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Minutes, 10 August 1835

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...

More Info
, Geauga Co., OH, 10 Aug. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, p. 96; handwriting of
Warren Cowdery

17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...

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; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.

Historical Introduction

On 10 August 1835, 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...

More Info
, Ohio,
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...

View Glossary
met to consider a charge that
Reynolds Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

View Full Bio
had not corrected his children or instructed them “in the way of truth & righteousness.” According to the minutes, JS was the one who made the charge, but his name does not otherwise appear in the document. Thus, though he was likely present at the council meeting, it is possible that he was not.
1

JS and Frederick G. Williams left on a trip to Michigan Territory sometime before 17 August 1835. However, JS apparently attended an 8 August 1835 meeting in Kirtland, just two days before this meeting, so he was likely still in Kirtland. (JS History, vol. B-1, 600, 606; Minutes, 8 Aug. 1835.)


Comprehensive Works Cited

JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

The minutes fail to clarify what behavior prompted JS’s complaint or which of
Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

View Full Bio
’s children were involved in improper conduct. Reynolds and
Thirza Stiles Cahoon

18 Oct. 1789–21 Nov. 1866. Born in Lanesborough, New York. Daughter of Daniel Olds Stiles and Abigail Farrington. Moved to Newport, Herkimer Co., New York, by 1810. Married Reynolds Cahoon, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, 1811. Moved...

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had six children living in August 1835:
William

7 Nov. 1813–6 Apr. 1893. Shoemaker, carpenter, joiner. Born at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. Son of Reynolds Cahoon and Thirza Stiles. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Parley P. Pratt, 16 Oct. 1830, at Kirtland, Geauga Co....

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, twenty-one years old; Lerona, seventeen years old;
Pulaski

18 Sept. 1820–15 Feb. 1892. Liquor merchant, shoe and boot retailer, harness maker. Born in Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. Son of Reynolds Cahoon and Thirza Stiles. Moved near Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1825. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter...

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, fourteen or fifteen years old; Daniel, thirteen years old; Andrew, eleven years old; and Mahonri Moriancumer, one year old.
2

Shurtleff and Cahoon, Reynolds Cahoon and His Stalwart Sons, 78.


Comprehensive Works Cited

Shurtleff, Stella Cahoon, and Brent Farrington Cahoon, comps. Reynolds Cahoon and His Stalwart Sons: Utah Pioneers. Salt Lake City: Paragon Press, 1960.

In October 1831, William Cahoon had been charged with “offering abuse to br.
Newel K. Whitney

3/5 Feb. 1795–23 Sept. 1850. Trader, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Samuel Whitney and Susanna Kimball. Moved to Fairfield, Herkimer Co., New York, 1803. Merchant at Plattsburg, Clinton Co., New York, 1814. Mercantile clerk for...

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’s little child.”
3

Minutes, 21 Oct. 1831.


However, he went on the
Camp of Israel

A group of approximately 205 men and about 20 women and children led by JS to Missouri, May–July 1834, to redeem Zion by helping the Saints who had been driven from Jackson County, Missouri, regain their lands; later referred to as “Zion’s Camp.” A 24 February...

View Glossary
expedition with JS in 1834 and was
ordained

The conferral of power and authority; to appoint, decree, or set apart. Church members, primarily adults, were ordained to ecclesiastical offices and other responsibilities by the laying on of hands by those with the proper authority. Ordinations to priesthood...

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a
seventy

A priesthood office with the responsibility to travel and preach and assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, similar to the seventy in the New Testament. In February and March 1835, the first members of the Seventy were selected and ordained. All of those...

View Glossary
in March 1835,
4

Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834; Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 1 Mar. 1835.


signifying he was in good standing with the church at that time. Yet in his ordination blessing to the Seventy, Cahoon was told that he needed to “conquer all [his] evil propensities incident to youth” and that he should “begin from this very hour to reform.”
5

Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 1 Mar. 1835.


Pulaski Cahoon was excommunicated from the church in November 1837 for “dancing with the world,” but no surviving evidence sheds light on possible improper conduct in August 1835.
6

Minute Book 1, 22 Oct. and 1 Nov. 1837.


As these proceedings concluded,
Reynolds Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

View Full Bio
confessed that he was in the wrong and would make amends, but difficulties continued. In November 1835, JS dictated a revelation stating that God was angry with Cahoon “because of his iniquities his covetous and dishonest principles in himself and family and he doth not purge them away and set his house in order.”
7

JS, Journal, 1 Nov. 1835.


Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

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was designated clerk of the council and kept the minutes, though the original copy is not extant.
Warren Cowdery

17 Oct. 1788–23 Feb. 1851. Physician, druggist, farmer, editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Married Patience Simonds, 22 Sept. 1814, in Pawlet, Rutland Co. Moved to Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., New York, 1816...

