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As to Governor Dunklin, a well-meaning though rather weak official, he perhaps did all that a man of his calibre and stamina could be expected to do under the circumstances. At his instance a court of inquiry was held, and Colonel Pitcher for his conduct was court-martialed. It was decided that there had been no Mormon uprising, and that the calling out of the troops and the enforced sur- render of arms by citizens defending themselves against unrighteous aggression, was therefore unnecessary and unlawful. The Governor commanded the officers of the militia to restore to the Mormons their arms. This order they ignored. Further efforts for the relief of the Saints were made by fair-minded citizens,-who regarded the Jackson County affair as a grave crime, a stain upon the fair fame of the State,-but owing to popular prejudice, and the difficulty of enforcing in a mobocratic community the edicts of law and order. no adequate recompense was ever given, and the Mormons remain dis- possessed of their lands in that locality to this day.
Nearly sixty years have passed since then, yet Jackson County,
* A surname of Andrew Jackson's.
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Missouri, to the Latter-day Saints, is still "the land of Zion." Stakes of Zion have multiplied, and the people have flocked thereto; but "the place for the city " has remained unchanged. Zion has not been "moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scat- tered." The generation which once possessed the land-whose descendants still possess it-after repeated mobbings and massacres, endured for conscience-sake, have nearly all fallen asleep. But their aims and aspirations survive in the hearts of their children, who as confidently look forward as did ever their exiled sires, who followed Joseph Smith to Nauvoo and Brigham Young into the wilderness, to the eventual return of the Saints to Jackson County, and the rearing upon its sacred soil, consecrated by their fathers for that purpose, of the glorious Zion of their hopes.
Heben G. Kimball
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HISTORY OF UTAH.
CHAPTER VIII. 1833-1837.
BRIGHAM YOUNG, THE FOUNDER OF UTAH, EMBRACES MORMONISM-HEBER C. KIMBALL ENTERS THE FOLD-WILFORD WOODRUFF-GEORGE A. SMITH-JEDEDIAH M. GRANT-ERASTUS SNOW-THE FIRST HIGH COUNCIL ORGANIZED-ZION'S CAMP -- THE TWELVE APOSTLES CHOSEN-THE SEVENTIES SELECTED -- A REVELATION ON PRIESTHOOD-MORMONISM AND EDU- CATION-THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE DEDICATED-LORENZO SNOW-THE MISSOURI MORMONS THEIR REMOVAL FROM CLAY COUNTY TO CALDWELL-THE FOUNDING OF FAR WEST.
UST prior to the Jackson County expulsion, the main incidents of which tragic event were narrated in the preceding chapter,
there arrived at Kirtland two men, both destined to become prominent and powerful in the future of Mormonism, and one of whom was fated to win a place in fame's pantheon among the most remark- able men of history. That man was Brigham Young. His com- panion was Heber C. Kimball.
It was not their introduction to Mormonism, nor indeed their first visit to the head-quarters of the Saints. Twice before had Brigham, and once before had Heber been to Kirtland. Both had espoused the cause at Mendon, Monroe County, New York, from which place they had now permanently removed, to take up their abode in the bosom of the Church and thenceforth follow the for- tunes of their people.
Both these men were natives of Vermont; Brigham Young having been born at Whitingham, in Windham County, June Ist, 1801, and Heber C. Kimball at Sheldon, Franklin County, on June 14th of the same year. At the time that Mormonism was taking root in western New York and northern Pennsylvania they were dwelling in the town of Mendon. Heber was by trade a potter; Brigham a carpenter and joiner, painter and glazier. Though not
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highly educated,-a common school training, and a limited amount of that, being all that either could boast,-they were men of gifted minds, possessing unusual intelligence and strength of character.
Brigham Young was a man of undoubted genius,-a master mind, well balanced and powerful, thoroughly practical in thought and method, and of Napoleonic energy and intuition. Heber C. Kimball was a natural prophet,-a poet he would have been, had education lent his genius wings. A deep spiritual thinker, a great yet simple soul, replete with eccentricity. In religion Heber, when Mormonism found him, was a Baptist; while Brigham, like Joseph Smith in his boyhood, leaned toward Methodism.
