The Excommunication of Brigham Young
And the Eight Apostles Who Followed Him
Including the official notice sent to them and the minutes from their absentee trial
Taken from the Chronicles of Voree
Note: Of the Twelve Apostles, under the erroneous pretense that the Twelve Apostles hold the same keys co-equal with the First Presidency, and as the verse in D&C misunderstood to support this expressly states that only when UNANIMOUS is the Twelve equal in authority to the Three Presidents previously mentioned, though it cannot mean the First Presidency which is elsewhere affirmed to stand above them and whose President must be ordained by angels, Brigham Young would need the support of eleven other members of his quorum, of which he only ever had eight, since William Smith and Lyman Wight immediately rejected him, and John E. Page remained with his only as long as he was claiming a temporary guardianship as president of the Twelve, and left immediately as his intention to put himself into the First Presidency was known. Thus the entire thesis upon which Young ascended is overthrown by the word of the Lord. Thus whenever the Twelve are mentioned during the Succession Crisis, there were only ever nine of them and they are referred to as the Twelve in name, not in number.
High Priest Reuben Miller left here for Nauvoo. By him Pres. Strang sent a Summons to Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Willard Richards and George A. Smith, of which the following is a copy:
In the progress of human events a crisis is near at hand when in all human probability the decision will rest with you and your colleagues whether, the people unto whom you and your colleagues act as leaders shall be rejected as a Church with their dead, or shall be accepted of God and bring up those who slept without the Gospel. And whether they shall be moved out of their place at the holy city, and the Temple of our God delivered to the polluting hand of the Gentile or shall be built up in the most holy order preparatory to the coming of the son of God.
I know very well that you were never ignorant of the fact that your Mission as an Apostle is solely to the nations of the earth and not to the Church, and that you hold only the keys of the opening of the Gospel to the nations and not the keys of ordinances blessings and revelations, and finally that you can do nothing, except it be under the direction of the Presidency of the Church, and can direct none but the seventies.
God by the mouth of the Prophet Joseph gave promise to his people when he established them at Nauvoo that if his people would hearken unto his voice, and unto the voice of his servants whom he had appointed to lead them, they should not be moved out of their place. That people have hearkened to the Twelve as man never before hearkened to the voice of Spiritual leaders. If you are the men appointed of God to lead the Church, why is it that they are about to be moved? The desolation and destruction daily falling on the Church are attributable solely to the misgovernment of those who usurp authority therein.
I therefore solemnly admonish and direct you to cease all your usurpations in the Church: to cease to exercise any of the authorities and powers of the First Presidency of the Church, and to go out and preach the gospel to the nations of the earth that have not received it. And I direct and require that you first report yourselves to the Presidency of the Church, at the Stake of Voree and there make satisfaction, for the wrongs you have done as it is said, or in the alternate to answer to charges to be prefered against you, and receive the directions for your further guidance; And give you until the first day of April next to appear there.
Done at Ottawa, January 13, 1846, by
James J. Strang, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
To Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball
Parley P. Pratt
Orson Pratt
Orson Hyde
William Smith
John Taylor
John E. Page
Willard Richards and
George A. Smith.
Apr 6
Conference of the Church at Voree.
1 On the sixth day of April in the year eighteen hundred and forty six the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints assembled in Conference at Voree.
2 On motion of William Marks, High Priest and President of the Stake at Nauvoo, James J. Strang was unanimously called to the Chair as President of the Conference.
3 On Motion, Reuben Miller was unanimously appointed Clerk of the Conference.
4 Conference prepared for business by singing, and prayer by Elder Marks.
5 On motion of Elder William Marks it was Unanimously Resolved that this Church receive acknowledge and uphold James J. Strang as President of this Church, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and Translator with our faith and prayers.
6 On Motion of Elder William Marks it was Unanimously resolved that we sustain and uphold Aaron Smith as Counsellor to the first President, by our faith and prayers.
7 On motion of Elder William Marks amended on motion of Elder John E. Page it was: Resolved that the case of Elder Rigdon be laid over till the October Conference for final action and in the meantime a delegation be sent to visit Elder Rigdon personally on the matter by appointment and under instruction from the First Presidency, and report the result to the Conference. Two negative votes.
8 On motion of Elder John E. Page it was: Unanimously Resolved that George Miller, President of the High Priests Quorum be required to appear at the October Conference to answer Charges for personal and official misconduct.
