Thursday April 11th. 1844 9 o clock A.M. Council met pursuant to adjournment in the Masonic Hall, Prest. J. Smith in the chair.

. . .

The chairman vacated his seat and called Er [Sidney] Rigdon to the chair.

The absent members arrived & was seated.

On motion the minutes of the last meeting was read and accepted, after which

Prest J. Smith introduced Ezra Thayer[,] Joseph Fielding and Mr Merinus G. Eaton to the council and requested the chairman pro. Tem [Sidney Rigdon] to give a history of the nature of the council.

The chairman pro Tem said “he arose with pleasure to explain the nature & object of the council. The design was to form a Theocracy according to the will of Heaven, planted without any intention to interfere with any government of the world. We wish to have nothing to do with them. We have no violence to offer to governments, no rights to infringe. The object is to live so far above their laws that they cannot interfere with us, unless by violence. We will hunt a spot somewhere on the earth where no other government has jurisdiction and cannot interfere with us and there plant our standard. You need not fear that we design to trample on the rights of any man or set of men, only to seek the enjoyment of our own rights. It is nevertheless necessary to be careful and prudent inasmuch as there is so much disposition in the minds of men to cry treason at every thing we do. We may expect to have every specie of iniquity and mobocracy practised upon us that can be; hence the necessity of the utmost confidence & integrity amongst ourselves”. He then referred to the rule that was adopted in the organization of the council respecting those who might turn traitor. He continued and said “We have been betrayed in times past, and we consider it wisdom to be careful, lest some pervert the truth and make trouble. We do not intend to make fools of ourselves, of each other or of our God, but when we make a covenant we intend to keep it”.

Those brethren were called upon to say if they assented to the regulations of the council. They answered in the affirmative.

Prest. J. Smith followed Er Rigdon on the same subject. He said there was nothing to require a man to submit to the order of the council unless he was so disposed. Any man who did not acquiesce with our regulations could withdraw & say nothing about it. He could either go or tarry as he saw proper.

The brethren further signified their entire assent separately

The chairman pro. tem. said further that we had chosen our beloved Prest. Joseph Smith as our standing chairman, and our mouth between us and our God

. . .

Er B[righam] Young called for the report of the Committee.

Prest. J. Smith offered some remarks of a political character and referred to a discourse between him & Dr [William] Goforth in relation to our political name. He said that Dr Goforth had asked the question as to our political title and he had told him it should be, “Jeffersonianism, Jeffersonian Democracy, free trade and Sailors rights, protection of person & property[”]

On motion the name was unanimously adopted

Er W[illard] Richards arose to say that the first edition of “General Smiths views of the powers and policy of the Government of the U.S.” was near all sold and he motioned that a new edition be published with the foregoing “name” for its caption

Er Levi Richards asked whether “Jeffersonian” or “Jefferson” Democracy was most proper.

Prest. J. Smith said one was proper as the other.

The question was called for and the motion adopted unanimously

The call for the report of the Committee was renewed, whereupon Er [John] Taylor arose and said that in consequence of public engagements during conference which was indispensible they had had no opportunity to meet since last council and on behalf of the committee requested further time

On motion further time was given

Er W[illiam] W. Phelps of the committee arose to say that probably the document in progress was the most important ever undertaken by any committee and required time; and as the conference was important, they had considered it wisdom to give all the impetus they could to the conference. He said that inasmuch as we have a lawgiver appointed of heaven he was anxious that the committee could have his assistance to prepare the document.

Er C[ornelius] P. Lott said that he had learned that inasmuch as we had a man appointed to guide us, that no undertaking seems to go right without his assistance, and they would finally have to call his assistance after all. The savior said without me ye can do nothing. He thinks the shortest way is to have the prest. come to it first as last

Er W.W. Phelps motioned that Prest. J. Smith be added to the Committee which was seconded by Er W. Richards

Prest. J. Smith arose and said that the committee were first appointed to bring forth all the intelligence they could, and when their productions were presented to him he could correct the errors and fill the interstices where it was lacking. He had considered that a Theocracy consisted in our exercising all the intelligence of the council, and bringing forth all the light which dwells in the breast of every man, and then let God approve of the document & receiveing the sanction of the council it becomes a law. Theocracy as he understands it is, for the people to get the voice of God and then acknowledge it, and see it executed. It is necessary for the council to exhaust their wisdom, and except they do they will never know but they are as wise as God himself, and ambitious men will, like Lucifer think they are as wise as God and will try to lift themselves up and put their foot on the necks of others. There has always been some man to put himself forward and say I am the great I &c. I want the council to exert all their wisdom in this thing, and when they see that they cannot get a perfect law themselves, and I can, then, they will see from whence wisdom flows. I know I can get the voice of God on the subject. Vox populi, Vox Dei. The voice of the people assenting to the voice of God. There never has been a man in this age who could tell the people what the true principles of liberty was. Washington did not do it. I dont want to be ranked with that committee I am a committee of myself, and cannot mingle with any committee in such matters. The station which I hold is an independant one and ought not to be mingled with any thing else. Let the Committee get all the droppings they can from the presence of God and bring it to me, and if it needs correction or enlargement I am ready to give it. The principles by which the world can be governed is the principle of two or three being united. Faith cannot exist without a concentration of two or three. The sun, moon and planets roll on that principle. If God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost were to disagree, the worlds would clash together in an instant. He referred to brother Lot and his farming & said God would prosper him because he gets his mind right. When I get any thing from God I shall be alone. I understand the principles of liberty we want. I have had the instructions It is necessary that this council should abide by their instructions. From henceforth let it be understood that I shall not associate with any committee I want every man to get knowledge, search the laws of nations and get all the information they can. There can be no exceptions taken to any thing that any man can say in this council. I dont want any man ever to assent to any thing in this council and then find fault with it. Dont decide in favor of any thing untill you know it. Every man ought to study Geography, Governments and languages, so that he may be able to go forth to any nation and before any multitude with eloquence

