Mormon History, Dec 21, 1847

[Minutes, Quorum of Twelve] Tuesday Dec[embe]r. 21-1847. 11 am Meeting in the Council House-
Present[:] Pres[iden]ts. [Brigham] Young, [Heber C.] Kimball, [Willard] Richards, [Ezra T.]
Benson, [Amasa] Lyman, with Bishop [Newell K.] Whitney, W[illia]m. W. Phelps, John Scott, & others.
A talk had been had about a deed from Mary Pugh to Rev[eren]d. Henry Burry Danville of a Cottage & land at Little Co[unty] [blank] in Herefordshire-
Pres[iden]t. Young instructed John Scott to give his statement of the affair to T[homas].
Bullock-that it might be on record-John Scott said Mary Pugh is willing to sign the deed.
B. Young said that he & the 12 did not wish to have any thing to do with the property unless we can make the dollars to tell-
J. Scott said that Babbitt, Heywood & Fulmer had broken all the contracts & Covenants they had made, & so did bro. Cain-[The] property has been made use of without consent-
B. Y.[:] My Council is we can make as good use of that money, as B. H & Fulmer could-
Scott-[T]he Executors opposed the Brother Cain in all things-
Bro Scott was instructed to do up his papers & take care of them, until he is oth advised what to do with them-
Joseph Young then stated the case of Milo Andrews /Andrews als[o]. Henner Harris/-which had been before the Hi[gh] Council of 16 Sept[ember] last. I had nothing to do with that Suit but if they wo[ul]d. come before my Court, we would enquire into matters-[A]ll the Witnesses not being present-the case was adjourned until 2 oclock.
[T]he Council of the Twelve, /Young, Kimball, Richards, Lyman & Benson/, then adjourned into the Drs. office. O. Pratt joined [the] Council [blank] [as well as] P[hinehas]. Young, T. B., R[eynolds]. C[ahoon].
Scott was also present-[H]e has no Church Cattle in his possession-[though he] has a good Church Wagon in his care-[He] has 15 Souls in his own private family [and] has two Wagons & a Church Wagon. (W[ilford]. Woodruff came in)
B. Young[:] "I motion that bro John Scott keep that Church Wagon, to go to the mountains with next Spring"-All voted.
B. Y. said Bridger lost 43 head of cattle last Winter by Wolves eating them up, in Snow-
H C. Kimball[: T]hey are herding Cattle 20 miles from G[reat]. S[alt]. L[ake]. City now-
B. Young[:] I want some of you to watch the printing of that document (the Epistle ) closely-[G]o to Picket & he will get them printed in a night-I want 5000 copies struck off-
[T]hey will want to reprint them in Philadelphia, & in England-
O. Pratt brought in his Prophetic Almanac for 1849 & [a] table of latitude & longitude from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City-[T]he longitudes are not so correct as if he had had a telescope to take Jupiters Satellites-
T B read the Proclamation to the Saints & at 25 min[utes]. to 3 /Wm. T. Appleby came in
/[and they] adjourned again to [the] Council House.
Abigail Jane Andrews against Milo Andrews Emer Harris presented the charge against Milo Andrews for abusing his Wife, [and] putting her away destitute &c-
Council opened with prayer by Pres[iden]t. Joseph Young.
Present of the Twelve[:] W[illard]. Richards, O[rson]. Pratt, Seventies[:] Joseph Young, Z[era]. Pulzipher, A[lbert]. P. Rockwood, B[enjamin]. S. Clapp-
Joseph Young said this case is come before the Council of the Seventies-I have learnt there is some[thing] considerable, in it, worth looking after, [for] the Sp[irit] of the Lord can t dwell in a tabernacle that is corroding, or prejudiced. [I]t is the duty of all parties to get rid of a wicked Sp[irit]-[I]t is very grieving where 2 parties can not settle their difficulty but to bring it bef[ore] a 3rd party causes hard feelings-[I]f truth will kill a man, let it, for the same sword will restore [him] to life-[L]et no anger or animosity kindle in your Sp[irit]-[W]here there is a fault proved ag[ain]st. a man, let him own it & that partly wards off the blow-[F]rankness & cleaness of Sp[irit] is best-[T]he truth will always shine, [for] it is better to own to truth [-] it is [a] maxim with all wise men- /Charge/ T Bullock was called on to sing the return Pioneer song-during which time H[eber]. C. Kimball, A[masa] Lyman, & Bishop Whitney came in. H. C. Kimball advised Milo to go to bro Joseph & if it cou[l]d. be bro[ugh]t. bef[ore] the Council now & inasmuch as he had violated any of the laws of the P[riesthood]. that he sho[ul]d. be turned over into the hands of the law-either to be justified or condemned-I read of an instance in [the] Bible where a man [who] justified his Son in iniquity, was cut off from the Earth & his posterity. I am going against these little nasty principles & actions-by the help of the Almighty-[W]e rec[eive]d. an endowment by going to the valley, & now purify the Sy.-[Y]ou have got to save yourselves or go to hell, there is not one of you that has committed a sin, but knows it, when he sinned-[T]here has been insinuations that I. & bro Brigham justify the members of his family, [but] we are not going to justify any members of our families or we shall go to hell, [and] I dont mean to do it-(several said Amen) (B[righam]. Young & G[eorge]. A. Smith came in) 3" P.M. Bullock read the charges.