9 President James J. Strang proposed the appointment of William Marks, President pro tempore of the High Priests Quorum, which being put separately to the High priests and to the Conference at large and unanimously approved, he was thereupon appointed.
10 The First Presidency presented the Quorum of the Twelve for the action of the Conference upon the question of upholding and sustaining.
11 President Strang exhibited the proceedings had in the case of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, William Smith, John Taylor, John E. Page, Willard Richards and George A. Smith, from which it appeared that they had all been summoned to appear before the Presidency at Voree the first day of this month by a summons recorded in this record served in January by Reuben Miller.
12 It also appeared also among many other things that Elder John E. Page had appeared before the Presidency according to said summons, given up all claim in favor of the Twelve as first Presidency of the Church, placed himself under the direction of the Presidency, exonerated himself from any part in many of the transactions of the Twelve in their usurpation and made ample satisfaction for what share he had in those transactions, and the President had decided to receive and sustain him in his place as one of the Twelve.
13 It also appeared that William Smith had acknowledged the Presidency of the Church, disclaimed that authority for the Twelve and made a satisfactory excuse for not appearing according to summons.
14 Upon inquiry it further appeared that Wilford Woodruff was gone on a Mission to England and had been there during most of the irregularities following the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith; and that Lyman Wight was gone into the Missouri Country with an irregular band of brethren.
15 Whereupon it was Unanimously Resolved: A, That we sustain and uphold Elder John E. Page by our faith and prayer and confidence as one of the Twelve; B, That we cordially and affectionately invite Elders William Smith and Wilford Woodruff to take their places in the Church as members of the Quorum of the Twelve; C, That Elders Brigham Young, Heber C Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Orson Hyde, John Taylor, Willard Richards, George A Smith and Lyman Wight be left to the ordinary course of discipline.
16 Conference adjourned one Hour. Afternoon session opened by singing. Prayer by Jehiel Savage.
17 On Motion of Elder William Marks Resolved Unanimously That Joseph Young, Josiah Butterfield, Henry Herriman, Zerah Prebsefer, Levi Hancock and James Foster, be required to appear at the October Conference to answer to charges for official misconduct as Presidents of the Seventies and for personal misconduct, and that in the mean time they be suspended of their official functions.
18 On Motion of Elder Charles Thompson: Whereas the organization of the seventies has been involved in general confusion by the appointing of more than thirty seventies instead of seven, as the law of God requires, and of more than two hundred presidents instead of seven, and finally by bringing into the seventies some hundred Elders who are not travelling elders and have never done any of the duties of the seventies, Therefore resolved unanimously That in the opinion of this conference the first Presidency should and ought to organize seven seventies according to the law of the Church, retaining all presidents and members who legally hold their places and supplying the places of others.
19 On motion of H. P. Charles B. Thompson: Resolved unanimously That all persons holding any priesthood in this Church and standing in rebellion against the First Presidency, and the regular authorities of the Church, be suspended of all their official functions and all power of their priesthood during the continuance of their rebellion, and that all acts done by them by virtue of their several offices or priesthood be void.
20 Pres. Strang proposed to appoint James Madison Van Nostrand, Pres. pro. tem. of the Elders Quorum, and the conference concurring therein he was appointed.
21 On motion of Charles B Thompson, Resolved unanimously That in the opinion of this Conference the First Presidency ought to call a council of Twelve High priests for the Trial of such members of the Quorum of the Twelve as have been cited to appear here and have not answered or appeared.
22 The President presented for ordination to the High priesthood Jirah B. Wheelan, Eleazer Davis, Jehiel Savage, James Bartholf, John Gaylord and Marvin M Aldrich, and the vote being called separately on each name, the Conference gave their unanimous voice for their ordination, Whereupon they were severally ordained under the hands of President Strang, assisted by Counsellor Smith, Pres. Marks and John E. Page of the Twelve.
23 Adjourned till one o'clock in the afternoon of tomorrow.
24 Apr 7: The Conference assembled pursuant to adjournment, April seventh in the year eighteen hundred and forty six. Adjourned over till tomorrow at nine o'clock in the forenoon.
25 Apr 8: The Conference assembled pursuant to adjournment, April eighth eighteen hundred and forty six. Opened by singing. Prayer by Elder Younger.