Brigham Young first saw the Book of Mormon in the spring of 1830, at the home of his brother Phineas in Mendon. It had been left there by Samuel H. Smith, brother to the Prophet. Two years later a party of Mormon Elders from Pennsylvania came preaching in that neighborhood. Being converted to the faith, Brigham was baptized by Eleazer Miller on the 14th of April, 1832. Heber C. Kimball was baptized by Alpheus Gifford on the day following. John Young, senior, Phineas H., Joseph and Lorenzo D. Young, John P. Greene, Israel Barlow and a score of others with their families, in and around Mendon, also embraced Mormonism about the same time. Ordained to the ministry, Brigham, Heber and others rendered the Church efficient service in that region.
Not long afterward Brigham and Heber, accompanied by Joseph Young, visited Kirtland and became acquainted with the Prophet. It was the summer or fall of 1832. This was the first meeting of Joseph Smith with the man who was destined to be his successor. It is said that Joseph predicted about this time that Brigham Young would yet preside over the Church.
Returning east the three visiting Elders re-engaged in the work of the ministry, Brigham and Joseph Young visiting Upper Canada, whence the former. in July, 1833, led several families of converts to Kirtland. Again returning to Mendon, where his wife had died the year before, Brigham and his two motherless daughters dwelt for a
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season under the roof-tree of his friend Heber, and in the fall of that year accompanied him and his family to Kirtland.
Other notable stars were likewise dawning or were about to dawn upon Mormonism's cloud-hung horizon. Wilford Woodruff, afterwards an Apostle and the fourth President of the Church, was baptized by Zera Pulsipher at Richland, Oswego County, New York, on December 31st, 1833. He was a native of Farmington-now Avon-Hartford County, Connecticut, and was born March 1st, 1807. George A. Smith, a cousin of the Prophet's, had come to Kirtland with his parents from Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, in May, 1833. Jedediah M. Grant, of Broome County, New York, had joined the Church in March, and Erastus Snow. in February, had espoused the faith in his native State of Vermont. George A. and Jedediah were then youths of sixteen and seventeen respectively, and Erastus only a lad of fourteen.
It was about this time that D. P. Hurlburt was severed from the Church for immoral conduct. He felt his disgrace keenly. He first threatened the Prophet's life,-for which he was tried and put under bonds at Chardon,-and then set diligently to work to stir up strife and prejudice against the Mormons and their leader. He was quite successful in this, and the Prophet was guarded night and day by trusty friends, who feared his attempted assassination. We have already seen how Hurlburt, after his expulsion from the Church, originated the theory identifying the Book of Mormon with the Spaulding story.
On the 17th of February, 1834, was organized at Kirtland the first High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was composed of twelve High Priests, presided over by three of the same order. A few words here in relation to High Councils and Mormon religious tribunals in general.
It is pretty well known by this time that the Mormon leaders do not favor litigation among their followers; that "brother going to law against brother" is an offense against the precepts and regula- tions of the Church. To obviate the need of such things there are
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instituted among the Saints tribunals called Bishops' Courts and High Councils, the members of which serve gratuitously and labor much in the capacity of peace-makers ; adjusting difficulties between Church members in such a way as to save expense and prevent ill- feeling at the same time.
The Teacher is the peace-maker proper of the Church, but if he finds it impossible to reconcile the parties disagreeing, it is his duty to report the case to the Bishop,-whose officer he is,-together with any iniquity he may discover from time to time in visiting among the Saints of his "district." There may be many districts and many teachers,-two of whom usually act together,-in the "ward " over which the Bishop and his two counselors as High Priests preside.
The Bishop's Court hears evidence pro and con and decides accordingly. An appeal from its decision may be taken. if the gravity of the case warrants, to the High Council of the Stake in which the Bishop's ward is located. A Stake may have many wards. as the Church at large has many Stakes. Each Stake has its High Council, consisting of twelve High Priests, presided over by three other High Priests who are known as the Stake Presidency. This presidency, to whom the ward Bishops are accountable, are amenable themselves to the First Presidency. The High Councils are the appellate courts of the Church, having also original jurisdic- tion.
