Minutes, 16 September 1835
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Source Note
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.
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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.
Footnotes
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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.)
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2
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.
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3
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.
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4
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].)
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5
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.
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6
Obituary for Andrew Aldrich, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1836, 3:393.
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
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1
Document Transcript
| Giles Cook |
Footnotes
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1
This body represents members from the Kirtland and Missouri high councils. David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and William W. Phelps were presidents of the latter. Newel Knight and Levi Jackman were also members of the Missouri high council. (Minutes, 3 July 1834; Minutes and Discourse, ca. 7 July 1834.)
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2
According to guidelines established in 1834, the fact that only two counselors were chosen to speak indicates that the council did not deem this a difficult case. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:13].)
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3
14 September 1835.
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4
A June 1831 revelation instructed elders to watch over the church and “labour with their own hands that there be no Idolitry nor wickedness practiced.” The “articles and covenants of the Church of Christ” gave teachers the duty of ensuring there was no “iniquity in the church, nor no hardness with each other, nor no lying, nor backbiting, nor no evil speaking” and further instructed that disciplinary measures should be taken against “any member of this church of Christ transgressing, or being overtaken in a fault.” Samuel Smith could be interpreting JS’s actions as fulfilling such duties. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:39]; Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:54, 80].)
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5
13 September 1835.
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6
That is, the presiding high priest. JS was ordained as the president of the high priesthood in January 1832. (Minutes, 26–27 Apr. 1832; see also Revelation, 11 Nov. 1831–B [D&C 107:65]; and “History of Orson Pratt,” 11, Historian’s Office, Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861, CHL.)
Historian’s Office. Histories of the Twelve, 1856–1858, 1861. CHL. CR 100 93.
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7
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.)
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8
Rigdon clearly believed that Green’s late arrival at the meeting constituted a willful disregard for the council. Perhaps Rigdon had in mind a New Testament precedent to support the subsequent sentencing of Green. Matthew records that if a man found in fault refuses to “hear” the witnesses against him, then the case should be brought before the church. And “if he neglect to hear the church,” he should be cast out. Green had been confronted privately by witnesses and now publicly before the church. In both cases, a pattern of disrespect or contempt was evident. (Matthew 18:15–17.)