Milo Andrews denied them en masse but yet they point to truth-
Andrews confessed his Wife being sealed to him. bringing Sally Ann Slue-[S]he was not sealed to him. commenced lodging with Slue & Wife alternately. + did not strike her at all. + did not strike her at Puncah. + did not threaten to split her head with an axe. + never smacked his fists in her face. + never swore at her. left her bed- married to Sally Ann by Albert Miles. built a house, put Sally Ann in it-Sally to control it- + never said he would put her in the Missouri. we mutually agreed to leave until bro Brigham & bro Heber came home- + has not refused to provide for her-[He] gave her all she asked & more too.
T. B. read the above-Andrews says, "that true", John Dalton testified-[He] travelled with Andrews-sat round the fire talking-went to bed-[and he] soon heard a blow, heard Sis Andrews hollo-[The] next morning saw her head tied up- xd [crossed] by A.[: I] dont know that I heard of Sis Wood breaking a Shovel over me-
B. Y.[: T]his is [the] 1st Wife, been in his house, never heard any thing wrong until travel?-
[H]e had Sally Ann Slue at the time-[The] next morning Sis Andrews said her husband had struck her-Sis Wood said bro A. struck his Wife-
Sis Andrews-I do say before God & man that he did strike me that night-[S]parks flew from my eyes-I am now well yet from the blow-[H]e struck me on the face with his hand, & I fell on the ground with my babe-
Milo Andrews-denied it. Sis Wood raised a fuss with me at the fire-[and] as I pushed her-she struck me with a shovel-I told my wife to go to bed, pushed her, she fell over the tongue of [the] wagon-
Sis Andrews[: H]e did strike me-
Gideon D. Wood[:] I told my Wife to say nothing-[M]y Wife was sitting in a chair. I say boldly [that] he pushed them both off the chair-I called Dalton s sons to pull him off them-[T]hey still continued jawing-[H]e knocked her off her seat with great force, [and] her child screamed. [I]t was just dark- xd. [crossed] [: M]y Wife picked up [a] Shovel, but [I] can t say whe[the]r. she struck you-
[S]he has said if you had come on again she would have used the Shovel-
Sis. Wood[: I]t is the truth exactly what my husband said-I did strike at his feet with the Shovel, when I was pulled off the ground-[H]e did strike her & knock her off the tongue of the buggy.
Sis Andrews[: H]e did strike me at Punca-on the side of the face-I was dressing me at the time on the head /side/ of the bed-while the other was smiling at me, sitting in the bed-
Milo-[T]here was a continual jargon, I don t know touching her with my fists-
Sis Redfield[: I] heard some one say "shut up your God damn head or I ll break your head with a lever"-& then said he would smash up out her ["]God damn d brains".
D. H. Redfield. I heard Milo say, she was not his Wife, he said it to me-[H]is reason was he said she would not obey his council-[H]e swore about her in his usual way. /xX d. [crossed]/[: S]he said she had not any thing against you-you was a feeling man he said, "she is not my Wife neither
do I consider her so," [T]his was in June last-
Sis Andrews[:] I lived in fear-[I] staid until he carried me away. I came away about 1
June-[H]e has not provided for me, I have had only 5 bits, & a bushel or two of meal-I have 3 children with me now. [H]e left me at bro Simmons, he was going to leave me on the River-
Milo[:] I admit bringing her to bro Simmons-I have provided for her-
Dan[ie]l. G. Clarke-[O]n return from California, [I] found sis Andrews at my house-
[When I] went to visit Andrews-he said he did not expect to live with her, nor provide for her-
Xd. [crossed] [:] I have learnt he has not done much for her-
Milo Andrews presented a paper dated 18 Jan[uar]y. 1847 confessing the cause of all disturbances-[W]e had continual quarrelling. I co[ul]d. not endure it-[S]he said she saw her error & confessed it-I never had but one woman sealed to me in the Temple-[I] bro[ugh]t. ano[the]r woman from Fairfield by council of bro O. Hyde-she ev [who said] I co[ul]d. assist her away. I have lift lived with her as my Wife, [though] she was not married to me-I took /her on/ 2 April 1846-[and] lived with her as a Wife since June 1846.
