| 142 "'Elder Grover followed Brother Carter in like observations.
"'Elder Patten again took the stand in vindication of the cause of the meeting.
"'Elder Morley spoke against the Presidency, at the same time pleading mercy.
"'Titus Billings said he could not vote until they had a hearing in the Common Council.
"'Elder Marsh said that the meeting was according to the direction of Brother Joseph, he therefore considered it legal.
"'Elder Moses Martin spoke in favor of the legality of the meeting, and against the conduct of the Presidency, with great energy, alleging that the present corruptions of the church here were owing to the wickedness and mismanagement of her leaders.
"'The moderator then called the vote in favor of the present Presidency; the negative was then called, and the vote against David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and William W. Phelps was unanimous, excepting eight or ten, and this minority only wished them to continue in office a little longer, or until Joseph Smith, Jr., came up.
"'In S. Carter's settlement the saints assembled on the 6th instant, when they unanimously rejected the three above named Presidents. On the 7th, the saints assembled at Edmond Durphy's, agreeable to appointment, where the above-named Presidents were unanimously rejected; also on the 8th at Nahum Curtis's dwelling house, they were unanimously rejected by the assembly; also at Haun's Mills, on the 9th, the saints unanimously rejected them.
"'At a meeting of the High Council, the Bishop, and his council, February 10, 1838, it was moved, seconded, and carried, that Oliver Cowdery, William W. Phelps, and John Whitmer stand no longer as chairman and clerks to sign and record licenses.
"'Voted that Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten be authorized to attend to such business for the time being.
"'Also voted that Thomas B. Marsh and David W. Patten be Presidents, pro tempore, of the Church of Latter Day
(page 142) |
