Saturday Jan[uar]y. 22. 1847 11 A.M. Meeting in Council House. Present[:] B[righam]. Young, H[eber]. C. Kimball, O[rson] Pratt, W[ilford]. Woodruff, Jos[ep]h Young, A[lbert] P Rockwood, Z[era] Pulsipher. Hi[gh] Council[:]
A[lmon]. W. Babbitt-Hiram Kimball, & [John?] Snyder-& others.
A[lmon]. W. Babbit[: F]rom some doc[umen]ts. rec[eive]d. before [we] left Nauvoo [Illinois], & some since, in justice [we] require an explanation-[I]t ma[y] be to you of small moment, but we have to realize [the] effects of incorrect inform[atio]n. from Nauvoo-[I]t operates ag[ain]st. us in bus[iness]: & [in] our char[acter]s. [He] read a l[ett]re rec[eive]d. 5 miles this side Nauvoo-from Joseph Young of 27 Dec[embe]r. [18]47-[It is] a pretty salty Doc[umen]t.-[B]ut explanat[io]ns. since rec[eive]d. shew they have acted on false informat[io]n. I will read anot[her].
Doc[umen]t. upon which this false inform[atio]n. was given. I as an Ind[ividual] never rec[eive]d. a single $ [dollar]. I made a bagrn. [bargain] with [?] Furness for [$]1200. [For a t]eam of Horses, carr[iage], & harness [pay] [$]3.75.00. [H]e was to have a deed[-a] Hunter s deed [that] sho[ul]d. be [given] directly to Furness /[and] the carr[iage]: was given to Joseph Young./ The Horses & Harness I proposed to buy. I drove them out-Bro[ther] [?] Burdicks horses had been stolen-[and] turned out horses & Harness to Burdick-[and the] Goods to H[eber] C Kimball-[for $]131.00.
[W]e were unable to pa[y] the bill & so turned it on the hall-[The] Buggy, Horse, & Harness to E[rastus]. Snow [for $]150.00 [and a] note for bro[ther] [John?] Taylor-[for $]200.00 & had an attachment on Taylors property-changed notes. Note ag[ain]st W[illia]m. Law-[$]70.00 on destr[ucti]on of [Nauvoo] Expositor Press. W[illia]m. Robinson sold [a] property to Furness-[H]e agreed to lose a part-[W]e owed Robinson [so we] borrowed money & made an offer of [$]125.00.
Furness p[ai]d. no more on Hall-[we] got [a] deed from [Edward?] Hunter on the Hall-[I]n [the]
Summer of 1847 we sued Furness for [the] balance-[we] contended & sued him for [$]200.00 [and] took his note for /200.00/ [$]112.00.
[$]160.00 still 1223.00
[$]1323.00 bro[ther] [?] McKeown had for fit out. the books will shew all ab[ou]t. it.
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] If there is an influence ag[ain]st. you, we have not come ag[ain]st you-
J[oseph]. Y[oung:] That Hall was committed to bro[ther]. Babbitt to sell-[N]o man ever asked me for a deed-I understand that Hall was sold to fit out 12 who were opprest-Bro[ther] [?]
Fulmer told me that prop[ert]y. was not reported to Tr[ust]ees as Tr[ust]ee prop[e]r[t]y. I supposed the bal[ance] was to be c[redite]d. to me-
J[ames] Whithead-previous to McKeown coming awa[y]-Fulmer or [?] Heywood s[aid] we have discovered by accident that Furness owes something on the Hall-[T]hey [k]new nothing ab[ou]t. [the] set[t]le[men]t. [We] went to Furness-McKeown got [$]67.00 worth-[but] still [$]1800 [is] due. I co[ul]d. not have any of it-[I] never got a dimes worth of it-
Babbitt[:] I settled in [a] law office with Mr. Furness-[E]very thing was done in [the] name of Tr[ust]ees.-I can get this authenticated by Heywood & Fulmer-
[T]hen [someone] read a statement about Hall-by Whitehead /& McKeown/ [about a $]2221.36 trade with Grear & Clark. [The] Music Hall [was] sold for [$]300.00. Pres[iden]t. Youngs house &c [for $]600.00 [which was] collected by Heywood[-$]200.00 in Quincy [was] collected at [the] river[-$]52.00 [for] Babbitts missions a[n]d [$]250.00 for expence money-Kirtland Farm [cost $]1500.00 [for] a mortgage of [illegible] [$]800.00. Newspapers no avails made exc[ep]t. to Temple Hands.