Xd. [crossed] [: B]ro Hyde never councilled me to live with this woman /Sally Ann/ as a Wife-[H]e gave me no privilege-Xd. [crossed] [:] My Wife was opposed to my having another Wife.
B. Y.[: A]ny man that has a woman & if he has not power to control one, he can t control a second-[Y]ou must live in peace with the first one to begin with-this drives women to distraction-[I]f a woman loves a man that she wo[ul]d. not leave her husband, if such a course of conduct was permitted we sho[ul]d. go to hell-[I]t is the privilege of a man to have more Wives than one, but no man has a right to take a Wife until he comes to me-[T]hey are handling edge tools-[for] the Devil has power over them-[T]hey can t control the wife of their youth. [W]hat wo[ul]d. make me leave the Wife of my bosom[?]-[N]othing-I know women are scandalously abused by the El[ders] of this Ch[urch]-I know if that woman had been the Wife of my bosom, she wo[ul]d. love me & Andrews[:] If I can t shew a justifiable cause, its no use of my saying any thing-I am imperfect-We lived comfortable until this doctrine-[N]o man heard of any abuse until we left Nauvoo- /Milo Andrews/ Albert Miles[: I] have had consid[era]ble conversation with her-[S]he was very much opposed to the Sp[irit] Wife doctrine-[S]he was willing he sho[ul]d. fetch one woman home-[H]e said he had the priv[ilege]: of getting anot[her]. woman, & then he said he had a right to get one whe[the]r. she consented or not, inasmuch as he had council-Sally Ann is my Sister-
[S]ometimes they were at war & sometimes at peace. I bel[ieve] you always provided for her, same as the o[the]r[s in the] house as far as you were able-[S]he has contemplated leaving. [She] said she wo[ul]d. enjoy herself better if she was separated & had no children. [S]he was to say no more about Sally Ann, & she sho[ul]d. be provided with all the comforts of life-Jane said she should be contented if she had the same privileges with Sally Ann-
Sally Ann-Jane said she wo[ul]d. not live with you if you were made of Gold-[Y]ou gave more to her than was in the house-[You] gave [to] her until she was satisfied-& the [$]10.00 over the river-[T]here was 20 weight of wool-[Y]ou took all the meat-& meal until you told him to stop-[S]he left no bed at all-
Sis. A.[: T]here was 17 lbs meal & mutton enough for one meal-& 6 lb Wool. [T]here was only 1 bed & that was my Mothers-[H]e had sold 2 beds in M[iss]o[uri].-I took nothing but what he told me-
Milo-My course has generally been a conscientious one-[B]ro Brigham has whipt me off my feelings-I confess myself powerless, in ever seeing one of John Dailey s girls controlled-I was born down-I repented-I have been unable to control the woman, I have a dau[ghte]r that is growing up in [the] same Sp[irit]-I tho[ugh]t. it better to part-[M]y course has not been as is represented-I deny having sworn-[I]f my course takes my head I ll do it without trembling-I don t ask to screen myself from justice-[I]t is as much as I can do to bear mine own iniquities-[I]f I have erred I am willing to suffer until it is righted-
Sis A.[:] Albert Miles was teasing my little girl (16 years old) to be sealed to him-Miles wipt his wife several times-
B. Y.[:] You dont know how to control women, let them do just as they have a mind to-I have seen good men who have erred so much in the law of God-they wo[ul]d. actually cut some good hickories & go to whipping them-[A] man ought to be a godly man, walk in righteousness, & [there is] no woman but will melt under [that] kind [of] treatment-[S]ome men are devils from the beginning-but if he is filled with righteousness the woman will love him-[B]ro Milo will have to go & hoe his row over again-[T]hey never had a word in M[iss]o[uri].-I know /M. & Wife-/ for y[ea]rs-[T]hose two have lived tog[ethe]r. agreeably until [the] doctrine came that came in contact with their feelings-[D]ont be in a hurry-[for] a man has not the privilege in the P[riesthood]. in gathering strength until he has magnified his calling in the P[riesthood]. in the sight of God, men, & angels & to all creation that they are worthy, they [then] God will bear them off & not entangle their feet-I never wo[ul]d. have undertaken such things until Joseph gave me a commandment-[to] do it-[T]here is one prin[ciple]: I abhor it as the Gates of hell-[When] poor girls want to go to the West-men will get them into their waggons, cuddle around them, & the first you know is they creep into bed-& commit adultery, [and] that is a damning sin-[B]ro Milo is guilty-[L]ook round. I ve one Wife, don t believe in the doctrine-[G]et another [and the] first one leaves-[T]his woman has born 5 children for me-[and is] gone from me-& live[s] now with a woman that has none-[I]n the judgment you will see them taken away & given to them who have an abundance-[B]e careful that you have not them taken awa[y]-[B]ro Andrews has no Wife, he seems to have 2. [T]he 1st one has left-& he is living in adultery-[I]f he was to die to night he wo[ul]d. go to judgment without a Wife because he has none. I pray my Fa[the]r. in heaven to help me to keep even a little Jewel & cherish it & nourish it & when I can magnify then I may have another one-[Y]ou see old men in the Church, who profess to [k]no[w] all Joseph s rev[elatio]ns.