Each party to a case before the High Council has a right to be represented by half the members of that body,-one or more on either side being appointed to defend him,-and the matter in dispute having been thoroughly ventilated, the President renders his decision, which, if sustained by a majority of the Council, is the end of controversy, unless a rehearing is ordered by the First Presidency on a review of the evidence.
The greatest punishment inflicted by the Bishop's Court is disfel- lowshipment,-suspension from all privileges of Church membership .**
* This applies to persons holding the Melchisedek Priesthood. Members not holding that Priesthood may be excommunicated by the Bishop's Court.
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The extreme penalty adjudged by the High Council is excommunica- tion from the Church. All its members are amenable for transgres- sion to these tribunals, one of the main objects of which is to pre- vent expensive and strife-breeding litigation among the Saints. They were not designed, though it is often alleged, to supersede or in any way interfere with the operations of the civil courts. Accord- ing to Mormon doctrine, offenders against the laws of the land are amenable to those laws, as interpreted by legally constituted tribunals.
The twelve High Priests composing the first High Council, organized in February 1834, were Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Coe, Samuel H. Smith, Luke Johnson, John S. Carter, Sylvester Smith, John Johnson, Orson Hyde, Jared Carter, Joseph Smith, senior, John Smith and Martin Harris. The presidency of this council was identical with the First Presidency of the Church, namely : Joseph Smith, junior, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams.
In the latter part of February, the Prophet began organizing at Kirtland, an expedition for the relief of his people in Missouri. This organization is known in Mormon history as Zion's Camp. It con- sisted when complete of two hundred and five men, nearly all Elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons, organized as a military body, with Joseph Smith as their general. They took with them twenty wagons, well laden with supplies. The object of the expedition was to "redeem Zion;" in other words to regain possession of the lands in Jackson County from which the Saints had been driven. It subse- quently transpired that the Prophet had another purpose in view : that of proving the mettle of the men who were to be his future Apostles.
One hundred of the Camp left Kirtland on the 5th of May. 1834. The remainder reinforced them on the way. They crossed the Mississippi early in June, and in the latter part of the month pitched their tents between two forks of Fishing River, Missouri, between Richmond, Ray County, and Liberty, the county seat of Clay. There they were joined by some of their brethren of those
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parts, and from them learned particulars of further outrages upon the few remaining Saints in Jackson County.
The news of the coming of Zion's Camp, with exaggerated rumors concerning their numbers and the purpose of the expedition, created considerable excitement in western Missouri. Armed bands went out to meet them, and dire threats were uttered as to their doom. They were saved from attack one night on Fishing River by a terrible storm which beat back their foes and rendered the raging stream impassable. Colonel Sconce, of Ray County, Sheriff Gilliam, of Clay, and other prominent men of that vicinity then visited the camp and conversed with the Mormon leader. Having learned from him that his design was merely to secure an amicable adjustment of the difficulties between his despoiled disciples and the people of Jack- son County, they were soon placated and became friendly.
Certain dissensions had broken out in Zion's Camp while on the way from Kirtland, and the Prophet, it is said, severely reprimanded some of his followers and predicted that a scourge would come upon the camp in consequence. Certain it is that a scourge did come, in the form of cholera, appearing among them about the 22nd of June. Sixty-eight were attacked by the malady, and thirteen or fourteen died. Among those who fell victims was Algernon S. Gilbert, who had kept the Church store at . Independence.
During the plague the camp removed from Fishing River to within a few miles of Liberty. There they were met by General David R. Atchison and others, who in a friendly spirit requested that they come no nearer the town, as the excitement caused by the sen- sational rumors concerning them had not yet abated. This request was complied with, the Camp changing its course to Rush Creek, where some of the Mormons had settled. In order to show still further that his motives were not hostile, the Prophet disbanded his force and apprised General Atchison of the fact, requesting him to inform Governor Dunklin, whose ears were being filled with all sorts of tales from Jackson County regarding "Joe Smith and his army."
