170 years ago today - Dec 9, 1847

11 A.M. A Special Council At a meeting of the Council of the Twelve & Presidency of Seventies ... J[ohn]. D. Lee appeared to answer to his past misconduct'- ... [T]his is a Council of enquiry'-Documents have been written to me, from Sis Nancy Bean, Martha Berry & I want to know if these things are so'- ...

Jos[ep]h. Young [:] ... I know by the Sp[irit] of the Lord that bro Lee got some of those women [wives] by fraud'-& I know he ought to be whipt'-[M]y Soul is wrung out of me by these things & he ought to feel the smart of it. ... -I know that his course is most dastardly, calling every woman bitches, strumpets, & every thing nasty about the privates'-[H]e has got to walk up to virtue & chastity & lead his women by a thread, instead of driving them with a cable'-[H]e has been too big for his Cloth. ... - [B]r Lee has not denied those charges, he has threatened to cut one of his women's throats'-& drove another out of his house'...

J. D. Lee[:] ... -[E]very thing about Sis Berry is to get her awa[y] from me & to seal her to Amasa Lyman'...

- B. Y.[: W]hat we do here is for anoth each others good'-[W]e must not quench the Sp[irit]. of the L[or]d., if it comes like forked lightning let it come... '- B Y.[: I] ask J. D. Lee, did you sa[y] to M. Bean what you had done for her was by bro. Brigham's council[?]'

-Ans[we].r.[:] I have had a deal of trouble with that woman'-she wo[ul]d. curse & swear like a trooper'-I told her to go away if she was dissatisfied'-[and] she caused Louisa to be dissatisfied'-I struck Louisa with a switch'-[S]he humbled herself'-I was sorry'-[and] she acknowledged it was all for her good'

- Jos[ep]h. Young[:] Did you whip your old wife[?]'-J D Lee[:] No Sir.'-I am satisfied we never sho[ul]d. have any trouble'-I never threw the brick at her as God is my judge. ...

J. Y.[:] I move that bro Lee puts himself in the attitude to his family. that B. Y.[:] /I move that/ The best way is to call a family meeting & talk to them, tell them he is frank & free & wants to do right. ...

[Source: Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

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