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.)
him for the poor as it was usual for him on such occasions. says he thinks from what he told him, he was worth at least two thousand dollars. says he has been acquainted with the for several years before and after he came into the and thinks he has always been two covetous he has been compelled to doubt at times whether he was a full believer in the Latter Day work in consequence, yet he had sometimes known him to give a little, but it always came hard. He had a considerable property or had given it to his unbelieving son! thinks that he does not deal with that liberally as a man of God should do. He once took a dollar from brother Hadlock for the use of a few dollars a little time but afterwards restored four dollars fearing the fulfilment of a prophecy delivered against him at the dedication. that requested security of him and Eld. Lyon for about $,.20. whe [which?] he obtained of him for the expenses which they bore in taking care of Eld. Coltrin who had the small pox at Eld. Lyon’s The Elders frequently complaned of his want of liberality. Brother Joel Haskins says, that his circumstances are pretty low, has one cow & works for bread. A brother lent a horse & waggon to him to go to . The has never given him any bread or other things necessary. he lives in a small cabin on his farm and occupy a little yard for vines, he knows not whether he will charge him for it or not. It is less than a quarter of an acre. He expects to pay him for pasturing a cow. said he wished to be a a over his own and rather felt indignant <repugnant> at the idea of giving all for the good of the church [p. 216]
PatriarchJoseph Smith Sr. was to be paid ten dollars a week by the church for the time he spent giving patriarchal blessings. Recipients of patriarchal blessings paid a fee to have them written in Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, and they may have also been charged for personal copies of the blessing. Here Joseph Smith Sr. suggests that he often received donations for the poor from church members when he gave patriarchal blessings; no other extant records mention this. (Minutes, 14 Sept. 1835.)
Probably Aaron C. Lyon, who received an elder’s license on 3 June 1836. Aaron Lyon and Leonard Rich preached and proselytized together in Warsaw, Genesee County, New York, in the winter of 1832–1833. (“Conference,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, June 1836, 2:336.)
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.