Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 16 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 108–113; handwriting of ; 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. During the course of that meeting, individuals were allowed to examine the book, and an elderly man identified as “Brother Aldridge,” apparently Andrew Aldrich, complained that the price paid had been too expensive. Minutes from that meeting do not exist, but apparently JS and 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 met on 16 September 1835 to hear a complaint from JS against Green for the comments he had publicly aired against him.
Although JS normally presided as president of the high council, 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. 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. 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.”
acted as clerk for the meeting and kept the minutes. later copied the minutes into Minute Book 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.)
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.
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.
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].)
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.
then observed that he thought the case sufficiently brought before the council, and would say no more.
And , proceeded to give his decision as follows. That brother Green should, (if he were aggrieved with President Smith) have gone and told him of his difficulty and not have said any thing about it to his neighbor. And again, that Mr. Aldridge as has been shown, has been guilty of neglecting his prayers before God, & therefore, has not had the spirit of God, to preserve him from the temptation of Satan, & has fallen into evil, and actually did do wrong in raising objections to the price of the book; presented last sabbath, and was under the influence of an evil spirit. Brother Green fellowships the evil spirit in Br. Aldridge and says he is justifiable in what he has done & therefore it is evident that an evil spirit is reigning in the heart <breast> of brother Green, And it is also <as> evident that President Joseph Smith Junr. was justified in rebuking that evil spirit & it was not only justifiable in President Smith, to rebuke that evil Spirit but also his duty as President and first in the appointed of God to lead the same into all righteousness; The decision then of the of the is in short that brother Green be & is now excluded from this church, and shall be a member no more until he come in by the of , as appointed by the Gospel, to be done in the church. This was agreed to by all the counsellors except , whether Mr. Green should not have the privilege of confessing his faults and still be retained in the Church. He, therefore, thought it was the privilege of brother Green, to have a reorganization of the council and a rehearing. This was about to be [p. 112]
Various scriptural passages could have influenced Coe’s interest in allowing Green to confess and retain good standing in the church. There are also examples of others who were accused of offenses and then allowed to confess and show penitence. However, given the disrespect shown for JS, the council may have sought to make an example of Green. (See Minutes, 28–29 Aug. 1834; Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:88–93]; Book of Mormon, 1830 ed., 210–211 [Mosiah 26:29–30]; Galatians 6:1; Minutes, 14 July 1835; and Minutes, 28–29 Sept. 1835.)