View Full Bio
copied the minutes into Minute Book 1, probably sometime in 1836.

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    JS and Frederick G. Williams left on a trip to Michigan Territory sometime before 17 August 1835. However, JS apparently attended an 8 August 1835 meeting in Kirtland, just two days before this meeting, so he was likely still in Kirtland. (JS History, vol. B-1, 600, 606; Minutes, 8 Aug. 1835.)

    JS History / Smith, Joseph, et al. History, 1838–1856. Vols. A-1–F-1 (original), A-2–E-2 (fair copy). Historian’s Office, History of the Church, 1839–ca. 1882. CHL. CR 100 102, boxes 1–7. The history for the period after 5 Aug. 1838 was composed after the death of Joseph Smith.

  2. [2]

    Shurtleff and Cahoon, Reynolds Cahoon and His Stalwart Sons, 78.

    Shurtleff, Stella Cahoon, and Brent Farrington Cahoon, comps. Reynolds Cahoon and His Stalwart Sons: Utah Pioneers. Salt Lake City: Paragon Press, 1960.

  3. [3]

    Minutes, 21 Oct. 1831.

  4. [4]

    Account with the Church of Christ, ca. 11–29 Aug. 1834; Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 1 Mar. 1835.

  5. [5]

    Minutes, Discourse, and Blessings, 1 Mar. 1835.

  6. [6]

    Minute Book 1, 22 Oct. and 1 Nov. 1837.

  7. [7]

    JS, Journal, 1 Nov. 1835.

Page 96

At a regular meeting of 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...

View Glossary
at
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...

More Info
, convined on the 10th day of August 1835 to hear complaint of President Joseph Smith Junr against Elder
Reynolds Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

View Full Bio
, Presidents
S[idney] Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

View Full Bio
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

View Full Bio
&
W[illiam] W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

View Full Bio
,
1

Rigdon, Cowdery, and Phelps were apparently acting as the presidents of the council, even though Phelps also participated as one of the counselors.


1
W. W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

View Full Bio
Martin Harris

18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris, 27 Mar...

View Full Bio
Orson Johnson

15 June 1803–21 Mar. 1883. Shoemaker, innkeeper, farmer. Born at Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Thomas Johnson and Elizabeth (Betsey) Smith. Married first Nancy Mason, 24 Oct. 1827, at Bath, Grafton Co., New Hampshire. Baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
Joseph Smith Sen

12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...

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John Smith

16 July 1781–23 May 1854. Farmer. Born at Derryfield (later Manchester), Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Member of Congregational church. Appointed overseer of highways at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., New York, 1810. Married...

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John Whitmer

27 Aug. 1802–11 July 1878. Farmer, stock raiser, newspaper editor. Born in Pennsylvania. Son of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Musselman. Member of German Reformed Church, Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, June 1829, most likely in Seneca...

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Levi Jackman

28 July 1797–23 July 1876. Carpenter, wainwright. Born at Vershire, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Moses French Jackman and Elizabeth Carr. Moved to Batavia, Genesee Co., New York, 1810. Married first Angeline Myers Brady, 13 Nov. 1817, at Alexander, Genesee...

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Newel Knight

13 Sept. 1800–11 Jan. 1847. Miller, merchant. Born at Marlborough, Windham Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Knight Sr. and Polly Peck. Moved to Jericho (later Bainbridge), Chenango Co., New York, ca. 1809. Moved to Windsor (later in Colesville), Broome Co., New...

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Daniel Stanton

28 May 1795–26 Oct. 1872. Farmer, carpenter. Born in Manlius, Onondaga Co., New York. Son of Amos Stanton and Elizabeth Wyman. Moved to Pompey, Onondaga Co., by 1800. Married Clarinda Graves, 16 Mar. 1816. Moved to Mayfield, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, by 1820. Moved...

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Elias Higbee

23 Oct. 1795–8 June 1843. Clerk, judge, surveyor. Born at Galloway, Gloucester Co., New Jersey. Son of Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, 1803. Married Sarah Elizabeth Ward, 10 Sept. 1818, in Tate Township, Clermont Co. Lived at ...

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John Gould

21 Dec. 1784–25 June 1855. Pastor, farmer. Born in New Hampshire. Married first Oliva Swanson of Massachusetts. Resided at Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire, 1808. Lived in Vermont. Moved to northern Pennsylvania, 1817. Served as minister in Freewill...