Er Hyrum Smith said the observations by our Prest. so well accorded with his own feelings that he wanted to say a few words. When Moses was appointed to lead the people, God gave him Aaron to speak for him. When God called Enoch he wanted to know why God had done so inasmuch as he was an illiterate man &c. God told him to go forth and he would justify his words. Enoch went forth in the exercise of faith, not in the exercise of great words. God walked with him 300 years. Moses had power. before him Mount Sinai trembled and shook to the centre. Had Moses not gone forth in the exercise of faith he would not have accomplished the work which God sent him to do. We stand in the same light. We have greater power and are called to do a greater work. We have more power than Enoch and have a greater work to do than Enoch had and we shall accomplish it.” He then referred to the principles of a Theocracy and hopes every man will get into the spirit of his calling.

Dr W. Richards said he had thought there was a motion before the house & consequently had seconded it. He did it that we might get instruction on the subject. He knew that Prest. J. Smith would not mingle with the committee

Er W.W. Phelps arose to explain the reason why he offered the resolution. He compared the work of Prest. J. Smith with the work of the saviour & showed the importance of his undertaking. He will stand by the Prest. and support him. If a man fall into the mud he wants every man to be willing to lift him up. In the committee he would do every thing he could to accomplish the thing he was appointed to accomplish”. He went on to prove from the scriptures that Prest. Joseph is the man chosen of God to bring to pass the establishment of the kingdom of God. If after all our labors we should not be able to get what we want we will then call upon our head. He next referred to the constitution of the U.S. and the declaration of Independance. In that there are a few pearls but a tremendous sight of chaff. Our spirits are eternal in the shape of God Almighty, and was put into this body which is like unto an earthen vessel. There was then another spirit which was the breath of life breathed into me. The framers of the constitution had the spirits God gave them. He next referred to the Missouri persecution The saints remain driven & exiled holding their hands to heaven for redress. The boasted freedom of these U. States is gone, gone to hell, where the<​y​> (the mobbers) will all go if they do not repent. Our women have been abused by them, some of whom have the name of being religious. He next referred to the Red men of the forrest and how the citizens of the U.S. had used them &c. The times of the gentiles are fulfilled and God will convert their riches for the use of his people. He asked the prayers of the council on behalf of the committe that they might be enabled to do the best they could at the document. He will put in every mans hands a whip to lass the rascals naked through the world and then as Mc Duff says cursed be he that says he has enough He then referred to the earth being divided and mans life shortened, and said that inasmuch as there was a promise to restore the earth, why ought we not to look for our lives to be lengthened.

Er G. A. Smith offered a motion to adjourn which was over-ruled.

Er Erastus Snow arose to repeat the expression of Er [George J.] Adams the other evening for he feels this to be the happiest moment he ever enjoyed. He feels as though his soul expanded every time we meet. We have never realized the strength and power of the simple expressions in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants—“Be patient for I am laying the foundation of a great work”. It may yet be said that we are still laying the foundation of a great work, and I am happy that I have the privilege of associating with our beloved prophet and the members of this council, and prays that I may live as long as Moses” He said he never rejoiced as much as he did to day when Prest. Joseph was making his remarks. He concluded by offering a motion that this honorable assembly receive from this time henceforth and forever, Joseph Smith, as our Prophet, Priest & King, and uphold him in that capacity in which God has anointed him.

The motion was seconded and accepted unanimously.

A motion was offered to take a second expression on Er Snows motion.

The chairman pro. tem wishing to make a remark on the subject Er Samuel Bent was called to the chair

Er Rigdon then offered as an amendment that the above expression be received with Hossannas to God and the Lamb and motioned that we adjourn at the same time.

Er E. Snow said that was his original motion.

A motion was offered to adjourn and discussed.

The vote was then taken on the resolution offered by E. Snow, the amendment by Er Rigdon, coupled with an adjournment for one hour.

Whereupon the council adjourned agreeable to E. Snows motion with shouts of Hossanna to God and the Lamb Amen and Amen