Church Government

Book of Covenants, second edition, page 109, you will find the following. "And inasmuch as a president of the high priesthood shall transgress, he shall be had in remembrance before the common council of the church, (which is the bishop) who shall be assisted by twelve counsellors [counselors] of the high priesthood, and their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him." Elder Rigdon was a president of the high priesthood, but was summoned to appear before the above tribunal charged with trying to overthrow the church in a secret clandestine manner, when in public he disavowed any such intention.-It was, therefore, for clothing himself with falsehood virtually, that he might be the better able to accomplish a wicked design, for which he was called in question. He did not appear, but sent word to the conference that he was sick; yet the conference had evidence that he was well and able to attend if he would. It was not the wish of the conference that he should be silent on that occasion, and make no defence [defense], but it was his own choice, and the choice of his friends, and yet his friends and prophets can put their names to a circular testifying to as great a falsehood as men could tell upon that subject, "that he was not allowed the privilege of trial, and of making his defence [defense]" The charges against him were sustained by a cloud of witnesses, and he was cut off from the church legally, by the highest tribunal, and delivered over to the buffeting of satan; this was sanctioned by all the quorums of authority in the church, and by the whole congregation, except five or six persons, and the Book of Covenants says that "this shall be an end of controversy concerning him." Those, therefore, who cleave to him as a spiritual guide under these circumstances, must, in our humble opinion, be wilfully [willfully] stupid. But to such as have been murmuring against Joseph and the church, and have become tired of serving the Lord, this will afford them a plausible

pretext to back out; they will say, "well I don't know who is right, I will stand aloof or go with Sidney." The fact is, they want a pretext for apostacy [apostasy]; and to such, "God will send strong delusion that they may believe a lie and be damned, because they received not the love of the truth."

Page 103, B. C., new edition, is the following: "The Twelve are a traveling presiding high council to officiate in the name of the Lord under the direction of the presidency of the church," agreeably to the institution of heaven. Joseph Smith was the presidency of the church, assisted by his Brother Hyrum, and Sidney Rigdon as counsellors [counselors]. Now, let Joseph be taken away and his principal counsellor [counselor], can the junior counsellor [counselor], or a minority of that quorum act? No, he cannot. See B. C. page 103. The grand question now is,-Who shall act? If the junior counsellor [counselor] cannot act, the Twelve cannot act under his directions, because he has no power to direct them, for he is hardly one third of the presidency, admitting him to have the full confidence of the church. We ask again, who shall act? Have the quorum of the Twelve the same power and authority of the full quorum of the three first presidents? Yes, they have. Well, then, do they not become the first presidency, inasmuch as the first quorum of the presidency has ceased to be? Nothing can be more clear and certain than that they do.

On page 125, B. C. new edition, speaking of both or either of the assisting presidents presiding in the absence of the others, refers exclusively to presiding over the high council, and has no reference whatever to presiding over the whole church. But, admitting Elder Rigdon to be the legal successor of Joseph Smith, he could never legally act unless he was confirmed in that station and appointment by the voice of the church; but he never has been, neither will he ever be. The principle of doing all important business by the voice of the church, is plainly taught from one end of the Book of Covenants to the other, and Joseph always acted upon this principle.