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Oliver Granger

7 Feb. 1794–23/25 Aug. 1841. Sheriff, church agent. Born at Phelps, Ontario Co., New York. Son of Pierce Granger and Clarissa Trumble. Married Lydia Dibble, 8 Sept. 1813, at Phelps. Member of Methodist church and licensed exhorter. Sheriff of Ontario Co. ...

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2

Only four of those listed as members of the council—Martin Harris, Orson Johnson, Joseph Smith Sr., and John Smith—were standing members of the Kirtland high council. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer were presidents of the Missouri high council, and Levi Jackman and Newel Knight were members of the Missouri high council. Elias Higbee had previously substituted on the Missouri high council, as had Daniel Stanton. Oliver Granger had acted as one of Bishop Newel K. Whitney’s counselors at a 2 May 1835 council, and John Gould had been serving as the presiding elder of the Westfield, New York, branch. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:3]; Minutes, 28–29 Aug. 1834; Minutes, 3 July 1834; Minute Book 2, 21 Aug. and 5 Nov. 1834; Minutes and Discourse, 2 May 1835; Record of the Twelve, 4–9 May 1835.)


Prayer by
President Rigdon

19 Feb. 1793–14 July 1876. Tanner, farmer, minister. Born at St. Clair, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Son of William Rigdon and Nancy Gallaher. Joined United Baptists, ca. 1818. Preached at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and vicinity, 1819–1821. Married Phebe...

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The following were appointed to speak
1
Wm. W. Phelps

17 Feb. 1792–7 Mar. 1872. Writer, teacher, printer, newspaper editor, publisher, postmaster, lawyer. Born at Hanover, Morris Co., New Jersey. Son of Enon Phelps and Mehitabel Goldsmith. Moved to Homer, Cortland Co., New York, 1800. Married Sally Waterman,...

View Full Bio
Martin Harris

18 May 1783–10 July 1875. Farmer. Born at Easton, Albany Co., New York. Son of Nathan Harris and Rhoda Lapham. Moved with parents to area of Swift’s landing (later in Palmyra), Ontario Co., New York, 1793. Married first his first cousin Lucy Harris, 27 Mar...

View Full Bio
Orson Johnson

15 June 1803–21 Mar. 1883. Shoemaker, innkeeper, farmer. Born at Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. Son of Thomas Johnson and Elizabeth (Betsey) Smith. Married first Nancy Mason, 24 Oct. 1827, at Bath, Grafton Co., New Hampshire. Baptized into Church...

View Full Bio
Joseph Smith Senr.

12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge...

View Full Bio
It was proven that
Elder Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

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had failed to do his duty in correcting his children, and instructing them in the way of truth & righteousness, and after the several pleas decision was given accordingly.
Elder Cahoon

30 Apr. 1790–29 Apr. 1861. Farmer, tanner, builder. Born at Cambridge, Washington Co., New York. Son of William Cahoon Jr. and Mehitable Hodges. Married Thirza Stiles, 11 Dec. 1810. Moved to northeastern Ohio, 1811. Located at Harpersfield, Ashtabula Co.,...

View Full Bio
confessed the correctness of the the decision, and promised to make public acknowledgement before the church.
3

A February 1831 revelation stated that church members who “offend[ed] openly” should “be rebuked openly.” (Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:91].)


Closed by prayer of the church
Clerk

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

View Full Bio
Oliver Cowdery

3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...

View Full Bio
Clerk [p. 96]
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Source Note

Document Transcript

Page 96

Document Information

Related Case Documents
Editorial Title
Minutes, 10 August 1835
ID #
7866
Total Pages
1
Print Volume Location
JSP, D4:380–382
Handwriting on This Page
  • Warren A. Cowdery

Footnotes

  1. [1]

    Rigdon, Cowdery, and Phelps were apparently acting as the presidents of the council, even though Phelps also participated as one of the counselors.

  2. [2]

    Only four of those listed as members of the council—Martin Harris, Orson Johnson, Joseph Smith Sr., and John Smith—were standing members of the Kirtland high council. William W. Phelps and John Whitmer were presidents of the Missouri high council, and Levi Jackman and Newel Knight were members of the Missouri high council. Elias Higbee had previously substituted on the Missouri high council, as had Daniel Stanton. Oliver Granger had acted as one of Bishop Newel K. Whitney’s counselors at a 2 May 1835 council, and John Gould had been serving as the presiding elder of the Westfield, New York, branch. (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:3]; Minutes, 28–29 Aug. 1834; Minutes, 3 July 1834; Minute Book 2, 21 Aug. and 5 Nov. 1834; Minutes and Discourse, 2 May 1835; Record of the Twelve, 4–9 May 1835.)

  3. [3]

    A February 1831 revelation stated that church members who “offend[ed] openly” should “be rebuked openly.” (Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:91].)

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