-[T]hey over reach themselves & lose that which they have. [I]t seems as tho any body wo[ul]d. dissolve when I see men going as if they co[ul]d. not be saved-Milo had one Wife sealed to him in the Temple, thats right.-[H]e leaves the Gentile law & then goes beyond & enters into the law of the P[riesthood]. & we find him with a Wife. [T]hen they dissolve, there s only one way to do it, the same key as got to unlock them, or they may transgress & that throws him right out-[T]hen he goes according to the Gentile law & takes another, then he is condemd by the Polygamy-[N]ow bro Miles goes & gives him a Wife-[but] he has no power to do that, [for] no man ought to hold a Licence to hold the keys of the Priesthood in any form-Gentile law cuts him off or shuts him in prison-[B]y the law of the P[riesthood]. he has no wives-I wish this wo[ul]d. cease-[W]e take a course to bring evil on ourselves, now theres a law of the P[riesthood]. & the Gentiles-[H]e is severed from both of them by the P[riesthood].-
[H]e has lost a Wife & 5 children-& [he has] but a faint prospect of getting another-I am sorry-I wo[ul]d, sooner be shot or have my head cut off, than flatter-[T]here are cases where it is justifiable for a man to put awa[y] his wife-or dissolve [the marriage]-[but] this quitting one & choosing another, do away with it-[L]et no Elder take advantage of a poor woman in causing her to bow down-I despise the man that will mouth such a thing-[A]s for meddling with them, it is abhorrent to my feelings, & it is to the Lord-[I]t is the privilege of a woman to say to a man, I love you, I want to be sealed to you-that s right-
Joseph Young is thankful for what bro Brigham has said, [for] he has advanced a principle which I know to be true,
O Lord God. I love bro. Andrus, I [k]no[w] his diligence & integrity in the cause-[B]ec[ause]. a man can hold & control matters by the Sp[irit] it dont grow to prove that others can do it-[S]ome who see o[the]rs. advanced in power, have not wisdom & honor enough to manage hedge tools-& go contrary to the very vows in the Temple-[H]e is like a dog in the falls.
[H]e loses the bone to grasp a shadow & lose[s] both-& if my fa[the]r. or my mo[the]r. trample under foot those sacred vows in the Temple-cut them off, let them be bap[tize]d., & if there is [a] chance for them for a restoration-mark it. [Y]e Elders, ye will weep & wail ere long at the course of your conduct-I know all this-[I]t is like children gathering up offences until he is beat-[T]he voice of the Sp[irit] is he must be severed-[I]f he cou[l]d. not hold her he sho[ul]d. have held still until he has power-[W]here will the woman go if the man casts her awa[y]-[O]ne instance has gone & committed suicide-[B]ro Milo s standing is on the Sand-neither has bro. Miles-he had no right to give a woman to the man-I co[ul]d not sit under this-[T]here are plenty of Elders that are as deep in the mud as you are in the mire-[T]he Walls of the Seventies Hall has resounded to the warning voice-[M]any have fallen thro[ugh] & are as it were in the troughs of the swells-I know it is true for thus saith the Lord-
Z. Pulzipher[: I]n Jan[uar]y. 1832 was baptized-knows but little-[I] am thankful I am here-I know it is the word of the Lord for I feel it-I can t see any o[the]r. course-General rules have some exceptions-[B]ro Joseph has had the Sp[irit] of the L[or]d. [T]here is no o[the]r. course but to let the law of God have its course-[S]hall we hold them up in their course they it wo[ul]d. prove their damnation-[I]ts a trying time for the Sisters-[I]t is a trying scene for parents to leave little children that they have reared up-
