| 1125 "This may certify that whereas, the brethren and sisters comprising that part of the church known by the name of the Hulet branch, have imbibed certain principles concerning the gifts, that are thought not to be correct by the greater part of the remainder of the church; which principles seem to have a tendency to cause a split and disunion in the church:
I, therefore, as a well wisher in the cause of Christ, and for the peace, and love, and upholding of the great cause of God; do hereby pray that the High Council will take into consideration the above report, that we all may come to understanding and grow up as calves of the stall, until we all come unto the perfect stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.
(Signed) NATHAN WEST."
Charles English testified that the Hulet branch believed that they received the word of the Lord by the gift of tongues, and would not proceed to their temporal business without receiving the word of the Lord. Sylvester Hulet would speak and Sally Crandall [Crandal] interpret.-Said they would not receive the teaching of ordained members, even Brother Joseph Smith jr., unless it agreed with their gifts. Said they received the word of the Lord while they were in Jackson county, that they were to be persecuted by their brethren in Clay county, and now it had come. Also said that the heads of the church would have to come down and receive the gifts as they did. Said that they the branch, had come up to their privileges more than the rest of the church. They thought they were right, but if they could be convinced that they were wrong, they would retract. Sister Crandal professed to know and see men's hearts."
Philo Dibble concurred in the foregoing testimony, also that sister Crandal saw the hearts of King Follet, and Hiram Page, and they were not right. Hiram Page testified that Lyman Leonard said if it was necessary to lay aside the gifts for a season, they would receive a knowledge of it through the gifts. Nathan West concurred in the foregoing testimony, also testified that Sally Crandall [Crandal] saw his heart that it was full of eyes, also eyes in other hearts, some few, some many eyes.
Daniel Stanton testified that Sally Crandall [Crandal] said she saw his heart and saw two books in it, and that there was a Nephite standing behind him to push him into his duty: also that Sylvester Hulet, spoke in tongues in meeting and Sally Crandall [Crandal] interpreted thus; "verily thus saith the Lord unto you little band, ye must beware, for there are many who are seeking to pry into your privileges. Absalom Crichfield, testified that when he was in Jackson County, last spring the Hulet branch said in tongues that they would be safe during the night from any interruption by the mob, but before morning Lyman Leonard and Josiah Summer were whipped; they also said they saw my heart and three young women in it." Brother Batson, and Alpheus Gifford concurred in much of the foregoing testimony, and also other similar circumstances in addition.
After an adjournment of three fourths of an hour the President instructed the speakers not to seek to excel, but speak according to truth and equity: and that they ought to chase darkness from their minds, and be exercised upon the subject upon which they were to speak in order that they might teach upon points of doctrine, bring hidden things to light, and make dark things clear, &c., &c. After the counsellors [counselors] had spoken the president said, "as for the gift of tongues, in the manner they used it in the Hulet Branch, the devil deceived them, and they obtained not the word of the Lord, as they supposed but were deceived; and as for the gift of seeing, as held by the Hulet Branch, it is of the devil saith the Lord God." The council were unanimous in sanctioning the decision, and appointed Amasa Lyman and Simeon Carter, to go and labor with Brother Hulet and Sister Crandall [Crandal] and other of like faith, and set the truth in order before them. I have been thus particular in giving the history of this council, as the gift of tongues is so often made use of by satan to deceive the saints. The council adjourned to the 7th, when about twenty elders were sent forth to preach the gospel to the world, but not in Jackson or Clay Counties, or their vicinity.
President David Whitmer testified to the council that William Batson was not capable of filling his office of eldership, because he had not discretion and understanding sufficient to act wisely in that capacity, whereupon, the council voted unanimously, that his office and licence [license] be taken from him: to which he consented, and gave up his license. Elias and Isaac Higbee, and Jesse Hitchcock, were ordained to the High Priesthood, &c., and council adjourned to the 21st inst.
Minutes of a council held at "Kirtland August 11th 1834."
"This day a number of high priests and elders of the church of the Latter-Day Saints, assembled in the new school house, for the purpose of investigating a matter of difficulty growing out of certain reports or statements made by elder Sylvester Smith, one of the high councillors [councilors] of this church, accusing President Joseph Smith Junior, with criminal conduct during his journey to and from Missouri, this
(page 1125) |