Negotiations, already begun, now continued between the Mormon
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leaders and the men of Jackson County. The latter proposed to pur- chase the possessions of the Saints in that locality. To this the Mor- mons would not listen, deeming it sacrilege to sell their "sacred inheritance." On their part they submitted a proposition to buy out all residents of Jackson County who did not desire to dwell as their near neighbors. This offer their opponents rejected. It was evident that upon no condition would the Mormons be permitted to return. Samuel C. Owens, a prominent mobocrat, advised the Mormons to "cast an eye back of Clinton"-a distant county-and seek a new home in the wilderness. Believing that further effort would be vain, at all events for the present, the Prophet concluded to return to Kirt- land.
Before starting, however, he organized a High Council among his followers in Clay County, and set apart a presidency to take charge of the Church in Missouri. David Whitmer, William W. Phelps and John Whitmer were that presidency. The twelve high councilors were as follows : Simeon Carter. Parley P. Pratt, William E. McLellin, Calvin Beebe, Levi Jackman, Solomon Hancock, Chris- tian Whitmer, Newel Knight, Orson Pratt, Lyman Wight, Thomas B. Marsh and John Murdock. This High Council was organized early in July, 1834. On the 9th the Prophet and his friends set out for Kirtland. And so ended the Zion's Camp expedition.
Work on the Kirtland Temple was now zealously prosecuted. The Saints, as before stated, were poor, and of late their numbers in Ohio had been much diminished by the Missouri emigrations. But all united with a will,-the Prophet and other Elders setting the example by laboring in the quarry or upon the building, while the women sewed, knit, spun and made clothing for the workmen. The walls of the edifice, which were only partly reared when the Missouri expedition took from Kirtland nearly all the bone and sinew of the Church, now that the laborers had returned climbed rapidly toward completion.
The next notable event in Mormon history was the choosing of the Twelve Apostles, the council next in authority to the First Presi-
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dency. It took place at Kirtland on Saturday, February 14th, 1835. The survivors of Zion's Camp were that day called to assemble, and the Twelve were selected from their numbers. The choosing was done by the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, after which each Apostle was blessed and set apart by the First Presidency.
The Twelve Apostles were equal in authority, but the order of precedence in council was determined by their ages. According to seniority they ranged as follows: Thomas B. Marsh, David W. Pat- ten, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde. William E. McLellin, Parley P. Pratt, Luke Johnson, William Smith, Orson Pratt, John F. Boynton, Lyman E. Johnson.
The same month witnessed the selection of the Seventies- assistant Apostles-who were likewise chosen from the ranks of the survivors of Zion's Camp. Two quorums of Seventies were ordained. Their names are here given :
' PRESIDENTS.
Alden Burdick,
Alex. Whitesides,
Hazen Aldrich,
Hiram Winters.
George W. Brooks,
Joseph Young,
Hiram Blackman,
Michael Griffith,
Levi W. Hancock.
William D. Pratt,
Leonard Rich,
Zera S. Cole.
Royal Barney, Libbeus T. Coons. Willard Snow.
Zebedee Coltrin,
Jesse Huntsman.
Lyman Sherman.
Solomon Angell.
Jesse D. Harmon.
Sylvester Smith, MEMBERS.
Israel Barlow,
Lorenzo D. Barnes,
Elias Hutchings
Jenkins Salisbury,
Hiram Stratton, Moses Martin,
Cyrus Smalling,
Nelson Higgins,
Levi Gifford.
Harry Brown,
Lyman Smith.
Stephen Winchester,
Jezaniah B. Smith,
Harvey Stanley.
Roger Orton.
Lorenzo Booth,
Almon W. Babbitt.
Peter Buchanan,
Alexander Badlam,
William F. Cahoon.
John D. Parker,
Zerubbabel Snow.
Darwin Richardson.
David Elliot,
Harpin Riggs,
Milo Andrus,
Samuel Brown,
Edson Barney,
True Glidden.
Salmon Warner, Jacob Chapman. Charles Kelley.
Henry Benner, David Evans.
Jedediah M. Grant.
Edmund Fisher.
Nathan B. Baldwin,
Daniel Stevens.
Warren Parrish, Joseph Hancock,
Joseph B. Noble,
Henry Shibley.
Harrison Burgess,
Amasa M. Lyman,
Burr Riggs, Lewis Robbins,
George A. Smith.
Henry Herriman,
Heman T. Hyde.