W[illard] Richards came in.
Whitehead[: T]hat is a true statement-
Babbitt-Fulmer is charged with embezzling money-We went with Mr. Clark & set a price on all Fractional lots that run to [the] river-[We] let him have Taylors-Mendenhalls-[and] a Farm belonging to [?] Hoagland on Prairie-[W]e rec[eive]d[:]
Stage Coach [$]300.
Harness [$]50
Harness Leather [$]300
Shoes [$]200.
[Also] Brooms, Tea &c., oxen, Horses, & Wagons. Hoagland took most of [the] cattle.
Bro[other] [William] Major had [a] cow [and] nothing [was] left but [the] Coach-(B[righam]
Y[[oung: T]hat Ive sent for)
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] If you wake up things, you will hurt your feelings-
Babbitt-Lawrence Esate holds a note of [$]2500. ag[ain]st. [the] Ch[urch]. [T]his document ought to be understood-[It is] coming thro[ugh] 18,000 m/embers/ [and it] affects our character-
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] Is there one man that knows of it[?]-[I]f you stir it up it will stink-
[T]hey have embezzled property & I [k]no[w] it, & instead of brightening their char[acter]s. it will tarnish them-[T]hey have catched every dollar they co[ul]d-[T]he Statements of bro[ther]
Whitehead are correct-[L]et the stink alone or you will tarnish your char[acter]s.-
A[lmon] W B[abbitt:] I want you to define your statements.
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] Shit on the Church Debts-shew me the 1st you have p[ai]d.
Babbitt[:] I have got Duplicates shewing every cent I have rec[eive]d. & all C[ou]n[cil]. intitled to-if those remarks apply to us as Individuals-[B]ro[ther] [?] Neff advanced money & as a mortgage in Masonic Hall & as to [$]500. bet[wee]n. bro[ther] Snyder that is bet[wee]n. him & me-[W]hen I went East I got pa[id] in goods &c. [B]r[other] [Orson] Hyde was present & most of things was under his counsel-I wo[ul]d not have any thing to do with money-
Whitehead[:] I can tell a many things if I am wanted-
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] I wont hear it-unless there is a public investigation-[I]f Heywood & Fulmer were here then wo[ul]d. be the time to chastise them-[A]s to doing every thing ri[g]ht. I
[k]no[w] they have not-but have done [w]rong-I never wo[ul]d. have consented to a Committee if it had not to catch the bullets-[W]hat does God Almighty care ab[ou]t. that prop[er]ty.[?]-[I]f we can escape to the Valleys of the mountains thats all we want-[B]r[other] Babbitt shewed me an acc[oun]t. where I am near [$]1000. in debt. [I]f you[ l]l place the books bef[ore]. me I can settle it- & will pa[y $]2.00 for every [$]1.00 I owe-[W]hen I get every thing raked out in the Valley we ll have a Jubilee, [and] make a burnt offering, of every thing-I just [k]no[w] they owe me money-I can bring the Ch[urch] in my debt-[W]hat do I care for that damned concern of John Taylor s-or [the] Furness purchase[?]-[J]u[s]t [to] get life of the K[ingdom] for 5 min[utes]: is better than [getting] all the trash in Babylon-[T]here is not an item in [the] Whitehead statement but is very salty & true-
[Theodore] Turley bore testimony of a case-& that the Tr[ust]ees had done [the] best they co[ul]d.
