History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 2Smith, Joseph, Jr.
History
History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Volume 2
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
5. The number composing the Council, who voted in the name and
for the Church, in appointing the above named Councilors were
forty-three, as follows:--Nine High Priests, seventeen Elders, four
Priests and thirteen members.
6. Voted: that the High Council cannot have power to act without
seven of the above-named Councilors, or their regularly appointed
successors, are present.
7. These seven shall have power to appoint other High Priests, whom
they may consider worthy and capable to act in the place of absent
Councilors.
{29} 8. Voted: that whenever any vacancy shall occur by the
death, removal from office for transgression, or removal from the
bounds of this Church government, of any one of the above-named
Councilors, it shall be filled by the nomination of the President
or Presidents, and sanctioned by the voice of a general council of
High Priests, convened for that purpose, to act in the name of the
Church.
9. The President of the Church, who is also the President of the
Council, is appointed by revelation, and acknowledged in his
administration, by the voice of the Church.
10. And it is according to the dignity of his office that he should
preside over the Council of the Church; and it is his privilege
to be assisted by two other Presidents, appointed after the same
manner he himself was appointed;
11. And in case of the absence of one or both of those who are
appointed to assist him, he has power to preside over the Council
without an assistant: and in case he himself is absent, the other
Presidents have power to preside in his stead, both, or either of
them.
12. Whenever a High Council of the Church of Christ is regularly
organized, according to the foregoing pattern, it shall be the
duty of the twelve Councilors to cast lots by numbers, and thereby
ascertain, who of the twelve shall speak first, commencing with
number one, and so in succession to number twelve.
13. Whenever this Council convenes to act upon any case, the twelve
Councilors shall consider whether it is a difficult one or not;
if it is not, two only of the Councilors shall speak upon it,
according to the form above written.
14. But if it is thought to be difficult, four shall be appointed;
and if more difficult, six; but in no case shall more than six be
appointed to speak.
15. The accused, in all cases, has a right to one half of the
Council, to prevent insult or injustice;
16. And the Councilors appointed to speak before the Council, are
to present the case after the evidence is examined, in its true
light before the Council, and every man is to speak according to
equity and justice.
17. Those Councilors who draw even numbers, that is 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,
and 12, are the individuals who are to stand up in behalf of the
accused, and prevent insult and injustice.
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