Kirtland high council, Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 16 June 1836. Featured version copied [ca. 16 June 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 212–218; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
On 16 June 1836, JS met with members of the of , Ohio, to consider accusations he had made against two members, and , for “a want of benevolence to the poor and charity to the church.” Since he himself had brought the charges, JS may have recused himself from presiding at this meeting, though he actively participated. The council first considered Harris’s case and then, after adjourning for an hour, returned and considered McWithy’s case.
The cases heard on 16 June highlight two concerns church leaders had at the time: providing for the destitute Saints in and supporting the church in —that is, . testified in both cases that the men had contributed very little to the poor, and he concluded that neither had borne an appropriate portion of the financial burden of caring for impoverished Kirtland church members. and were also tried for their reluctance to financially support church endeavors, including construction of the in Kirtland and purchasing land in Zion. In the trials, JS specifically mentioned Harris’s and McWithy’s refusals to send money or move to Zion; stated that such unwillingness had forced church leaders into debt. reminded those present of the need to consecrate all they had to building Zion, adding that if they refused, they were “unworthy of the fellowship of the Saints.”
During the meeting, the charges against were deemed fully sustained and he was disfellowshipped. defended himself against the accusations, claiming he had acted charitably, and asked the council for forgiveness. No verdict was recorded in the minutes for McWithy’s case. Harris appears to have been unwilling to change his conduct; he accepted the council’s decision and left the church. Although the extant minutes do not officially disfellowship McWithy, he also seems to have distanced himself from the church after this trial.
Throughout summer and fall 1836, JS and his fellow church leaders grappled with the competing priorities of providing for the poor Saints in while raising money and support for . Both concerns would again be addressed in December 1836, when a conference was held for the church leadership in Kirtland to consider the difficulties of additional impoverished church members moving there.
Unfortunately, the minutes featured here are the last entries in the Kirtlandhigh council records until May 1837. The handwriting of Warren A. Cowdery, who had acted as the scribe recording Minute Book 1 in 1836, ends with this entry, and Marcellus Cowdery’s handwriting begins with the next entry, dated 11 May 1837. The entry for the 16 June 1836 meeting featured here is followed by a blank half page, possibly indicating room was left to record additional information on the case. (Minute Book 1, 16 June 1836–29 May 1837.)
drawn from him until he shall see that the course he is pursuing is contrary to the gospel of Jesus.
The decision of the was concurred in by the 12 councellors unanimously and the adjourned for one hour.
P.M. met according to adjournment in the council room and proceeded to examine a complaint preferred by Prest. J. Smith Junr against for a want of benevolence to the poor and charity to the church. Voted that the six counsellors who did not speak in the former case take the lead in the investigation of this case. says that has never given any thing for the poor to his knowledge though there may be many in the who stand in need of the charity of the Saints, and he thinks has not born his proportion of the burden of the poor and this complaint is pretty general in the church. Elder says, that he wished to obtain money to buy a cow for brother Fisher, who had fallen from a house and sustained a great injury personally and stood in need, he called on the for help for this poor brother, but he only received excuses &c. but no help from him. & it was returned for he did not with all his exertions get enough to buy a cow, and further said that he could more easily get two dollars from a poor man than one from the rich. He considerd to be rich. Eld. says that he heard the say that he brought two thousand dollars from the East. Prest. says that he blessed the with a patriarchal blessing but thinks that he received nothing from [p. 215]
Isaac McWithy was born in New York and lived in towns in Genesee County before moving to Kirtland. (1820 U.S. Census, Covington, Genesee Co., NY, 83; 1830 U.S. Census, Bennington, Genesee Co., NY, 136[A]; Genesee Co., NY, Deed Records, 1792–1901, vol. 29, p. 337, 7 Apr. 1832, microfilm 987,179, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.)
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.