B. L. Clapp feels sorry that we have such things to discuss-[T]here is no way of getting round the law of the Lord-I hate the Seventies to have to be dealt with in this way. Truth & virtuous principles have to be held up-[I]t looks like what the Prophet said, Lord what is man that thou visitest him-& it is hard for a man to be saved-for broad is the road to lead to destruction-[T]he Law of the Lord ought to be understood, & men will take heed to their ways-I regret that it is so-I submit to the decision of my Pres[iden]t.-
H. C. K.[: M]y feelings are like these-[T]he El[ders] have knowledge sufficient to go strait, especially those who have gone thro the Temple that none sho[ul]d. meddle with the douors [daughters] of Adam unless he has licence-[N]o man sho[ul]d. receive even a proposition-[T]here has been a doctrine tau[gh]t-if a man & woman makes a Cov[enan]t. they have a right to connect themselves-[but] this is wrong-I have mentioned it scores of times, [that] they commit Adultery in the eyes of the land, [and] let justice have its demands & mercy have its claims-[S]hall we let these things continue to run until we all lose confidence in each other[?]-[W]hat damnable doctrines are tau[gh]t that men may be proxy for others, [for] I wo[ul]d. rather have my head brought to the block than do these things-[I]f a limb mortifies it must be taken off-& commence purifying the entire body. I wo[ul]d. put away that I have gained unlawfully & take that which I obtained lawfully-
[T]his cuts like a two edged sword-[T]here is no o[the]r. way for us to be saved-[L]et my family be judged by the law, & if there is any mercy for me let me have it. that I may be an honest man & go in & out before the p[eo]pl[e]-[T]he 12 are in the presence of God & the heavens are opened-& will remain here until confidence is restored-[T]hey can t get here while there is such a drug of corruption hanging to our Skirts-[I]t is better to go to heaven without our hear s, than go to hell with them on-[B]ro Milo there is no Cloak for you-I felt as tho[ugh] I had got an endowment by going to the valley-[L]et us go to work & purify ourselves-[I]f men have not a desire to do right in him you can t make them do right-
G. A. Smith[: T]his evening puts me in remembrance of going & getting some apples. [T]he apples were free when they were given to us-but when got unlawfully we got a whipping.
A. Lyman[: T]o follow out bro G[eorge s]. example, they have taken it unlawfully, & [it] seems also as if there wo[ul]d. be no Crop next Season-I wo[ul]d. not find an excuse if I were similarly circumstanced-I know better than to do as o[the]r. men have done-[S]ome act from the impulse of the moment, [for] the gratification of the feeling for a moment-[I]n 9 cases out of 10. it has its origin in gratification instead of future consequences-[W]hat wo[ul]d. be the wa[y] of a man of God[?]-[H]is feelings wo[ul]d. be to the Glory of God. [N]o man has no int[ere]st, aside from the Glory of God, for the increase of the Glory of man is the glory of God-[M]en who have had years of experience ought to begin to be [blank] on the prin[ciple] that sho[ul]d. influence them. I have known bro Milo for years-[and] it hurts my feelings as tho[ugh] it was some near blood relation-[W]e were both on trial together, [and] one will stop to amuse himself by the way while others run along-[I]ts the peculiar power of God says one, it is the privilege of every man to go along & have the reward of doing right & let an man be content in his place. I might quarrel with the Fates bec[ause] I was not born as soon as Pres[iden]t. Young-[S]ome one who had control of these things sent him here years before me-[I]f I take a glass & am sober I feel well [blank] & if we do well while young in years when we get to the age of those before us we will be able to shoulder up what they have to do, then, I never knew a man to get up to day intending to fall down tomorrow-or give away a dollar today in order to get another tomorrow-[W]hat a man gets, its like like a nail fastened in a sure place, & then he will have judgment enough to keep it-[M]en have had enough told them to lead them right, & there will be just as good fruit next year as there has been this year-I have no idea that there will be any lack of wisdom-I hope bro Milo will hoe his row next time & not commence a new row until he gets his first row cleaned-& when you tend to your 2nd row, see that the Cattle don t destroy the first row or the weeds grow up among it-I was tau[gh]t this by the man of God that has since been martyrd. What kind of a feeling must a man have who wants to leave his Wife & Children & to think of parting with them with whom all his prospects of glory & happiness[?]-[I]t is better for man to act on small bus[iness]: & do what they do right that it may count for what it is worth-
