| 995 the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven until the coming of the Lord: Amen."
He also laid his hands upon the head of his son Samuel and said, "Samuel, I lay my hands upon thy head, and pronounce the blessing of thy progenitors upon thee, that thou mayest remain a priest of the Most High God, and like Samuel of old, hear his voice, saying, Samuel, Samuel; Amen."
John Johnson, also, laid his hand upon the head of his son Luke and said, "My father in heaven, I ask thee to bless this my son, according to the blessings of his forefathers, that he may be strengthened in his ministry, according to his holy calling; Amen."
I then gave the assistant presidents a solemn charge, to do their duty in righteousness, and in the fear of God, I also charged the twelve counsellors [counselors] in a similar manner, all in the name of Jesus Christ.
We all raised our hands to heaven in token of the everlasting covenant, and the Lord blessed us with his spirit. I then declared the council organized according to the ancient order, and also according to the mind of the Lord.
The following complaint was then presented before the council, by a high priest:
Kirtland, February 19th, 1834.
To the President of the High Council of the Church of Christ:
The following charges I prefer against Elder Curtis Hodges, Sen. of this church: First, an error in spirit; Secondly, an error in address or communication, which was in loud speaking, and a want of clearness in articulation which was calculated to do injury to the cause of God; and also, of contending or persisting, that that was a good or proper spirit which actuated him thus to speak, all of which I consider unbecoming an elder in this church, and request a hearing before the high council.
Signed, EZRA THAYER.
Elder Hodges plead "not guilty" of the above charges.
Father Lyon's was called on to substantiate the above charges, and his testimony was pointed against Brother Hodges. Brother Story testified that Elder Hodges talked so loud at a prayer meeting that the neighbors came out to see if some one was not hurt. At another meeting, he said that Elder Thayer rebuked him for his error, but he did not receive the rebuke; that he raised his voice so high that he could not articulate so as to be understood; and that his teaching brought a damp upon the meeting, and was not edifying. Brother E. Babbitt was then called upon, who testified that Elder Hodges was guilty of hallooing so loud that in a measure he lost his voice, and uttered but little else distinctly, "Glory to heaven's king." His testimony was pointed against Brother Hodges, and Brother T. Wait testified much the same,
Counsellor [Counselor] O. Cowdery stood up on the part of the accuser, and opened the case handsomely and clearly.
Counsellor [Counselor] J. Coe stood up on the part of the accused, but could say but a few words.
The accuser and accused then spoke for themselves, after which, the president arose and laid open the case still more plain, and gave his decision, which was, that the charges in the declaration had been fairly sustained by good witnesses; also, that Elder Hodges ought to have confessed when rebuked by Elder Thayer; also, if he had the spirit of the Lord at the meetings, where he hallooed, he must have abused it, and grieved it away. All the council agreed with the decision.
Elder Hodges then rose and said, he then saw his wrong, but never saw it before, and appeared to feel thankful that he saw it. He said he had learned more during this trial, than he had since he came into the church-confessed freely his error, and said he would attend to overcoming that evil, the Lord being his helper. The council forgave him and adjourned to the evening of the 20th.
O. COWDERY,
ORSON HYDE, Clerks.
From the N. Y. Messenger.
MESSAGE,
TO THE SAINTS IN THE EASTERN AND MIDDLE STATES;
Greeting:
I have just arrived in New York from Nauvoo, the City of the Saints, having been duly appointed and sent by the presiding authorities of the whole church, to preside over the churches in the east-having the same extent of jurisdiction -the same power and authority, and the same calling, office, and priesthood, in every respect, which were vested in and entrusted with your former President, Parley P. Pratt, who has now returned, by the sanction of the presidency, to his family and friends in the west.
It is with feelings of no ordinary kind that I now enter upon the highly responsible duties of a watchman and shepherd, and a presiding officer over you. Great are the responsibilities and highly important are the duties of one who is entrusted with the oversight and welfare of numerous branches of the church of the living God. I am happy to state, from correct sources of information, that the churches now under my charge, have been left by their former president
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