Carson Mission High Council

Carson Mission High Council

After Orson Hyde returned to Salt Lake, Chester Loveland, as president of the stake high council conducted the affairs according to the “order and former patterns of High Councils organized in stakes of Zion.” ( Minutes) Eleven additional men were called to serve as members: Aaron B. Cherry, John Lightle, Thomas Parks, Nelson Higgens, Simon Baker, William Kay, Christoffer Layton, William Jennings, Miltia Hatch, Seth Dustin and Jerrad Roundy were numbered according to age, the oldest members first.

The president read from Doctrine and Covenants Section 3 then allowed all who cared, to speak freely. “Nelson Higgens arose and spoke of wise men being made by hearing each other speak, by so doing, Solomon was made a wise man. John Lightle arose and spoke of being true in their duty and of doing honor to their callings by being punctual to their appointments, to watch against evil doers. William Kay spoke of giving counsel to the people, that by being wise men themselves and the spirit of the Lord assisting them, they would know how and what council to give and what to keep back, to answer fools according to their folly.  President Loveland then spoke of the “necessity of their faithfulness and diligence in duty and to administer council in equity with mercy and justice for the good and comfort of the saints; that a stronghold might be made in this part of the sand for a stake of Zion.” 

Following the initial meeting held in September of 1856, the council met once a month during the tenure of their stay. Gathering council members, scattered throughout the mission, was a difficult hurdle. According to the records, many of them had to travel from outlying parts. 

Sermons were given “calculated in their nature to unite efforts in the discharge of faithful duties in the sustaining of the mission.” Accountability and conditions of the mission were frequently reviewed and presented by High Council members.

Gold fever had dominated California, creating hysteria among all walks of people including portions of the saints. Elder Orson Hyde, though not present in the December 6, 1856 meeting sent a letter to the council and the saints requesting them “not to go into Gold canyon [near present day Virginia City] to work whereby disturbance might be raised by intruding on those holding previous claims. This counsel should be acted upon which will be for the most peace and happiness of the saints and the community at large.” The prophet Brigham Young had always advocated an agriculturally based community regardless of the supposed access to quick riches dreamed of by the multitudes of people flocking to California and Nevada.

In consideration of the mission purpose to establish peace and a healthy presence in the vicinity, schools were established with monetary assessments from the membership. William Jennings, one of the council members and future owner of the ZCMI department stores, requested a hearing to be conducted by the High Council on his behalf. He felt wrongly accused of “swindling” or giving a wrong statement about his payment of the school tax.

The court case was based on two attempts to collect Brother Jennning’s taxes. Brother Hamilton, the appointed assessor and tax collector paid a visit to Brother Jennings asking for the school tax. In response Brother Jennings said to him, “you can sell my property to get the school tax for if I had any bullion or gold dust you could have it.”

Another witness, Brother Dewey, testified that after the assessor left, Brother Jennings hefted a flask that held a pound or more of gold dust.

Upon hearing that Brother Jennings had gold dust, Brother Hamilton returned again to Brother Jennings home for the assessment. In response, Brother Jennings said, “search the house; you are welcome to all you can find.”

Ultimately the first church court concluded that Brother Jennings was of a “wrong spirit. . . If he was honest, he would have paid on all he had and saved the trouble.” President Loveland arose and said, “it should be their motto to save and not to destroy by carefully handling any case so it may be unto salvation to ourselves and parties concerned. I am here to do right independent of any man.” He then asked Brother Jennings to repent and ask forgiveness of the school committee and council. After some equivocation Brother Jennings gave a satisfactory acknowledgment of his sin and promised to live his religion and do better. The record states that, “at last Brother Higgens motioned that he be forgiven. It was seconded and carried unanimously.”

At the conclusion of the evening the council agreed that the goodness and mercy of God was shown towards Brother Jennings. “It was for his salvation hoping in the future Jennings would appreciate and live his religion.” Much to his credit Brother Jennings remained true to his commitment to the council, later becoming a very successful man in Salt Lake.

In March, the council met intending to discuss a letter received from Salt Lake in which the brethren believed the saints in the mission were in danger. Letters sent to friends and family soon after the mission’s arrival about the unsettling affairs with the “old settlers” had been received.  The letters hit a nerve and the disturbing news spread through the country like wildfire. Families in Utah sent letters to the brethren requesting to have the mission, “come home, come home, come home.” The letter ended with, “Get together those who are true and faithful and seek unto the Lord for wisdom and he will guide you aright.”

President Loveland did as counseled by the brethren and journeyed to visit the branches and invite their presidents and counselors to meet with the council. Beginning the evening with prayer, the president instructed each member to express their minds and “unbosom their feelings if we shall stay or leave.”

Quoting John Lightle, “We stand as the true representatives of affairs here and ought to know what will be the best for the saints to do.” Recognizing the fact that civil affairs with the “old settlers” were more amicable, everyone from branch presidents to council members reported favorable conditions. “Brother William Kay, in substance, said that he had no doubt in his mind but what the mission could carry out the designed will of the presidency to make this a gathering place for the saints from California and Oregon.” President Loveland concluded the evening expressing his “heart felt gratitude for the good spirit of the Lord manifested through the council and brethren present. Union and faith were with the brethren and good could be done for the upbuilding of the kingdom by the united strength of this stake of Zion.”