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PRIESTHOOD, 1866.
1866: 13 Mar.: Rebuking evil spirits.
“Edward Tullidge was at the City Hall in charge of the Police, being raving mad. He had been engaged in writing the autobiography of Wilford Woodruff for the past two years, but of late he had been drinking very hard and writing theatrical plays. He imagines himself the great bridegroom and many other foolish things. Elder Woodruff, when alone with Tullidge, laid hands on him and rebuked the devils and they came out of him and he then begged to be taken home. He promised Bro. Woodruff to obey him in all things, if he would tkae him to his family, who were residing in his (Bro. Woodruff’s) house. Upon this promise Elder Woodruff took him by the arm and led him home in his right mind. He read the news of the day to him and Tullidge then retired to bed with his brother John and slept until about 1 o’clock a.m., when he had a relapse and raged dreadfully. Bro. Woodruff arose and again laid hands on him and rebuked the evil spirits, when he remained quiet until about daylight when he had another relapse. Bro. Woodruff gave him his breakfast and took him back to the City Hall for safety, leaving him in charge of the police.” (JH 13 Mar., 1866)
29 Mar.: Teachers’ Court.
[Teachers Meeting] “The case of Br. Wright Lancaster was called up. Bro. James Shelmerdine & Jos. McMurrin made a report of Br. Lancasters feelings towards the Church and the Bishop. Had said many hard things against the Bishop, and acted in a very unseemly manner for a Latter Day Saint.
Br. Lancaster being present acknowledged he had done wrong, and said many things under excitement that he was sorry for, but the council could do with him as they saw fit. Bp. Sheets asked him some questions about the authorities of the Church, and whether he allowed his daughter to go around with Gentiles, at which Br. Lancaster made some unequivocal answers, rather indicating that he would prefer to go his own road without any interruption. The brethren labored with him without any favorable results.
It was then moved and carried that Br. Wright Lancaster be disfellowshiped from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints because of his refusal to comply with the request of the council. . . .
Br. Lancaster was not satisfied with the decision of the Council, and therefore applied to Prest. Young to have a rehearing of the case, which was accordingly done on the 7th August, 1866.” (8th Ward Minutes, 29 Mar., 1866)
1 Jul.: Joseph F. Smith called to Apostleship.
“At the Close of the meeting I met at the Prayer Circle with Presidet Young John Taylor W. Woodruff G. A. Smith G. Q. Cannon & Joseph F Smith. John Taylor Prayed & President Young was mouth. At the close of the Prayer Presidet Young arose from his knees took of his Apron with the intention of undressing. Of a sudden he stoped & Exclaimed hold on, ‘Shall I do as I feel led? I always fell [feel] well to do as the Spirit Constrains me. It is my mind to Ordain Brother Joseph F Smith to the Apostleship, and to be one of my Councillors.’
He then Called upon Each one of us for an Expression of our Feelings and we Individually responded that it met our Harty approval. We then offered up the signs of the Priesthood After which Brother Joseph F Smith knelt upon the Altar & taking off his Cap we laid our hands upon him, Brother Brigham being mouth & we repeating after him in the usual Form He Said:
Brother Joseph F Smith we lay our hands upon your head in the name of Jesus Christ and By virtue of the Holy Priesthood we ordain you to be An Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, And to be a special witness to the Nations of the Earth. We seal upon your head all the Authority Power & keys of this Holy Apostleship, and we ordain you to be a Councillor unto the First Presidency of the Church & Kingdom of God upon the Earth. These Blessings we seal upon you in the name of Jesus Christ & By the Authority of the Holy Priesthood Amen.
After the Ordination Br Brigham Said this is the first time that any person has been ordained in this manner, and though right I do not wish in recording it that it Should be written in a way to lead others to think that this mode is Essential or the ownly way in which such ordinations Can be performed. He Suggested to us that it would be wisdom for us to keep the fact of this ordination to ourselves but be Sure to record it.” (Wilford Woodruff diary, 1 Jul., 1866)
“On Sunday afternoon July 1, 1866, Pres. Brigham Young of the First Presidency and Elders John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Geo. A. Smith and Geo. Q. Cannon of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Jos. F. Smith, son of Hyrum Smith, met as usual in the upper room of the Historian’s Office in the prayer circle. After we were dressed in our priestly garments Elder John Taylor offered up the opening prayer and Pres. Brigham Young was mouth in the Circle and offered up a prayer with great spirit and power. When we had finished Pres. Brigham Young arose from his knees and took off his apron with the intention apparently of undressing. Of a sudden he stopped and exclaimed: ‘Hold on, shall I do as I feel led? I always feel well to do as the spirit constrains me. It is in my mind to ordain Bro. Jos. F. Smith to the Apostleship and to be one of my counselors.’ He then called on each one of us for an expression of our feelings, and we, individually, responded that it met our hearty approval. We then offered up the signs of the Priesthood, after which Bro. Jos. F. Smith knelt upon the altar and taking off his cap, we laid our hands upon him, Bro. Brigham being mouth and we repeating after him in the usual form. He said: ‘Bro. Joseph F. Smith. We lay our hands upon your head in the name of Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood we ordain you to be an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to be a special witness to the nations of the Earth. We seal upon your head all the authority, power and keys of this Holy Apostleship, and we ordain you to be a counselor unto the First Presidency of the Church and Kingdom of God upon the Earth. These blessings we seal upon you in the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority of the Holy Priesthood Amen.’
