Mormon History, May 26, 1843

-- May 26, 1843
[Anointed Quorum] prayer circle in Joseph Smith's old home. First entry in document titled, "Meetings of anointed Quorum[--]Journalizings" (MAQ) which listed participants in this order: Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, James Adams, Newel K. Whitney, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, and William Law (also JS-F, HC). Patriarch Hyrum Smith accepted plural marriage (EHAT, 57-59). (1)

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 26 Several masons & tenders came to commence my sullar wall. Several teams were drawing stone for me through the day. My well caved in & I had to sink a curb in it. I injured myself vary bad by hard work & drinking water while vary warm.
+ (2)

Hyrum Smith: Converted to polygamy 26 May 1843 (3)

Hyrum Smith accepts the doctrine of plural marriage, and Joseph Smith begins re-performing the endowment ceremonies for previously endowed men. (4)

[Joseph Smith Diary] Friday, May 26th 1843 5 P.M. L. and Hiram and Judge Adams and Bishop Whitney, B[righam] Young, H[eber] C. Kimball, W[illard] Richards, and W[illia]m Law in council in upper room receiving instructions on the priesthood, the new and everlasting covenant [of celestial marriage], &c. &c. Adjourned to Sunday 5 P.M. [rest of page left blank] (5)

[Polygamy] to 26 May 1843 Hyrum Smith receives endowment and associated polygamy doctrine. Joseph Smith begins re-performing the endowment ceremonies for previously endowed men and for others who have accepted polygamy. PLACE: Nauvoo, IL (6)

-- May 26, 1843 (Friday)
Joseph Smith gave endowments, and also instructions on the Priesthood and the new and everlasting covenant, to Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and others, at Nauvoo. (7)

-- May 26, 1843. Friday.
[William Clayton Journal] A.M. went with A[lfred] Cordon to look [at] a lot. Also at the Temple office. The carpenters finished in my house. President Joseph came up in the afternoon and I went back with him. Settled with W[illia]m Ford by giving him 1/4 of lot and took up the due bill. President in meeting with the Twelve and Judge Adams. Hyrum received the doctrine of priesthood." (8)

-- May 27, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 27th A rainey day. I arose sick in the morning In consequence of hard labor & being heted the day before. I was confined to my bed the fore part of the day.
In the afternoon I met in council with the Twelve & first Presidency when the case of Benjamin Winchester was brought up on trial for improper conduct slandering the Saints in Philadelphia for rejecting the council of Hiram, Joseph, & the Twelve & tearing to peaces the saints instead of building up. Hyrum plead for mercy, Joseph for Justice, & the Twelve decided according to testimony, & in all we had an interesting time.
Elder Winchester was refractory & out of order. Joseph wished the Twelve or President of the quorum to call the house to order.
Several Letters were read touching the subject after which Elder Winchester made a lengthy speach trying to justify himself. Was followed by President Hyram Smith. Plead in behalf of Winchester on the side of mercy. Elder George J Adams gave his testimony against Winchester. Then Elder Winchester followed Adams & both spoke sever[al] times.
Then President Joseph Smith Arose & rebuked Elder Winchester in the sharpest manner. Said he had a lying spirit & had lied about him & told him of many of his errors.
After hearing the testimony Elder B Young President of the quorum of the Twelve Said he had made up his mind & his decision was that Elder Winchester should give up his licence & cease Preaching untill he should reform.
President H Smith said he should not like to have such a decision given without another trial & give Elder Winchester a chance to get more testimony if he could. President Young said he should then prefer to have case turned over to the High Council.
President Joseph Smith said it was not the business of the High Council. They Could not try him. It belonged to the Twelve & them alone for it was concerning matters abroad & not in Nauvoo. The high council was to trye cases that belong to the city & the Twelve to regulate the churches & Elders abroad in all the world & Elder Winchester case comes under the jurisdiction of the Twelve & them alone. President H Smith urged that the case should be put off untill tomorrow. President J. Smith said the case might be put off untill tomorrow at 10 oclok if it would do any body any good.
President B. Young arose & spoke in the majesty of his calling & among other remarks said his mind was made up & the remarks of Brother Hyrum or of Br Joseph had not altered it. As for himself he would not sit upon the case another day. He considered it an insult upon his office & calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ & he would not bear it. As for the rest of the Twelve [they] might do as they pleased. As for himself he would not do it. Benjamin Winchester has despised & rejected the council of the presidency & the Twelve had said they had no Jurisdiction over him in Philadelphia & to say whare he should go &c. But he & others will find their is power in the Twelve. We know through whom we have received our power & who are our benefactors & we are thankful for it. Benjemin Winchester has never for the first time received our council but has gone contrary to it. No one is safe in his hands. He calls Hiram an old granny & slanders evrybody. He says their is a contradiction be
tween Hiram & the Twelve. Their is no contradiction between us & Hiram is there Br Hiram? (Hiram answers no.)
After B Young closed President J. Smith Said he would give us a little Council if we saw fit to except it. He thought it proper for us to Silence elder Winchester take his lisence & have him come to Nauvoo & if he would not do that let him go out of the Church. It was then Mooved & seconded that Elder Winchester be silenced & give up his lisence & come with his family to Nauvoo which was carried unanimously.
Br Joseph then addressed the Twelve & said that in all our councils esspecially while on trial of any one we should see & observe all things apper-taining to the subject & disern the spirit by which either party was governed. We should be in a situation to understand evry spirit & Judge wrighteous judgment & not be asleep. We should keep order & not let the Council be imposed upon by unruly Conduct. The Saints need not think because I am familiar with them & am playful & Cheerful that I am ignorant of what is going on. Inipuity cannot be retained in the Church of any kind & it will not fare well whare I am for I am determined while I do lead the Church to lead them right.
Br Joseph further remarked as concerning Elder Adams that he had given satisfactions to him concerning the things whareof he was accused. He had confesced all wharein he had done wrong & had asked for mercy & he had taken the right course to save himself that he would now begin new in the Church. After much instruction was given from Joseph the Council adjourned. + (2)


Footnotes:
1 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45
2 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993
3 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47
4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47"
5 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1843
6 - Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm
7 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
8 - George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995


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