O. Pratt[: T]he bre[thre]n that have spoken have spoken my mind-
W. W.[:] & mine also.
W. R.[:] I am satisfied with what has been said, [for] its true- /J. Young "I move["]/ A P. R.[:] I move that bro Milo Andrews & bro Albert Miles be cut off until they come in at the door-
Albert Miles-[B]ro Milo Andrews is my Pres[iden]t. [I]t is ignorance with me-
Milo-I dont think he had any design-
B. Y.[:] Did not you suppose you had no right to marry bro Andrews[?]-
A. Miles[:] I did-
B. Y.[:] If I am a Seventy & my Pres[iden]t. council[s] me, am I accountable for that wrong?
J. Y.[:] To a certain extent-
B. Y.[:] If I say you do this or you do that, that sin will come upon me, that sin lies at my door. I must do as my master tells me-[S]uspend his licences-[W]hy did not you come down here & ask for council[?]-[I]t is an overt act, you might have got rid of it. [H]e was in the reach of higher authority.
J. Y.[:] I want Precedents laid down that will sting he the heart of every man-
B. Y.[: T]he 70 & Hi[gh] P[riests]. teach, [if] an influence has been used over the Quo[rum] to stop councilling-I am [a] Sev[en]t[y]. Pres[iden]t., you must not pass me-I am your Pres[iden]t.-[H]ere I get in bet[wee]n. the Quo[rum] & the 12. [T]hat influence ought not to be-
[Y]ou have just as right to come to Joseph & ask council when you please. [S]uppose a many families are sealed to me-& others in the same way[?]-[I]f any of my fam
ily transgress-the Quo[rum] takes their case in hand-[M]y own begotten children are not excused-then surely the adopted children are not excusable-[Y]ou have a right to draw them up before you-
A P. R.[:] "I move that bro Milo Andrews be cut off from the Church Quorum of Seventies, for committing adultery." B. L. Clapp seconded-clear vote.
O. Pratt[:] "I motion that bro. Andrews be cut off from the Church"-G. A. Smith sec[onde]d. Clear vote.
G. A. Smith[:] I move that bro Milo Andrews be left in the hands of the Presidency of the Seventies that when they see fit they may receive him again-A. Lyman sec[onde]d. Carried.
W Richards[:] "I motion that Sally Ann Slew be cut off from the Church["]-W. Woodruff sec[onde]d. Clear vote.
B. Y.[: And] that she be also in the hands of the Seventies. I believe what she has done is thro[ugh] ignorance-
A Lyman[:] I move that her be case be left in the hands of the Seventies also. W. Richards sec[onde]d. Clear vote.
Joseph Young[:] I move for an adjournment-B. L. Clapp seconded-(8 min[utes]: past 7)
21 Dec[ember] 1847
[text missing] that mean to be good men & have suffered in the cause been in from the beginning- had access to Joseph s private teachings & councles & seen them go to destruction. My heart quakes & I wonder if men can be saved-Bro. Andrews has one wife but in the Priesthood left the law Gentile law-[He] see s a head-[and] want[s] a dissolution-[but] how can it be done[?]-[T]he keys that locked-can they get out[?]-Yes, by transgression-[but] then thrown back into the Gentile law-& that condemns him if he take[s] another, for he could only have one. [W]ell then, he took another-Bro Miles ought not to hold a license that would do that-[I]f a man ought to be cut off that does not-If you take it Gentile law he has got no wives-[I]f [he has] the Priesthood it would cut him off from the kingdom-I feel for the Bre[thren]-I love their society-[W]e have peace & yet in our midst. [It] take[s] a course that brings trouble on ourselves-[T]here is the law of the Priesthood & the law of the Land. [T]he P[riesthoo]d. severs him from both-[H]e tried to get 2-& he has got none. [H]e has lost a wife & 5 chil[dren, I] am sorry it is so-[I] want to say to the Council of the /Seventies/-[I] want to make it easy, for Bro Milo has but to flatter a man, & lead him & tell him [to] get into the kingdom by flattering-I would rather have my head cut off in carthage Jail-[It is a] priv[ilege] in taking a wife & living a spell, [but] then leaving her [-] I dont believe it. [I]t has got to be stopped.