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] I do [k]no[w] that in every law suit you have whipt them, & that is by our prayers & faith-Who are the men to be credited with the [$]1500. given by Fa[the]r. Neff? Its the Church-The last da[y] we were in Nauvoo we went into the Temple, clothed ourselves, & handed it over to the L[or]d. I appointed the Tr[ust]ees myself-Babbitt for [a] lawyer-[and]
Fulmer for [a] Bulldog & growl-[and] Heywood to settle debts-[T]hat was a perfect wall between us & the mob-I dont want the Temple sold-I sa[y] O Lord God Almighty hedge up the wa[y] that they can not sell the Temple-I bel[iev]ed you cov[enan]t[ed]. not sell it-& I bel[ieve] you cannot sell it for [$]10.00-I am just determined to have truth & righteousness. [W]ho has not suffe[re]d. too much to suffer the Gold & Silver to tarnish our Souls[?]-We co[ul]d. go to work & tarnish the Tr[ust]ees-but is not it better to put all these things awa[y?]-
A[lmon]. W. Babbitt[:] I wish now to tender my resignation as a Tr[ust]ee into the hands of the Ch[urch]. I have labored for 5 y[ea]rs-& have not had [$]200. for my services-I have taken no man s Gold or Silver-[O]ne error I made of [$]84.00 I have acted in good conscience-[T]hese papers shew that we have embezzled money-I now hold a note of [$]2000. ag[ain]st. [the]
Ch[urch]-& a note of [$]2300. on the Lawrence Estate-& [$]700 on notes. I sa[y] to this Council now pa[y] me [$].50 on [the] $ & I will settle all things-I can get my living in the world-or by plowing-
many bre[thre]n have attached their property-[R]umor after rumor has reached us. I never opened my mouth until now-& now it is justified by the council. I s[t]a[y] my hands off from this time-
Jos[ep]h. Young[:] I have no prejudice ag[ain]st. bro[ther] Babbitt-I [k]no[w] what bro[ther] Brigham has said is true-When I left Nauvoo I had but 3 yoke of oxen-[I k]no[w] they are teased all [the] time, [and] I pitied him-[I]f I had [k]no[w]n how things had gone I sho[ul]d not have written the line I have-I was Tr[ust]ee in Trust for that hall-& 200 persons wanted to [k]no[w] ho[w] that property was disposed of-I knew the property was sold to help the Trustees /Pioneers/ awa[y]-& I tho[ugh]t. I had a right to some of it-I have stood up to bro[ther] Babbit-
[I]f I said any thing contrary to the Sp[irit] I feel to sa[y] I fellowship with bro[ther] Babbit-[I]f he meet[s] me half wa[y]-I burn the papers-you made a cold water extrn. to me in the Tabernacle-I am willing to sa[y] let it go for ever & ever-
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] I told Joseph [to] let it go-& let the bre[thre]n here help you-
A[lmon] Babbit read Joseph s letter again-Could I lift up my head here, when such a document stands against me[? W]here men were in the sit[uation].-of Whitehead & McEwan- they dont [k]no[w] all things & wrote it in the Spirit of Prejudice-I dont justify it-
Joseph Young-[I have] got the signed copy from Babbit-& [the] original from [?]
Campbell & burnt them-
Whitehead-[T]he reason I wrote it-was, bro[ther]. Hyde told me to write it-
H[eber] C Kimball[:] Inasmuch as bro[ther] Babbitt has sold the 70s hall & the money has p[ai]d. debts-I am glad of it-Bro[ther] Brigham told the Tr[ust]ees this much-"If you dont help yourselves, you will be to blame." [M]en that will stay any longer will find that they are scratching a poor man s arse-I am heartily thankful that Joseph never got a cent of it for it wo[ul]d. have been a thorn in his side-
Joseph (jumped up)[:] Amen, Glory Hallelujah, I am glad of it.
Babbitt[: W]e have done with the 70 hall, same as [the] music Hall, Arsenal, Masonic Hall, &c. We are tied up in selling [the] Masonic Hall & Arsenal Hall-
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] If we were to descend down to a Gentile Sta[te]-we sho[ul]d. have a nasty thing-it wo[ul]d. stink-[W]e can pick faults with each other & a nasty thing it is-[T]hat aint the wa[y] we get our living.
Whitehead[:] I dont profess to be a perfect man-[M]y feelings were as diff[eren]t. when I came here-as if I had come out of midnight darkness into light-I am thankful I am with you & wo[ul]d. not go back for all that Nauvoo is worth-[I]f I have done wrong I am willing to do right-I thank my Fat[her]. in Heaven I am here-I want to go when you go-I want to do right & have a part in my Heavenly Fa[the]rs K[ingdom]. & I wont do what is not right, if I [k]no[w] it-
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] If we descend to the St[ate] of the world-it is death-[O]ur Fat[her]. recollects us all the time-I sa[y] the Lord be praised-
W[illard] R[ichards]. bore testimony to B[righam]. Y[oung]. & H[eber]. C. K[imball].
T[homas] B[ullock] read a letter from M. Sirrine of Nov[ember]. 13-[18]47.
W [W.] Phelps has 6 verses translated from orig[inal] Greek, 2nd Ch[apter of] Luke 13-14- 15-18 28 29 30
B[righam]. Y[oung].[: M]y honest feelings are, there are not 3 men in the K[ingdom]. who w[oul]d. have done better than they have done-[Then he] enquired about the library.
