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Minutes, 29 October 1835

Source Note

Kirtland high council, Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 29 Oct. 1835. Featured version copied [between ca. 4 Apr. and ca. 16 May 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 127–129; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

In October 1835, the high council met to discuss allegations that , a member of the Quorum of the , and his wife, Mary Cahoon Elliott, had abused their teenage daughter by beating and whipping her. According to one of the witnesses who testified at the meeting, the Elliott affair had provoked public discussion in the small village of , Ohio. On 29 October, the high council met to depose witnesses and determine if the Elliotts’ actions merited official church discipline.
The complaint, instigated by , likely involved the couple’s treatment of Lucena, ’s eldest child from a previous marriage. Elliott and William Smith had been acquainted for several years prior to the accusation. Both men marched to as part of the in May 1834, and both were ordained as leaders in the church’s governing bodies in February 1835. No extant records indicate how William Smith became aware of the alleged abuse within the Elliott family.
The trial unfolded in two sessions. The opening session seems to have focused on ’s allegations against David Elliott. Five witnesses, including JS, were deposed during the first trial; JS testified in favor of the defendant. As the minutes indicate, the council ultimately ruled that although “the complaint was not without foundation,” the charge of abuse “had not been fully sustained.” The council reconvened later that evening to hear William Smith’s charges against Mary Elliott. During this hearing, a “Sister Childs,” who testified she lived in the Elliott household, was introduced as a witness. JS’s journal indicates that in contrast to the first hearing, in which he was called to testify, JS was asked to “take a seat with the presidency and preside” over the second session.
An account in JS’s journal suggests that the second session was contentious. Six members of the council, rather than the usual four, were appointed to speak during the evening session, which according to established protocol meant that the case was deemed difficult. During the meeting, JS and engaged in a heated exchange that opened up an unpleasant rift between the two brothers. At the conclusion of the second session, both Mary and confessed their wrongs before the council, pledged to correct their behavior, and were forgiven.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    David Elliott joined the church in upstate New York in early 1831 and married Mary Cahoon on 21 May 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio. The couple eventually settled in Chagrin, Ohio. Though Elliott was commanded to move to Jackson County, Missouri, in a 31 August 1831 revelation, he appears to have remained in Chagrin. (Revelation, 31 Aug. 1831; Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 28 Jan. 1832; Letter to Church Leaders in Jackson County, MO, 21 Apr. 1833.)

  2. [2]

    Chagrin was officially renamed Willoughby sometime in late 1834 or early 1835, following the establishment of Willoughby Medical College. However, JS and other church members often referred to the town as Chagrin.

  3. [3]

    Little is known about the Elliott family. Family genealogical records suggest that Mary Cahoon was David Elliott’s third wife. According to these records, he married Almira Holliday in 1821, and in the following year Almira gave birth to Lucena. He later married Margery Quick in 1823. Mary Cahoon was therefore Lucena’s stepmother. (“History Written by David Elliott,” attached to “David Elliott, 1799–1855,” 27 Nov. 2014, FamilySearch; “Elliott, David,” born 18 Nov. 1799, submitted by Alvin E. Morris, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Family Group Records Collection; Archives Section, 1942–1969, microfilm 1,274,009, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  4. [4]

    William Smith was chosen to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 14 February 1835; Elliott was called as a member of the Quorum of the Seventy on 28 February 1835. (Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 14–15 Feb. 1835; Minutes and Blessings, 28 Feb.–1 Mar. 1835.)

  5. [5]

    JS, Journal, 29 Oct. 1835.

  6. [6]

    See Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102].

  7. [7]

    JS, Journal, 29 Oct. 1835.

Asterisk (*) denotes a "featured" version, which includes an introduction and annotation. *Minutes, 29 October 1835 *Minute Book 1

Page 129

preferred against Mary Elliott for abusing said .s daughter as referred to before, and also abusing the rest of her children, by .
Six were appointed to speak on this case. Testimony of Sister Childs was that she lived in the house with Sister Elliot confessed her wrong and promised to do so no more consequently the council forgave her. made his confession and was forgiven, and both he and his wife were restored to fellowship.
Council closed, by prayer by
Clerk. [p. 129]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 129

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 29 October 1835
ID #
8742
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D5:26–29
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren A. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    The couple may have had as many as eight children living with them, including five from David Elliott’s previous marriages. (“Elliott, David,” born 18 Nov. 1799, submitted by Alvin E. Morris, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Family Group Records Collection; Archives Section, 1942–1969, microfilm 1,274,009, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)

    U.S. and Canada Record Collection. FHL.

  2. [2]

    In addition to the six members of the high council who were appointed to speak (three for each side), several other people served as witnesses, including Lucy Mack Smith. Though there is no indication of what Lucy Mack Smith said during her deposition, it is likely that she testified against David Elliott. JS’s journal recounts that when Lucy began to testify, JS objected on the grounds that her testimony concerned matters that had already been considered and settled in the earlier session. William took offense to his brother’s unilateral action, insisting that he was “invalidating or doubting” their mother’s testimony. The tension escalated. According to JS’s journal, “I told him [William] that he was out of place & asked him to set down.” When William demurred, JS ordered him to sit. Enraged, William told JS that he would not sit down unless JS “knocked him down.” JS also became angry, and it was only after Joseph Smith Sr. intervened that order was restored. (JS, Journal, 29 Oct. 1835.)

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