Nauvoo high council, Minutes, , Hancock Co., IL, 11 July 1840. Featured version copied [between 14 Feb. 1842 and 1 Jan. 1843] in Nauvoo High Council Minutes, fair copy, pp. 66–67; handwriting of ; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Minutes, 27 Oct. 1839.
Historical Introduction
On 11 July 1840, JS met with the in his office and instructed the council to ensure that those on trial and those making accusations were present when their cases were considered before the council. There does not appear to be a specific reason why JS gave the high council this direction at this time; minutes of meetings held prior to July 1840 do not indicate that individuals were tried without being present or without their accusers being present.
As clerk pro tempore for the high council, recorded the minutes. He entered the minutes into the high council record book at some point after 14 February 1842 and likely before the end of that year.
Stout indicated that he had recorded minutes of the high council’s 19 April 1840 meeting on 14 February 1842. He originally misdated these 11 July 1840 minutes to 11 July 1842, suggesting that he made the record sometime in 1842. (Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 19 Apr. 1840, 56.)
Nauvoo High Council Minutes, 1839–1845. CHL. LR 3102 22.
taught the Councellors things relative to their duty in . and give the folloing following precedent for the Council to be guided by and ordered the same to be recorded to. wit—
That the Council should try no case without both parties being present or having had an opportunity to be present. neither should they hear one parties complaint before his case is brought up for trial— neither should they suffer the character of any one to be exposed before the High Council without the person being present and ready to defend him or herself—that the minds of the Councellors be not prejudiced for or against any one whose case they may possibly have to act upon. Adjourned
In giving this instruction, JS reiterated direction originally provided to the Kirtland, Ohio, high council—the first standing high council formed in the church. That council was told that “in all cases the accuser and the accused shall have a privilege of speaking for themselves before the council, after the evidences are heared.” (Revised Minutes, 18–19 Feb. 1834 [D&C 102:18].)