26 The Judgment of the High Council rendered on the trial of Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, Willard Richards and George A Smith, was exhibited to the Conference. It is in the following words: It is adjudged that Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor and Willard Richards, and George A. Smith, be excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: their Priesthood taken away, and they delivered over to the buffetings of Satan, in the flesh.
Done at Voree, April 7th, 1846.
Marvin M. Aldrich Philip H. Buzzard
Charles B. Thompson William Marks
James M. Adams Reuben Miller
Jehiel Savage James M Bartholf
J. B. Whelan John Gaylord
Eleazer Davis A. W. Smith.
Members of the High council
James J. Strang, President of the Church of Jesus Christ, and of the Council.
Aaron Smith, Counsellor.
27 On Motion of Apostle John E. Page it was Resolved Unanimously that the decision and judgment of the High Council be approved and sustained.
28 The First Presidency presented James Marvin Adams, Jehiel Savage, and Moses Smith for ordination to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. And on motion of Apostle John E. Page, the vote being called separately on each name, the Conference unanimously concurred.
29 The First Presidency presented High Priest Reuben Miller to the Conference as President of the Stake at Voree. And on Motion of Jehiel Savage it was Resolved Unanimously That we receive and sustain him in that office.
30 On motion of Elder John E. Page: A, Resolved Unanimously That this Conference solemnly protest, in the name and behalf of the whole church against the sale of the Temples at Nauvoo and Kirtland; B, That in our opinion the persons professing to act as Trustees in trust at Nauvoo are not legally in office; and that titles to Church property given by them are not good.
31 The First Presidency presented William Marks for the office of Bishop of the Church. And on motion of Apostle John E. Page, resolved unanimously that he be sustained.
Conference adjourned one hour for refreshment.
Conference assembled pursuant to adjournment.
Opened by singing. Prayer by Elder Gaylord.
On motion of Apostle John E. Page
Resolved unanimously that Jason W. Briggs be ordained a High Priest -- Ordination under the hands of Pres. James J. Strang and William Marks Pres. of the Stake at Nauvoo. On motion of Apostle John E. Page
Resolved unanimously that Bishop Marks on his visiting Nauvoo take such measures as he shall deem fit at the expense of the Church for the removal and support of Mother Lucy Smith.
On motion Elder Gilbert Watson was appointed Recorder of the Church by unanimous vote.
On motion of Charles B. Thompson H. P.
Resolved unanimously that all the Priesthood receive new licenses. The President of the Church presented the names of Gilbert Watson & Collins Pemberton to be Presidents pro tempore over the quorums of the seventies.
On motion of Apostle John E. Page, Resolved unanimously that they be appointed.
Jehiel Savage and Moses Smith were ordained Apostles under the hands of the President and Apostle John E. Page.
William Marks was ordained Bishop for the Church under the hands of the First Presidency of the Church.
Reuben Miller was ordained President over the stake at Voree, under the hands of the First Presidency of the Church.
On motion of Bishop Marks Resolved unanimously that this Conference adjourn till the sixth day of October next.
Meeting of the High Priests Quorum at Voree.
April 6: On the sixth day of April in the evening in the year eighteen hundred and forty six, the High Priests Quorum assembled at the call of the Presidency of the Church. The meeting was opened by singing and prayer.
President James J. Strang arose and said he would call the names of the High Priests, and proceeded to organize the high Council pro tempore; according to the order of heaven laid down in the law of the Lord.
The following names were presented before the High Priests Quorum as members of the Council, and acted upon separately and individually, and unanimously sustained.
Marvin M. Aldrich Jehiel Savage
Charles B Thompson J. B. Whelan
John Gaylord Eleazer Davis
Philip H Bozzart Reuben Miller
William Marks James W Bartholf
James M Adams A. W. Smith
The President then proceeded to draw the names of the above named Councillors to ascertain their numbers and the following was the result,
1 Marvin M Aldrich 2 John Gaylord
3 Charles B. Thompson 4 P. H. Bozzart
5 James M Adams 6 William Marks
7 Jehiel Savage 8 Reuben Miller
9 J. B. Whelan 10 James W. Bartholf
11 Eleazer Davis 12 A. W. Smith
The above named Councilors being duly called, ordered, and arranged in due form to act as a temporary High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints according to the Law of the Church and the word of God the Quorum adjourned; sine. die.
Meeting of the High Council at Voree.
April 7
On the seventh day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty six the high Council assembled at Voree agreeable to the call of the President.
