Kirtland Council minute book
Scope and Contents
Typed copy of the minutes of the Kirtland Council of the Mormon Church between 1832 and 1837. The materials were recorded while the Mormon Church had its headquarters in Kirtland, Ohio. The volume includes records of activities, ordinations, blessings, and one letter from Newell Kimball Whitney. The clerks who recorded the minutes were William W. Phelps, Orson Hyde, Oliver Cowdery, and George W. Robinson. Joseph Smith, first president of the Mormon Church, presided at the meetings. The item was typed from the original by Lyndon W. Cook.
Dates
- Creation: 1832-1837
Creator
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. High Council (Kirtland, Ohio : 1834) (creator, Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Kirtland Council minute book must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Coordinating Committee.
Biographical note
The Kirtland High Council was the chief judicial and legislative body of the Mormon Church, led by the Joseph Smith, from 1834 to 1838.
On February 17, 1834, Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church), created the church's first high council at church headquarters in Kirtland, Ohio. This body consisted of twelve men and was under the direction of the First Presidency. This high council took on the role of chief judicial and legislative body of the church, except in areas where the church was not organized, and handled such things as excommunication trials and approval of all church spending. When church headquarters moved to Jackson County, Missouri, the newly formed Missouri high council took on a presiding role as the high council of Zion, and the Kirtland high council became subordinate. The president of this high council was the Joseph Smith.
The original members of the standing high council in Kirtland were: Joseph Smith, Sr., John Smith, Joseph Coe, John Johnson, Martin Harris, John S. Carter, Jared Carter, Oliver Cowdery, Samuel H. Smith, Orson Hyde, Sylvester Smith, and Luke S. Johnson.
Extent
1 folder (0.1 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The original minute book is found in the LDS Church Archives in Salt Lake City, Utah. The typescript was donated by Lyndon Cook to Brigham Young University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated; Lyndon Cook.
Appraisal
LDS cultural, social, and religious history (19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts collection development policy IV.a.i.1, November 2013).
Separated Materials
This item was originally cataloged with MSS 1699, but was later separated and cataloged separately.
Processing Information
Record updated for DACS compliance; Ryan K. Lee; 2017.
Subject
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. High Council (Kirtland, Ohio : 1834) (Organization)
- Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844 (Person)
- Hyde, Orson, 1805-1878 (Person)
- Phelps, William Wines, 1792-1872 (Person)
- Robinson, George W., 1814-1878 (Person)
- Cowdery, Oliver (Person)
- Whitney, Newel Kimball, 1795-1850 (Person)
- Title
- Register of Kirtland Council minute book
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Benjamin Sipes
- Date
- 2011 February 23
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States