Minutes, 15 March 1838
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Source Note
Zion high council and bishopric, Minutes, , Caldwell Co., MO, 15 Mar. 1838. Featured version copied [between 1 Oct. 1842 and 14 Sept. 1843] in Minute Book 2, pp. 108–109; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 2.
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Historical Introduction
On 15 March 1838, JS met with the and . Several developments had occurred since November 1837, when they had last met together. Most significantly, the rift between the of the church in and the rest of the church leaders there had widened. By early February 1838, the presidency had been removed from office and replaced by and . On 10 March, former presidency members and were excommunicated. Then, on 14 March JS arrived in , where he intended to take up residence. After fleeing amid dissent and turmoil, he was determined to root dissent out of the church. The day after his arrival, JS met in council with Missouri church leaders to address matters relevant to the problem of dissent. In the first session of the meeting, JS reviewed the minutes of previous council meetings. In the second session, the council members considered the conduct of , who was the ’s and “keeper of the Lord’s .” The clerk for the meeting, , produced a brief overview of the proceedings. His original minutes are apparently not extant; the featured version was recorded in Minute Book 2 by in in 1842 or 1843.
Footnotes
Page 108

The of , together with the met in , on Thursday March the 15th 1838, agreeable to appointment and was organized as follows. President Joseph Smith jr took the charge of the Council
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The Council opened by singing “This earth was once a garden place &c.” and prayer by Prest Joseph Smith jr.
The minutes of some previous Councils were read by the
First, The minutes of a Council held on Saturday the 24th of February 1838, when it was voted— First
That the 6th article of the said minutes be null & void & also, that a new article be put in the place of it (which was done)—
President Joseph Smith jr gave a history of the of , which took place in July 1834, to be a leader, or a prophet to this , which (ordination) was on conditions that he (J. Smith jr) did not live to God himself.
President J. Smith jr approved of the proceedings of the High Council, after hearing the minutes of the former Councils.
The Council ajourned for one hour.
7-o’clock P.M. The Council and Bishoprick convened agreeably to adjournment and was [p. 108]
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