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SECOND QUORUM.
Elijah Fordham,
Samuel Phelps,
Robert Rathburn.
Hyrum Dayton,
Joel McWithy,
Giles Cook,
Joel H. Johnson,
Selah J. Griffin,
John E. Page,
Daniel Wood,
Shadrach Roundy,
William Tenney,
Reuben McBride,
Zera Pulsipher,
Edmund Marvin,
Jonathan Holmes,
King Follett,
Marvel C. Davis,
Lorenzo D. Young,
Joseph Rose,
Almon Shearman,
Wilford Woodruff,
Robert Culbertson,
Isaac H. Bishop,
Jonathan Crosby, John Young,
Elijah Reed,
Truman O. Angell,
James Foster,
Rufus Fisher,
Chauncey G. Webb,
Salınon Gee,
Dexter Stillman,
Solon Foster,
Nathaniel Millikin,
Thomas Gates,
Erastus Snow,
Gad Yale,
Uriah B. Powell,
Nathan Tanner,
Josiah Butterfield,
Amasa Bonney,
Jolın Gould,
Elias Benner,
Ebenezer Page,
Stephen Starks,
Ariel Stephens,
Loren Babbitt,
Levi Woodruff,
William Perry,
Levi S. Niekerson.
William Carpenter,
Milton Holmes,
Edmund Durfee, jr .
Francis G. Bishop,
James Dalay,
Henry Wilcox,
William Gould,
Arvin A. Avery,
Edmund M. Webb.
Sherman A. Gilbert,
Charles Thompson,
William Miller,
William Redfield,
Joshua Grant,
Stephen Post,
John Herrit,
Andrew J. Squires,
William Bosley,
Jonathan Hampton.
From the following paragraphs of a revelation on Priesthood the reader may derive all desired information regarding the duties and powers of the various councils and quorums in the Church: *
There are, in the church, two Priesthoods, namely, the Melchisedek, and Aaronic including the Levitical priesthood.
Why the first is called the Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchiisedek was such a great High Priest.
Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God.
But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, ealled that Priesthood after Melchisedek, or the Melchisedek Priesthood.
All other authorities or offices in the church are appendages to this Priesthood;
But there are two divisions or grand heads-one is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronie, or Levitical priesthood.
* Doctrine and Covenants, Section 107.
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HISTORY OF UTAH.
The office of an elder comes under the Priesthood of Melchisedek.
The Melchisedek Priesthood holds the right of Presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spirit- ual things.
The Presidency of the High Priesthood. after the order of Melchisedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices of the church.
High Priests after the order of the Melchisedek Priesthood, have a right to officiate in their own standing, under the direction of the Presidency, in administering spiritual things; and also in the office of an elder, priest, (of the Levitical order,) teacher, dea- con and member.
An elder has a right to officiate in his stead when the High Priest is not present.
The High Priest and elder are to administer in spiritual things, agreeable to the cove- nants and commandments of the church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the church when there are no higher authorities present.
The second priesthood is called the priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations.
Why it is called the lesser priesthood, is because it is an appendage to the greater or the Melchisedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances.
The bishopric is the presidency of this priesthood and holds the keys or authority of the same.
No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a literal descendant of Aaron.
Bui as a High Priest of the Melchisedek Priesthood lias authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found, provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power by the hands of the Presidency of the Melchisedek Priesthood.
The power and authority of the Higher or Melchisedek Priesthood. is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church-
To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven-to have the heavens opened to them-to commune with the general assembly and church of the first born, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant.
The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel -the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. agreeable to the covenants and commandments.
Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding offices growing out of. or appointed of or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in those two priesthoods.
Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body. appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith. and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the church.
The Twelve traveling counselors are called to be the Twelve apostles, or special wit- nesses of the name of Christ in all the world; thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.
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And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three Presidents pre- viously mentioned.
The seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world. Thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their callings ;
And they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or apostles just named.
And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other.
(A majority may form a quorum, when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.)
The Twelve are a traveling presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the church, agreeable to the institution of heaven ; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations ; first unto the Gentiles, and secondly unto the Jews.
The seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling High Council, in building up the Church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations-first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews ;
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