After the ordination Bro. Brigham said: ‘This is the first time that any person has been ordained in this manner and, though right, I do not wish in recording it that it should be written in a way to lead others to think that this mode is essential or the only way in which such ordinations can be performed.’ He suggested to us that it would be wisdom for us to keep the fact of this ordination to ourselves, but to be sure and record it.
As we were about leaving the room Pres. Jos. Young, Senior, came in and some desultory conversation ensued, but nothing was said to him about what had just passed.
After we had finished upstairs we descended to the Historian’s office and wrote this statement which we sign at 20 minutes past 6, in the afternoon of Sunday, July 1st, 1866.
John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Geo. A. Smith and Geo. Q. Cannon. (Letter on file)” (JH 1 Jul., 1866)
30 Aug.: Teachers’ Court.
[Teachers Meeting] “The Teachers reported that there were a few cases in the ward not as well as desirable. Bro. Melvin Wilber was one. He was charged with having lamed a cow of Sister Stan’s by cutting its thigh with something sharp and by that means had put Sister Stan to loss and inconvenience.
Bro. Wilber being present was called upon to say anything he wished in relation to the wounding of Sister Stan’s cow. He arose and said he did not believe he was guilty of injuring Sister Stan’s cow and made many remarks which clearly showed that he wanted to equivocate and not fairly own to having cut the cow, but he admitted having thrown an axe at some one’s creature about that time and did not know whether it was a cow or not. Two or three of the Brethren gave evidence upon the subject and the Bishop and his Counsel spoke upon it all being upon the guilt of Bro. Wilber and showing him that according to the evidence given he was the person who had injured the cow.
The Bishop said he did not want Bro. Wilber or any other man to equivocate before the Priesthood. It was then moved by the Bishop, seconded by Counselor Lawrence that Bro. Wilber ask the forgiveness of Sister Stan and pay her $10.00.” (8th Ward Minutes, 30 Aug., 1866)
26 Oct.: Teachers’ Court – Excommunication.
[Teachers Meeting] “Charles King was present and his case was gone into. The Bishop [said] he should be glad to hear what Bro. King might have to say in relation to the course he had taken for a long time. He said Bro. King keeps company with Connor one of our bitterest enemies, and when the Teachers enquired of him about it, Bro. King replied that he would not ask the Bishop who he might associate with.
Bro. King arose and said that Connor and himself had visited together upon business matters but that Connor was no associate of his, he did not allow any man to speak evil of the authorities of the Church in his house. He had knocked a man down at his table for speaking evil of Brigham Young.
The Bishop said he would like to hear the testimony of the Teachers upon the subject.
R. W. McAllister said that when he went to visit Bro. King he always received him in an affable manner but yet he considered him slack in the faith. He was offended at the City Council and condemned their actions in relation to the Election, said he would not vote and would cut the ticket to suit himself. He thought Bro. King in the dark. Had heard him say he would not ask the Bishop who he should seek as associates.
Bro. Jos. Smith confirmed the testimony of R. W. McAllister.
Elder James Shelmerdine had visited Bro. King as Teacher three years and six months and corroborated the testimony of the two previous brethren.
Jos. McMurrain had visited Bro. King and had heard him say the same things he was charged with.
Bro. King arose and said that it was no use attempting to refute such testimony. The Brethren had misconstrued his words, and he thought there was very little charity. Acknowledged that he was a passionate man and possessed a very high spirit and would rather go shooting than to meeting. He thought that he had attended the ward meeting 6 or 7 times in 3 years, but had always met with his Quorum. He had card playing in his house but his wife controlled the house.
Bishop Sheets put to him the following questions. 1st. Do you desire to be a Saint. Answer. I would like to do right. 2nd. Do you believe Prest. Brigham Young is the man in the right place. Answer. Yes. 3rd. Do you believe all the authorities are right. Answer. Yes. 4th. Do you take the Vidette [an anti-Mormon newspaper]. Yes, and Telegraph too. 5th. Will you try and do your duty. Answer. I cannot say that I will attend my meetings. The Bishop said Bro. King was in the dark and that he kept company with some of the most infamous scoundrels, men whose object was to bring down Mormonism, and that there were Gentiles far better men than Bro. King.
Counselor John D. T. McAllister arose and said there was a time Bro. King knew this to be the work of God, but now he is in the dark and [h]as card playing in his house but his wife kept the house. He had heard the Brethren in the street, Henry Eccles for one, say that Bro. King ought to be cut off for taking the name of God in vain and for cursing and swearing and the company he kept. In fact a great many of the people in the city supposed he was cut off and had been some time judging from his conduct.
Counselor Henry W. Lawrence said Bro. King was his neighbor and that he had felt there was an estrangement and not much Mormonism, and he felt what the Bishop and Brethren had said relative to Bro. King was right. Several other of the Brethren spoke, all testifying that the course taken by Bro. King for a long time was not that of a Saint.
The Bishop then said that his feelings were that Bro. King humble himself and do better, or he could not fellowship him, and that this Council would take an action on his case except he complied, but he would give Bro. King a chance to speak. Bro. King replied that he did not know himself to be a swearing man, but he would leave his case entirely in the hands of the meeting. It was then moved by Bishop Sheets and seconded by James Shelmerdine that Charles King be cut off for neglect of duty as a Saint. Carried unanimously.
The case was laid before the ward meeting the Sunday following and was unanimously sustained.” (8th Ward Minutes, 26 Oct., 1866)
16 Dec.: Excommunication in a public meeting.
“I had perfect liberty in speaking. The audience was truly attentive. After my lecture a charge was read against Mr. Jose & wife for fighting & insulting the Teacher. On Motion they were both severed from the church by unanimous vote.” (John D. Lee diary, 16 Dec., 1866)