Minutes, , Geauga Co., OH, 16 Sept. 1835. Featured version copied [not before 25 Feb. 1836] in Minute Book 1, pp. 108–113; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minute Book 1.
Historical Introduction
On 13 September 1835, church leaders presented a newly purchased leather-bound volume to a gathering of church members for their inspection. During the course of that meeting, individuals were allowed to examine the book, and an elderly man identified as “Brother Aldridge,” apparently Andrew Aldrich, complained that the price paid had been too expensive. Minutes from that meeting do not exist, but apparently JS and charged Aldrich with being under the influence of an evil spirit. The next day, Henry Green declared that JS’s treatment of Aldrich indicated that the devil was in JS. In response, a met on 16 September 1835 to hear a complaint from JS against Green for the comments he had publicly aired against him.
Although JS normally presided as president of the high council, presided in this case to consider the charge made by JS. Members of the council testified concerning the original exchange between Aldrich and JS, as well as Green’s subsequent critical comments against JS. The council found that JS had fulfilled his duty in rebuking Aldrich and that Green had been wrong to criticize JS. The minutes indicate that counselors were appointed to “speak on each side of the council,” but no defense of Green is recorded. raised a concern on behalf of Green, but not until after judgment had been pronounced. Green was cut off from the church and instructed that rebaptism would be necessary to reenter. No immediate commentary on the fate of Aldrich is mentioned, but his obituary the following year stated that he was “in good standing with the church of Latter Day Saints and died in full faith of the everlasting gospel.”
acted as clerk for the meeting and kept the minutes. later copied the minutes into Minute Book 1.
About this same time, patriarchal blessings given by Joseph Smith Sr. began to be copied into a large leather-bound volume. That book, which came to be known as Patriarchal Blessing Book 1, is almost certainly the volume under discussion here. (Minutes, 14 Sept. 1835.)
Andrew Hazen Aldrich was the father of Hazen Aldrich. He was present in Kirtland in August 1835 and, at sixty-seven years old, was the only Kirtland resident of that name who could have been considered an “old man” at the time. He died the following year on 26 July 1836 in Missouri. (“General Assembly,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:161; Obituary for Andrew Aldrich, LDS Messenger and Advocate, Oct. 1836, 3:393.)
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate. Kirtland, OH. Oct. 1834–Sept. 1837.
Thomas Henry Green, known as Henry, was born 15 May 1808 in Acworth, New Hampshire, and was raised by John and Rebecca Reed from the time he was a small boy. When they converted to the church and migrated to Ohio, he went with them. (Nebeker, Rebecca Bearce, 110–112; Meadows, Descendants of Reade or Reed, 7, 34.)
Nebeker, Lionel. Rebecca Bearce, By the author, 1987. Copy available as microfilm 1,697,283, item 4, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
Meadows, Fanny L. S., comp. Descendants of Reade or Reed. Cleveland: Jennie M. Ames, 1937.
Without a record of the defense, it is not known if the counselor assigned to argue for the defendant, as required by established guidelines, did so. (See Revelation, 23 Feb. 1831 [D&C 42:74–93]; and Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102].)
Green’s long-term standing with the church is unclear. When the Quincy, Illinois, branch made an accounting of members’ standings on 21 June 1840, Green was listed, but his name is crossed out with an X to the left and a notation reading “out” to the right. Green likely moved to Iowa Territory with the Reed family, and later moved to Utah. (Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book, 21 June 1840; Nebeker, Rebecca Bearce, 114; Meadows, Descendants of Reade or Reed, 61; 1860 U.S. Census, Tooele, Tooele Co., Utah Territory, 311; 1870 U.S. Census, Spanish Fork, Utah Co., Utah Territory, 306; 1880 U.S. Census, Tintic, Juab Co., Utah Territory, 417.)
Quincy, IL, Branch, Record Book / “Record of the Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in Quincy, (Ill),” 1840–1846. CHL. LR 5361 21, fd. 1.
Nebeker, Lionel. Rebecca Bearce, By the author, 1987. Copy available as microfilm 1,697,283, item 4, U.S. and Canada Record Collection, FHL.
Meadows, Fanny L. S., comp. Descendants of Reade or Reed. Cleveland: Jennie M. Ames, 1937.
Census (U.S.) / U.S. Bureau of the Census. Population Schedules. Microfilm. FHL.
then arose and spoke of the Doctrine of Christ and the duty of the Servants of God in preaching the gospel, & building upon the , to reprove error and wickedness whenever they should see them, especially in the church, and that President Smith was in the lines of his duty when he reproved <bro> Aldridge for his evil, and consequently brother Green must have been wrong in opposing him, and saying that he acted like a scoundrel and that the Devil was in him.
Counsellor arose and said, that he conceived that brother Green could not be justified in opposing the servant of the Lord, while in the actual discharge of his duty, and that it is evident that Satan hath sought to make divisions in the church and hath taken the advantage of the occasion of presenting the Book to do this.
arose & said, that he was disposed to exercise all the charity for brethren that he could, yet at the same time he did not feel willing to justify wickedness nor cover or hide iniquity in the church but rather to expose it and rebuke it. that it may be brought to light: And that the wickedness of brother Green in condemning President Smith is evident from the testimony, and that brother Aldridge also did act foolishly and by the influence of a wrong Spirit in questioning the integrity of the heads of the Church in the purchase of the Book, &, that President Smith was and, is, justifiable in doing as he has done, in this matter, & should not be censured as has been done in this matter by brother Green.
President then arose and showed, by a few very plain remarks, how Satan, had sought from the beginning to destroy the book of Mormon, and in order to do this, had been continually leveling his shafts [p. 110]
A June 1831 revelation instructed elders to watch over the church and “labour with their own hands that there be no Idolitry nor wickedness practiced.” The “articles and covenants of the Church of Christ” gave teachers the duty of ensuring there was no “iniquity in the church, nor no hardness with each other, nor no lying, nor backbiting, nor no evil speaking” and further instructed that disciplinary measures should be taken against “any member of this church of Christ transgressing, or being overtaken in a fault.” Samuel Smith could be interpreting JS’s actions as fulfilling such duties. (Revelation, 6 June 1831 [D&C 52:39]; Articles and Covenants, ca. Apr. 1830 [D&C 20:54, 80].)