The Council was called to order by President James J. Strang.
Opened by singing. Prayer by H. P. Charles B. Thompson.
The following named individuals (members of the high Council pro. tem. pore;) appeared, to wit,
1. Marvin M. Aldrich 2. John Gaylord
3. Charles B. Thompson 4. Philip H. Bozzart
5. James M Adams 6. William Marks
7. Jehiel Savage 8. Reuben Miller
9. J. B. Wheland 10. James W. Bartholf
11. Eleazer Davis 12. A. W. Smith
The President then arose and addressed the council. After which the following charges were presented by Stephen Bartholf against Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, Willard Richards and George A Smith, all members of the quorum of the Twelve.
Conspiracy to overthrow the order of the Church.
1. By teaching by counsel and commandment that Joseph Smith, President, &c., of the Church was to have no successor.
2. Forbidding to examine and to hear teaching or arguments on that question.
3. By assuming that the Twelve as Apostles, have power to dictate all the affairs of the Church in all the world without a presidency to direct them.
4. By denouncing excommunication and the curses of God on all who disbelieved or examined their pretensions.
5. By driving with threats and violence from the Church and the city of Nauvoo such as would not vote for their measures.
Usurpation
1. Exercising authority which belong exclusively to the First Presidency.
2. Exercising powers belonging exclusively to the High Council.
3. Taking to themselves the powers and duties of the lesser quorums.
4. Assuming jurisdiction over president James J. Strang and Counselor Aaron Smith, over whom they could have none.
5. Selling and offering to sell church property without authority, and converting the same to their individual use.
6. Commanding the church, in the name of God to go into the wilderness.
7. Giving a pretended endowment without authority and altogether out of order.
Tyrannous Administration
1. Disciplining and excommunicating members of the church who are charged with no crime, without any notice of their intended proceedings, and without witnesses or proof of any kind against them.
2. Unlawful collections of tithing.
3. Abolishing the liberty of speech and the press by command and violence.
4. Systematically plundering the church of their property for the use of themselves and their favourites.
Teaching False Doctrines
1. That polygamy, fornication, adultery and concubinage are lawful and commendable.
2. That murder theft and rebellion are justifiable and necessary in building up God's Kingdom.
3. That the Bible, Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrines and Covenants are of no binding force in the church.
4. That lying, to build up the Church of God, is justifiable, and that secret wickedness will not be brought into judgment; and carrying out those principles in constant practice.
Blasphemy
1. Cursing the prophet of God appointed to be their leader, and all who acknowledge him.
2. Teaching that weapons of war and violence are the preparation of the Gospel of peace, the first principles of the Gospel and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Separate charge against Orson Hyde
Falsely pretending to a revelation from God.
The following named persons were introduced as witnesses and gave testimony on the trial, towit John E. Page, Jehiel Savage, Collins Pemberton, Isaac Cleveland, Charles B. Thompson, Philip H Buzzard, Moses Smith, John Gaylord, James M. Adams, Samuel Shaw, Increase Van Duzen, Joseph Younger, and Reuben Miller.
Council adjourned one hour.
Council assembled pursuant to adjournment. All the Council present.
After hearing the testimony the three Councilors which were to speak against the accused and also the three that were to speak in behalf of them, arose in there respective orders and addressed the Council; and all agreeing that the charges had been proved, plead for mercy on the one hand, and justice on the other.
Council adjourned one hour for refreshment.
Council assembled pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. Opened by singing; Prayer by Apostle Page.
Counsellor Aaron Smith arose and said, The testimony which has been had before the Council is clear, and in his mind conclusive.
President James J. Strang arose and addressed the Council at length.
And the following is the decision of the Council:
It is adjudged that Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, John Taylor, Willard Richards and George A. Smith, be excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: their Priesthood taken away; and they delivered over to the buffetings of Satan in the flesh.
Marvin M Aldrich John Gaylord
James M Adams P H. Bozzart
Charles B. Thompson William Marks
Jehiel Savage Reuben Miller
J. B. Whelan J. W. Bartholf
Eleazer Davis A. W. Smith
Members of the high Council
James J Strang, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and of the Council
Aaron Smith Counsellor;
And the members of the Council were discharged from further attendance.
For more information on the legacy and valid priesthood lineage of the prophet James J. Strang and the Voree Saints, contact:
Elder Alexei Christopher Matt
GnosticMormon@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment