| 1124 of Latter-day Saints; for just as a man is, and as he teaches and acts, so will his followers be, let them be ever so full of notions and whims. He also addressed the congregation, and told them that it was not wisdom for the brethren to vote at the approaching election, and the council acquiesced in the instructions of the President.
Wm. W. Phelps proposed to the council to appoint a certain number of elders to hold public meetings in that section of country, as often as should be deemed necessary, to teach the disciples how to escape the indignation of their enemies, and keep in favor with those who were friendly disposed; and Simeon Carter, John Corrill, Parley P. Pratt, and Orson Pratt, were appointed by the unanimous voice of the council and congregation to fill the mission.
Elder Nathan West preferred charges against Samuel Brown, High priest, for teaching contrary to council, namely: encouraging the brethren in practicing gifts, (speaking in tongues,) in ordaining Sylvester Hulet, high priests, (without council) in a clandestine manner; asserting that he had obtained a witness of the Lord, which was a promise of performing the same on receiving the gift of tongues, which gift he had never before received, but afterwards said that he had been in possession of the gift for the space of a year; and in seeming to undervalue the authority or righteousness of the high council by charging Elder West not to say any thing that would tend to prejudice their minds that they might not judge righteously. These charges were sustained by the testimony of Leonard Rich, Charles English, Brother Bruce, Edward Partridge, Hiram Page, Roxa Slade, Caleb Baldwin, and Sylvester Hulet; and President David Whitmer gave the following decision which was sanctioned by the council.
According to testimony and the voice of the Holy Spirit which is in us, we say unto you that God in his infinite mercy doth yet grant unto you a space for repentance, therefore if you confess all the charges alleged against you to be just, and in a spirit that we can receive it, then you can stand as a private member in this church, otherwise we have no fellowship for you; and also, that the ordination of Sylvester Hulet by Samuel Brown is illegal and not acknowledged by us to be of God; therefore it is void and of none effect.
Brother Brown confessed the charges, and gave up his license, but retained his membership. Council adjourned on the evening of the first of August, but previous to adjourning the council gave the following letter to the elders appointed to visit the churches in Clay county &c.:
"To the Latter day Saints who have been driven from the land of their inheritance, and also those who are gathering in the regions round about, in the western boundaries of Missouri-The High Council established according to the pattern given by our blessed Savior Jesus Christ, send greeting:-
Dear Brethren:
We have appointed our beloved brother and companion in tribulation, John Corrill, to meet you in the name of the Lord Jesus. He in connexion [connection] with others duly appointed also, will visit you alternately, for the purpose of instructing you, in the necessary qualifications of the Latter-day Saints; that they may be perfected, that the officers and members of the body of Christ, may become very prayerful and very faithful, strictly keeping the commandments and walking in holiness before the Lord continually; that those that mean to have the "destroyer pass over them, as the children of Israel and not slay them" may live according to the "word of wisdom," that the saints by industry, diligence, faithfulness, and the prayer of faith, may become purified, and enter upon their inheritance to build up Zion according to the word of the Lord.
We are sure, if the saints are very humble, very watchful, and very prayerful, that few will be deceived by those who have not authority to teach, or who have not the spirit to teach according to the power of the Holy Ghost, in the scriptures. Lest any man's blood be required at your hands, we beseech you, as you value the salvation of souls, and are within, to set an example worthy to be followed by those without the kingdom of our God and his Christ, that peace by grace, and blessings by righteousness, may attend you, till you are sanctified and redeemed.
Dated, Clay county, Aug. 1st 1834."
About this time, I arrived at Kirtland, after a tedious journey, from the midst of enemies, mobs, cholera, and excessively hot weather, having parted from those who I started with on the 9th ult., at different points of the journey.
Kirtland, Aug. 4th, 1834. A council of elders ordained Thomas Colburn, elder; and resolved to send Elder Zerubbabel Snow to Canada to labor in the ministry.
The High Council of Zion assembled in Clay county, Aug. 6th, and resolved that Leonard Rich act in the place of Parley P. Pratt, who was absent, and Amasa Lyman in place of W. E. McLellin, absent. The following charge was then preferred:
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