moved to Watertown...

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made against Foster on 20 November. Huntington brought charges against Foster “firstly, for slandering the aut[h]orities 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...

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. Secondly, For lying, profane swearing, and individual abuse and for other unchristian like conduct.” Foster, who was in attendance, pleaded not guilty, and high counselors
Charles C. Rich

21 Aug. 1809–17 Nov. 1883. Schoolteacher, farmer, cooper. Born in Campbell Co., Kentucky. Son of Joseph Rich and Nancy O’Neal. Moved to Posey Township, Dearborn Co., Indiana, ca. 1810. Moved to Tazewell Co., Illinois, 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ...

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and
Henry G. Sherwood

20 Apr. 1785–24 Nov. 1867. Surveyor. Born at Kingsbury, Washington Co., New York. Son of Newcomb Sherwood and a woman whose maiden name was Tolman (first name unidentified). Married first Jane J. McManagal (McMangle) of Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, ca. 1824...

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were selected to speak for and against Foster, respectively.
2

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 28 Nov. 1840, 85–86.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

After the council heard evidence at the initial meeting on 28 November, the trial adjourned, but it recommenced on 12 and 13 December with nearly two full days of testimony.
3

Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 12 and 13 Dec. 1840, 87.


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

In this meeting on 20 December 1840, Foster was acquitted of the charges. Although JS’s attendance is not explicitly noted, JS was presumably present because he was the head of the First Presidency and because the council meeting was held in his home.
As clerk of the meeting,
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, which he copied 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

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
record book sometime after 14 February 1842 and possibly before the end of that year.
4

Stout did not record the minutes of the Nauvoo high council's early 1840 meetings until February 1842. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 19 Apr. 1840, 56.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

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

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 28 Nov. 1840; 12 and 13 Dec. 1840, 85–87. Minutes of two of these earlier meetings indicate that the council met in JS’s office, but they do not record if he attended or participated.

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

  2. [2]

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 28 Nov. 1840, 85–86.

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

  3. [3]

    Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 12 and 13 Dec. 1840, 87.

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

  4. [4]

    Stout did not record the minutes of the Nauvoo high council's early 1840 meetings until February 1842. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 19 Apr. 1840, 56.)

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

Page 88

Dec 20th. 1840 Council met again according to previous adjt at the house of Joseph Smith jr to decide the charge against
R[obert] D. Foster

14 Mar. 1811–1 Feb. 1878. Justice of the peace, physician, land speculator. Born in Braunston, Northamptonshire, England. Son of John Foster and Jane Knibb. Married Sarah Phinney, 18 July 1837, at Medina Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of ...

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.
The case was submitted to 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
(who also presided in Council during the course of said trial) by mutual consent of the parties without making pleas on either side.
The Presidency decided that he (
R D F

14 Mar. 1811–1 Feb. 1878. Justice of the peace, physician, land speculator. Born in Braunston, Northamptonshire, England. Son of John Foster and Jane Knibb. Married Sarah Phinney, 18 July 1837, at Medina Co., Ohio. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of ...

View Full Bio
), should be acquited of the charges brought against him which was voted unanimously by the Council. Adjourned
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
Clerk. [p. 88]
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Source Note

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Page 88

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 20 December 1840
ID #
9501
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D7:488–489
Handwriting on This Page
  • Hosea Stout

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