Minutes, 17 February 1834

Source Note

Minutes,
Kirtland Township
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Geauga Co., OH, 17 Feb. 1834. Featured version copied [ca. 17 Feb. 1834] in Minute Book 1, pp. 29–31; handwriting of
Orson Hyde
8 Jan. 1805–28 Nov. 1878. Laborer, clerk, storekeeper, teacher, editor, businessman, lawyer, judge. Born at Oxford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. Son of Nathan Hyde and Sally Thorpe. Moved to Derby, New Haven Co., 1812. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, ...
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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
The following minutes of a 17 February 1834 meeting record the initial organization of a standing “Presidents Church Council” in
Kirtland
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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, Ohio—later known as 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...
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of the
Church of Christ
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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,” or the Kirtland high council. The minutes also document the rules the council should follow when judging a church member accused of a transgression.
1
Minutes, 19 Feb. 1834.
Before 17 February, such issues had been judged by “
conferences
A meeting where ecclesiastical officers and other church members could conduct church business. The “Articles and Covenants” of the church directed the elders to hold conferences to perform “Church business.” The first of these conferences was held on 9 June...
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” or “councils” of priesthood holders (with other church members often in attendance). Who composed these conferences and councils varied with location and the availability of potential attendees. Revelations dictated by JS in August and November 1831 also provided for a
bishop’s court
Official church proceedings convened to handle disputes or allegations of misconduct. The officers of the court were a bishop, his assistants or counselors, and additional high priests or elders assembled on an ad hoc basis. Until high councils were established...
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to hear such cases, as well as for an appellate “court of the church before the
president of the high Priesthood
Both the office of the president of the high priesthood and the body comprising the president and his counselors; the presiding body of the church. In November 1831, a revelation directed the appointment of a president of the high priesthood. The individual...
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.” The November revelation also empowered the president to call twelve available
high priests
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. Christ and many ancient prophets, including Abraham, were described as being high priests. The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church. However, the Book of Mormon also discussed...
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to assist in adjudicating a case.
2
Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:14–18]; Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:72, 78–80].
The new standing council in Kirtland was to serve as “an ensample” for similar, temporary councils organized as occasions demanded in outlying areas and also as an appellate court placed between lower disciplinary councils and the presidency of the high priesthood.

According to the minutes featured here, JS stated that he organized the
Kirtland
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Latter-day Saint missionaries visited township, early Nov. 1830; many residents joined Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and...
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high council on the same principles that governed the “order of Councils in ancient days.” Five days earlier JS had discussed this ancient order in a council of
elders
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...
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and high priests, where he focused his remarks on the qualifications and conduct required of individual members of such councils.
3
Minutes, 12 Feb. 1834.
An earlier reference in Minute Book 1 to educating elders on “the ancient manner of conducting meetings” indicates the topic had been on JS’s mind as early as 1831 and suggests that the 17 February 1834 meeting represents an important milestone in JS’s ongoing effort to restore the ancient gospel, as he understood it, to the earth.
4
Minutes, 11 Oct. 1831.

Pursuant to the instructions recorded near the end of the document featured here, JS “laboured . . . with all the strength and wisdom that he had” the following day to correct these minutes. On 19 February, JS presented the corrected minutes to the council, which, after hearing the revised minutes read three times and suggesting at least one additional correction, unanimously voted to accept them “for a form, and constitution of the high Council of the Church of Christ hereafter.” JS then reported that “the Council was organized according to the ancient order, and also according to the mind of the Lord.”
5
Minutes, 19 Feb. 1834.

Footnotes
1. 1
  Minutes, 19 Feb. 1834.
2. 2
  Revelation, 1 Aug. 1831 [D&C 58:14–18]; Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:72, 78–80].
3. 3
  Minutes, 12 Feb. 1834.
4. 4
  Minutes, 11 Oct. 1831.
5. 5
  Minutes, 19 Feb. 1834.

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This day, Feb. 17 1834, a of assembled at in at the House of bro. Joseph Smith Jur. They proceeded to organize the , Consisting of twelve high priests, and this according to the law of God. The names of those who were chosen as Counsellors, were Joseph Smith Junr. and Presidents. , , , , , , , , , , , and , Counsellors. Bro. Joseph opened the Council by solem prayer. He then arose and called upon the high priests, , , and that were present who had not been nominated as Counsellors to pass their vote whether they were satisfied with the appointment or nomination of the twelve to Compose the Church Council. It was the unanimous voice of all present that those who had been nominated, as above, should compose a standing Council in . It was also voted that when any one <or more> of the standing Counsellors was were absent, their vacancy should be filled by any high priests whom the majority of the Council should nominate or choose,

Provideing that no Council shall be held unless seven of the above named Counsellors are present, or their successors. The above named Counsellors all manifested a willingness to act according to their appointment, the Lord being their helper. Bro acted in the place of . There were nine high priests present and acted in the appointment of the above named Counsellors, also seventeen Elders, and four priests with thirteen private members. Bro Joseph then said he would show the order of Councils in ancient days (see 27 & 28 pages) as shown to [p. 29]

This day, Feb. 17 1834, a of assembled in at the House of bro. Joseph Smith Jur. They proceeded to organize the , Consisting of twelve high priests, and this according to the law of God. The names of those who were chosen were Joseph Smith Junr. and Presidents. , , , , , , , , , , , and , Counsellors. Bro. Joseph opened the Council by solem prayer. He then arose and called upon the high priests, , , and that were present who had not been nominated as Counsellors to pass their vote whether they were satisfied with the appointment or nomination of the twelve to Compose the Church Council. It was the unanimous voice of all present that those who had been nominated, as above, should compose a standing Council in . It was also voted that when any one or more of the standing Counsellors were absent, their vacancy should be filled by any high priests whom the majority of the Council should nominate or choose,

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Document Information
Editorial Title
Minutes, 17 February 1834
ID #
6739
Total Pages
3
Print Volume Location
JSP, D3:435–439
Handwriting on This Page
- Orson Hyde
Footnotes
1. 1
  The “law of God” probably refers to the 11 November 1831 revelation describing the court of the president of the high priesthood. (Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:78–79].)
2. 2
  The word “Presidents” here refers to JS, Rigdon, and Williams, who together constituted the presidency of the high priesthood. The names that follow were the twelve members appointed to the high council.
3. 3
  According to the revised minutes, twenty-four high priests attended the meeting. Since fifteen of those were appointed to the high council, nine were left to ratify the council’s formation. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:1].)
4. 4
  These pages of the minute book contain the minutes of the 12 February 1834 meeting of high priests and elders at which JS spoke about the conduct and personal worthiness expected of council members in ancient and modern times. (Minutes, 12 Feb. 1834.)

Minutes, 17 February 1834

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