President John Whitmer concurred in the statements of the above brethren, and said that he did not believe that God had made an example of Elder Carter, for he was not before the Church as such; and God had not so revealed it to the Saints; and again, it is vain that Elder Carter should command the Saints to pray for the committee, for in so doing, if they did not fellowship him, they must pray for his removal, and so all his designs would be frustrated. Several others were called upon, and all testified that these things which have been expressed above were true and as they understood them; and one thing further, Elder Carter did say that even the faults of the committee might be charged back upon the brethren if they neglected to pray for them. After hearing the testimony, the six Councilors spoke, and the sum of their conviction upon the matter was as follows: Councilor John Smith said he thought that Elder Carter did not express the feelings of his heart, so as to be understood, and perhaps his heart was not so hard as his words. Father Joseph Smith said that Elder Carter was exalted, and did not receive the admonitions of the Presidents, and in consequence lost the true spirit, and so has erred since the time of his discourse, and needs admonishing. Councilor Orson Johnson agreed with the above. Councilor Joseph Coe said that Elder Carter had a small degree of {279} the Spirit in his discourse, and a greater degree in his remarks afterwards, but was awkward in expressing his views, not having much of the Spirit, and that the feelings of his heart were not as expressed by his words. An inquiry was made of the Court whether this Councilor [Joseph Coe] was correct in appealing to the feelings of men's hearts, and not to the words and actions, as they appeared. The Court decided that the Council must be confined to facts, words, and actions; and not go into feelings and designs which were not expressed. The other Councilors concurred in the above. Councilor Hyrum Smith said that Elder Carter had been blessed of God, and by the prayer of faith the sick had been healed under his administration; yet he does not always have the gift of God and wisdom to direct; so in the case before the Council. Pride had engendered in Elder Carter's heart a desire to excel, and the spirit of meekness was withdrawn, and he was left to err, as has been shown by the testimony, because he is not yet perfect. But he erred in understanding, and his words were wrong; yet the spirit of his heart, or the integrity of the same, might be good in the main.