Babbitt[:] In June I heard the library was there-open-we got the books carried to my house-[and] boxed up-& sent to Bishops [Newel K.] Whitney & [George] Miller-[T]here 2 books [were] gone. I dont [k]no[w] who took them.
[John M.] Bernhisel[:] There was [a] notice given at the Stand for the bre[thre]n to withdraw their books-& I suppose many went there & took them-
W. W. Phelps made a motion[:] I move that we are perfectly satisfied with the Trustees[:]
Babbit, Heywood & Fulmer who were left at Nauvoo, that they have done the best they could & that we fellowship them in good standing.
At a council of the Twelve [and] High Council [illegible] [of the] Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Winter Quarters, the 22nd day of January 1848[7], in Council with Almon W. Babbit and others from Nauvoo. [It was r]esolved unanimously that we have the utmost confidence in the faithful discharge of their duties as Trustees in Trust in Nauvoo, namely Babbitt, Heywood, & Fulmer, and we tender to them our thanks and pray our Father in Heaven in the name of his Son Jesus Christ to bless them and prosper them in all things pertaining to the building up of His kingdom on the Earth.
G[eorge]. W. Harris[:] I move that it pass-H[eber] C. K[imball]. sec[onde]d. [and it c]arried unanimously.
A[lmon] W B[abbitt].[:] I am still sincere in tendering my resignation as Tr[ust]ee in N[auvoo]-that I ma[y] be liberated from fur[ther]. duties, that I ma[y] go to work & fit myself out for the West-Esq[ui]re [?] Edmunds & myself have been to Carthage [Illinois] & took a title on every add[itio]n.-[We] platted it in a book [and] a great many lots are in [the] Tr[ust]ees hands-
H[eber]. C. K[imball].-I motion that El[der]. Babbitt continue /in/ his office.
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] I motion that we have no right to accept his resignation-[H]e was put there by the mass-If there is property in Nauvoo he must get his fit out.
Babbitt-[W]e have pt. [paid] about [$]3300 on Taylor s acc[oun]t. [T]here is about [$]5000 coming from him-
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] Ship the 2000 Vol[umes] of T[imes] & S[easons] to care of [?] Felt for him to store them in St. Louis [Missouri]-
Babbit[:] We have a fine lightning Rod on the Temple-[T]he Kirtland [Ohio] Temple is conveyed to Joseph Smith [as] a Trustee in Trust. for the Church of [Jesus] Christ of L[atter]. D[ay].
S[aints]. for the use & benefit of the Members of said Church but [the] Temple in Nauvoo is no[t] so-[I]n 12 months after we leave a Title can be made-[T]here is a Statute in Ill[inois] that revives an old Statute. [T]he Temple has been sold to pa[y] an attachment at [a] suit of Lathrop & Yearsley-[T]here is an attachment got out by [?] Thompson for [$]1000. & he will get judgment at [the] next Court-[I]f Tr[ust]ees leave Hancock Co[unty]. [Illinois], & no Tr[ust]ees [are] appointed-any man can go to [the] Court of Chancery & appoint a Commissioner who has all power as Tr[ust]ee-[T]hen pa[y] Debts-& rem[embe]r. [to] go to pa[y] Debts of [the] State. I suggest [blank] present attachment is off-[L]et [the] present Tr[ust]ees mortgage that, to 50,000- then receipt it in full, but not [to] go on record-[T]he better wa[y] is mortgage-then no man will buy it-[T]hen rent it, to keep it in repairs,-that will be a perfect stopple to all malicious law suits-Old [?] Brattle assessed it at 50,000 & have 4,000 taxes on it-
B[righam]. Y[oung]. related his dream of repairing the Temple-We want it preserved-the Lord can preserve it in the hands of our enemies as well as in our own hands. [S]uppose the keys were left with Esq[ui]re [?] Owen[?]-We shall never go back to possess the place until the laws of right takes place-[T]he Sheriff will sell it to some religious body, who will preserve it.
Babbitt[:] We can rent it for [$]400 a year to the Catholics.
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] Then rent it for them to keep it in repair-
Hiram Kimball wants to get the Land Warrants that belong to the Soldiers-
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] The Soldiers were not mustered out of Service, & cannot get pay for their services-[Y]ou will find by & by that there never were any Mormons enlisted into Service-
[Someone] related the future movements of [the] 12-
[S]end your family s relatives over the mountains.-
H[eber]. C K[imball] motioned for adjournment [and d]ismissal.
B[righam]. Y[oung].[:] I declare this meeting dissolved-(3 PM).
[source: Minutes, Quorum of Twelve]
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