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Source: Church History Vol. 2 Chapter 9 Page: 151 (~1838)

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151 before the High Council. (See also Millennial Star, vol. 16, p. 134.)

It has been urged in the case of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and others, that there is no record that their cases were ever presented to the church, or that the church ever lifted up their hands against them, as provided for in the law; and it is further urged that neither the High Council nor the Bishop's Council have authority to take the final action in expelling members; hence that they were not legally expelled from the church. Whether their cases were presented to the church or not, we do not know; nor is it our province as historians to discuss what the legitimate effect of these council decisions without a vote of the church would be.

On April 26,1838, the Teachers resolved that they would not fellowship any member of the quorum who did not settle his own difficulties, and that they would not fellowship any member of the quorum who would take unlawful interest.

On this date a revelation was given which among other things settles definitely the name of the church. 3

About this time Joseph Smith began writing a history of the church.

3 Revelation, given at Far West, April 26,1838, making known the will of God concerning the building up of this place, and of the Lord's house, etc.

Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., and also my servant Sidney Rigdon, and also my servant Hyrum Smith, and your counselors who are and shall be appointed hereafter; and also unto you my servant Edward Partridge, and his counselors; and also unto my faithful servants, who are of the High Council of my church in Zion (for thus it shall be called), and unto all the elders and people of my Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, scattered abroad in all the world; for thus shall my church be called in the last days, even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Verily I say unto you all, Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations, and that the gathering together upon the land of Zion and upon her stakes may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.

Let the city, Far West, be a holy and consecrated land unto me, and it shall be called most holy, for the ground upon which thou standest is holy; therefore I command you to build an house unto me, for the gathering together of my saints, that they may worship me; and let there be a beginning of this work, and a foundation, and a preparatory work, this following summer; and let the beginning be made on the 4th day of July next, and from that time forth let my people labor diligently to build an house unto my name, and in one year from this day let them

(page 151)

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