T. B. read a letter to the Hi[gh] Council by Orson Hyde.
B. Y.[:] I would say to all men that have room in their waggons, take the widows & families along. [A]ct right to them, but I despise a man that would be so mean as to take the advantage of a defenceless female, because she was in poverty & had to bow to him-I despise it & I know the Lord does. [I]t is the privilege of a woman to say to a man-I love you-& I want to be sealed to you-
J. Y.[:] I feel glad that Bro Brigham & the Twelve are here-Bro. B has expressed [a] prin[ciple] that is stron[g &] true O Lord, [and I] can say in a few words I aint glad that Milo Andrews is in a bad place-I know his diligence & I know his integrity in the Church of J[esus]
C[hrist] of L[atter] D[ay] S[aints]. [B]ecause one man or [?] a dozen has got controul over families then he can do it in the P[riesthoo]d., but if a man cannot controul hi[m]self & lay in the dark, he does [blank] but if he [is] right in the face of these [he] goes & lies in /bed with a/ woman that has never passed thro[ugh] trials with him-& he goes & sleeps with her-& learns his first /in/ anguish & sorrow, & the truth is sharp & it cuts like a two edg d sword, & they writhe under it & groan under it. Mark it, O ye Elders of Israel, & hold by faith what you have & wait till he gives you more-& listen to the Holy Ghost & then if you have that you will know-[I]f you have not the H[oly].
G[host]. Shame on you-Bro Milo must be severed by the Pr[iesthoo]d. & he has got to bend under it, for the voice of the Spirit says so-[A]re women abused, yes-[W]here will the woman go if her husband leaves her, [for] she looks to him as her God, & Savior, & protector-He has no standing in the Quorum by the Spirit, neither has Albert Miles any standing in our Quorums. [H]e knew it all the time, [but] I could not sit under the weight. [I]t rolls on my bones-[T]here are others as deep in the myres as you are in it-& have not the walls of the Seventies hall & the Temples not heard it-I feel as tho[ugh] I could /not/ sit under it after B. Brigham talked-but I could not feel so-until I had spoken.
Z. P. [I had] been long in the Church thro[ugh] all the wars since [18]32. [I am] glad to hear the word of the Lord-from those who have it-Bro Joseph has had the Spirit in the expressions he has made, [for] I can see of no other course but to let the law of God take its place-[S]hall we hold them up when the law of God is transgressed[?]-Roundy wanted to live 2 lives to be able to live one. I have felt it was a trying time for the sisters-[I]t is a trying scene for families & children to part.
B. L. C.[:] I do feel sorry for us to have such things to pore over & discuss, as Bro Pulsipher remarks, it s a trying time to sisters, & I think it is to [the] Bre[thren]. [I] don t know why we can get over the law of the Lord-[I] feel mercyful towards them, but justice has to be done, & righteousness & virtue has to be sustained, or as Pres[iden]t. Young says where would the Church go to[?] It almost looks impossible for a man to be saved-[T]he road is narrow-& strait is the gate, & few there go in thereat-Bro Joseph has taught those principles & hope[s] men will endeavor to conduct themselves in the Law of the Lord & go in strict accordance. [I] feel to submit to the decision of my President- H
H C Kimball[: I] expressed my feelings at the commencement. I believe that the Br[ethren] & Eld[ers] have knowledge sufficient to go straight, especially those who have gone thro[ugh] the temple-that no man should meddle with the daughters of Adam unless the Lord gave them to him.
No man has a right to mak[e] a proposition, or to accept of an offer, until Council, [and] a man has no right to have a woman unless sealed [to her]-[P]rivate whispering that a man & woman may court & have connection-I told Milo that he had no right to have connection with a woman unless sealed to her-[I]f he does wrong in the Priesthood he does adultry-[A]dultry is perverting the right way of the Lord-[The] only way to save my family is to give them up to the law-[T]here has been doctrine taught that a man has can act as Proxy for another when absent-[I]t has been practised & it is known-& its damnable. [L]et every Man keep from pollution or else the member will be taken off or pollute the other. Will Milo has got to go & ho the row over again-I would go & see if I could not bring up those tender plants-& I would put away that which I got first-& get that which is right & that I had first-[N]one [are] present that [level?] the law of God as close as it was-If I had done a thing I would come before the Council & tell them what I had done, & confess myself & ask the Bre[thre]n if [there was] salvation for me & go & humble myself & go in & out with confidence before the p[eo]pl[e].-& [?] pray that the Lord may-he enable me to have power-& if p[eo]pl[e] get feelings let them be up & a reformation-[T]hen, the 12 will be in the presence of God, & they will be among the delegates of heaven, You can t get a cloak, Milo, that will cover you up. No., & I feel to cry aloud & spare not.
[I]ts in me like thunder & I feel it s in me, & the truth dwells in me, as I told you I have got an endowment by going to the M[oun]t[ain]s.
