[Apostle Willard Richards Journal] Dr. [Richards] came into office about 1. W. Woodruff called on the Dr. at 3, and conversed about half an hour. G. A. Smith called about 4 and had the vote to supply the Dr. 22 loads of wood corrected. Wind southwest, very cold, changed to west and severe. Sister Pratt said thermometer was 13 degrees below zero.
Municipal high council met at Dr. RichardÂ's Octagon at 6 p.m. Present: Presidents W. Richards, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson. Only five of the council present. Several bishops made reports of sizes, etc., of houses. Colonel Farr moved an adjournment to next Thursday. Colonel Grover does not know the necessity of sending for two men to fill up the council. Colonel Reynolds Cahoon: The Book of D. and C. [Doctrine and Covenants] shews the order, but we are in a different situation here. Suppose two-thirds of companies are called away to [the] mountain. If pressing business arises, must it wait till the original councillors come home again? Colonel Farr: This Church voted that this council make laws, I donÂ't say that a minority could make a law. Colonel Grover: I believe if only two companies were present, they could fill it up and proceed to try a case before them. If something was done wrong it could be righted tomorrow, but nothing could be done wrong. Never send to the door for a councillor. Colonel Higbee: Inasmuch as we have a law in the Doctrine and Covenants, it ought to be observed and we abide by it.
Colonel Cahoon: We ought to hedge up the way to shut out the critic. Colonel Chase: I have a doubt on my mind whether the whole council could make a law for a minority to act. There must be a majority of this council to act. Colonel Richards: This council was called to relieve the Twelve. [The] Doctrine and Covenants requires seven to be present to do business. Colonel Everett: if here were seven present could not they act without filling up to 12. President Harris: No, they must fill up. Everett: There is another law that an apostle can act in any office below him legally, that would make an apostle a legal counselor.
President W. Richards rose by request and said: I would ask, was Kirtland a stake of Zion in the Doctrine and Covenants? A law established a high council for that stake. I had a book that I learned my letters from, it is as good now as then. The second question, is this a stake of Zion? Now here is the spelling book again, the Doctrine and Covenants. I value it as high as anyone else. There are three councils there, another was a traveling council. Is this a stake of Zion, or are we not, sir, a traveling council and cannot we try any case we please?
In Nauvoo there was a city council to regulate trade. If there was only two or three, they went to work to fill it up. Here we can call a dozen high priests, but if not we could call a dozen elders. Suppose there is 11 left, do they go on? No, they fill up. If only 8, donÂ't they fill up? Is not a law by them valid? Certainly! If there is only 6 present and they make a law, can the other 6 men undo that work? Suppose 11 men go to the mountain and only one left and the salvation of Israel at stake, that one goes to work and fills all up. There was once a time when I was the only acting president of the Church present. Suppose they had all fallen on that fatal day but me? If I could have found 11 high priests worthy, they should have been ordained before the sun set. It has been said that one of the Twelve cannot act here. I say I can act just anywhere where God will place me. Where is there room for contention in this council? If men are sick, or necessarily detained, other men can act for them. If a man will not attend to his place half a dozen times and does not give a reasonable excuse, cut him off and put another man in his place. This is my private feeling.
President G. A. Smith also rose by request and said I have precisely the same views as President Richards. If President Harris was here by himself, he has a right to go to work and fill up the council. If a councillor is negligent and does not attend and I attend as a visitor, I can be appointed. If you take the Twelve as a pattern, if there are only two present and business to be done, they go to work and do it. If the junior member of this council comes here and all the rest are away, shall we lay here week after week? No. But as President Richards said, if all the rest of his council were killed, he had a right to appoint others. As the Doctrine and Covenants says, there must be seven, does it not also say there must be three presidents? I attended the very first high council at its organization, if we are for going back to Kirtland for presidents.
I donÂ't believe in twelve men having to be got together on every little thing. I say, are not the Twelve all presidents? All apostles? But you seldom hear more than one or two speak and all the rest say, amen. I want to know whoever heard of a municipal high council in Kirtland to try a few barrels of whiskey. They had a council to try spiritual things and it may be barrels of spirits (laughter). If there is only one member of the high council present he has a right to try cases, cut off, and make whiskey laws. Suppose some secret plot cuts off 11 of the apostles and only the junior left. Is he to cry and say, "Oh, I cannot act because there is not seven of us." No!!
President Harris said if there is any business to come before this council, we proceed. Councillors said, aye. Minutes were then read and received. Bishop Knight was called upon to answer the charge of Bishop Smoot of last council. Bishop Knight said what had been given was given gratis. Some turned out to build houses for the widows. He has called on them for wood. Colonel Cahoon moved that the assessor go over into that ward and assess the property on that side of the river. Seconded and carried.
President Richards said, now [that] this is passed into a law, I wish to ask the President how many police he intends to send over to protect the property, as that tax is for the support of the police and not for the poor. Colonel Harris feels they ought to be taxed to support the police, and if the police are needed there, they have a right to petition for them and asked if there is a police over the creek. (Answer, there is.) Hosea Stout: the police act under this council and there is no part of the city but what is patrolled. I consider I have a right to post a guard there, or anywhere I think it necessary.
Colonel Farr: If the captain of the police's statement is correct, there is not a doubt on my mind. Colonel Grover: It seems that Bishop Knight has levied a tax on the wagons. It is drawing a little too close for time to come. Will it be proper for him to collect the tithing? Colonel Noble: I understood last council night that he asked it for tithing and not as a donation. President Harris: Who suggested to you to collect from the wagons? Bishop Knight: I believe it was Brother Benson.
Colonel Farr: I know Brother Knight is as cunning as any man at begging. He is a good beggar for the poor. Colonel Grover: why not let the provisions come here instead of having to give it there. If it comes here we pay the tax with it. The police sit up these cold nights and [are] but poorly fed.
Colonel Everett asked the bishop if he had carried out the tithing law. Bishop Knight: I could not get tithing to build the houses. President Harris instructed Knight to make [a] report to this council. Adjourned to next Thursday at the council house, at 6 oÂ'clock p.m. After council, G. A. Smith stopped and chatted with Dr. [Richards] for about an hour.
[source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
[Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
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