G. A. Smith. This circumstance makes me think of being [in] a scrape I was in when a boy, & we picked up all the pears & apples-& he thought we had not picked up apples enough-so he gave us more-[B]y & by we sent & got apples without leave & Uncle came after us that & gave us a terrible whaling-
A. Lyman-I do not know where I could go & get an answer if I were situated as
they are-
[There are m]en older than me who have read more in months than I have in a year-I have wondered how it could be-that men has got into difficulty-It is because they gratified themselves in the moment-& did not think of future movements-A man has no interest aside from the glory of God. [T]he glory of God is the glory of man-Men after years of experience ought to begin to be a little what they ought to be-I have the same feelings for Bro Milo Andrews as I have heard expressed-[I have] known him since Zion s Camp-[W]e were on trial together & what is there that should make the difference, unless is it men that start together, don t come out together-[The] reason is because that some men stop to play on the way-[and] one man falls out-[A] man might just as well quarrel with their fate as be dissatisfied that those things-Pres[iden]t. B. Young [is] able to controul more than me-[W]ell it was somebody that put him there, it he has his place to fill-
Let s wait, let s do our work, & us who are young men, young in wisdom & prudence, & let us go ahead, & when great burdens rest upon our heads-we will grow up to it. [He is] not a good financier if a dollar to give it way-Never get any thing you can t keep. & if a man is f[aith]f[u]l. he gets what he gets and [is] able to controul it., & these are my feelings as to those things. [S]ome men have known enough to keep them out of difficulty, good fruit in another year-[I] have no idea that there ever will be any scarcity-I hope when Milo starts again he will hoe it right, if it takes him a long time to hoe the first row, that the [he] don t begin to hoe a second-[B]ut the Prophet told me what is right-I I pray God that I may never do anything wrong-[It is a] white kind of a feeling [one] must get to pervade the bosom of a man to be reduced to the necessity of parting with the woman that has had his child. What does a man want to be parted with a women that has had his childr[en? W]hat does a man want with connexion with a woman that but children[? T]hose are my feelings in short, but I could say a great deal more.
O. Pratt-The Bre[thre]n that have spoke[n] have spoke[n] my mind.
W Woodruff[: And m]y mind [as well].
Dr R.[: W]hat has been said [has] been true.
A P R.[:] I move that Bro Milo Andrews & Albert Miles be cut off till they come in at the door.
B. Y.[:] I think it is only worth taking Albert Miles licence from him.
G. A. S.[:] I think licence, take it from him till he learns better.
Albert Miles-Andrews is my file leader & one of the Presidents & he counceled me to-
B. Y.[:] The Law makes a present-[W]ell, I submit to the president & I take his Council-
[W]ho is accountable for the mis[?]-Is it not the President[?] If I tell one of my Bre[thren] that I hold control over [them], let them do it-& if ?[] sin lies at my door. I do not consider it right for him to be cut off but think license ought to be taken from him. Bro Albert, why did you not come & ask Bro Joseph[?]-[I]t was an overt act & he could get our it-[H]e was in the reach of Council. 60 miles off.
B. Y.[:] It was an overt act-in Bro Albert & should it cut him off, here is one principle that ought to be taught-[T]here has been an influence used over their minds to stop all councilling-I am a Senior Pres[iden]t. & I say to the Junior s you must not pass me & go to Joseph-& when going past the Senior Pres[iden]t. he would step in their way-& I say I am your Councillor-Bro Joseph Smith said it was the privilege of every man to go to him for council. [I]t is their privilege-
B. Y.[:] I have a good many adopted to me-Heber, the same. Well when you take my family /or adopted children/ into task, who is in your Quorum[? L]et them not say to you that. I am not amenable to you. Brigham is my Councilor, Heber is my Councillor, take them by the nose (spiritualy) & say here (handing them to you), I will show you whom you belong to.
A. P. R.[:] I move that Bro Milo Andrews be cut off from the Church Quorum of Seventies for committing adultery.
B L Clapp[:] I second it. Voted unanimously by the Seventies.
O Pratt[:] I motion that Bro Andrews be cut off from the church.
G A Smith[:] I second it.
B. Y.[:] It is motioned & sec[onde]d. [A]ll who are [in] favor of it that are here, raise their hands. [A] unanim[ous]. vote. Voted that Milo Andres be in the hands of the Seventies to receive him back when they have a mind to-
Willard Richards[:] I motion that Sally An Slue be cut off from the church.
W Woodruff[: I] second it. [It was] seconded unanimously-& that she be in the hands of the 70s.
B. Y.[:] My feeling [is] that Sally slue is innocent.
A Lyman Moved & W Richards second[ed] that she be left she be left in the hands of the 70s-7 /h[ours]/-8 /m[inutes]/.
J. Y.[:] Meeting adjourned I believe-
B. Y.[:] Bre[thren] of the 12, [I] want to see you together to morrow at 10.

[source: Minutes; Minutes]

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