High council (Mormonism)
Encyclopedia
In Mormonism
, a high council is one of several different governing bodies that have existed in the church hierarchy on many Latter-day Saint denominations. Most often, the term refers to a stake high council in a local stake
, but other high councils include the standing Presiding High Council
in Zion
, and the "travelling high council" better-known as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
.
at church headquarters in Kirtland, Ohio
. This body consisted of Twelve men, headed by the First Presidency
. This High Council took on the role of chief judicial and legislative body of the local church and handled such things as excommunication trials and approval of all church spending. This High Council became subordinate to the High Council of Zion, which was organized in Jackson County, Missouri
. Later, when other High Councils were established in newly formed stakes
of the Church, the High Council of Zion (first Kirtland, then Far West, Missouri
and finally Nauvoo, Illinois
) took on a role of "presiding" over the lesser High Councils. (Cases tried in the High Councils of outlying stakes were regularly appealed to the Presiding High Council). Most Latter-day Saint historians view the High Council of Zion as distinct from a Stake High Council, as there is no "Stake" at the "center place" of Zion, and Zion, and its branch of the Church (sometimes referred to as The Church of the Firstborn or the Church of Enoch) would preside over other branches of the Church. During this time, High Council members were ordained high priests, but not given any priesthood keys.
In 1835, Smith created an additional "Traveling High Council" of twelve men to oversee the missionary work of the church. Like many early church leaders including the Three
and Eight
Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
and, initially all church elders
, the members of this Travelling High Council were known as "apostles." (Later, as this council grew in importance it became known as the Council or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
and other church leaders ceased to be called apostles.
Thomas B. Marsh
the original president of this Traveling High Council which, in practice, was initially subordinate to the Presiding High Council of Zion. For example, in 1838, when vacancies arose in the Traveling High Council, it was the Presiding High Council at Far West which voted on and filled the vacancies. Later, as the Traveling High Council evolved and began to be known as the Quorum of the Twelve
apostles, it acquired equal status with the Presiding High Council and both were subordinated to the First Presidency. When the High Council of Zion was dissolved after the Church was expelled from Missouri, the High Council organized at the new church headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois
functioned as the Presiding High Council of the church, overseeing appeals from high councils in outlying stakes.
After the 1844 succession crisis
, High Councils developed differently in the various denominations of the Latter-day Saint movement.
in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest Latter-day Saint denomination, has a High Council consisting of twelve members. These Stake High Councils assist the Stake Presidency in disciplinary council
s and in communicating to the wards and branches within the stake.
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
, a high council is one of several different governing bodies that have existed in the church hierarchy on many Latter-day Saint denominations. Most often, the term refers to a stake high council in a local stake
Stake (Mormonism)
A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. A stake is approximately comparable to a diocese in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations...
, but other high councils include the standing Presiding High Council
Presiding High Council
In the Latter Day Saint movement, there are two Presiding High Councils, one said to be "standing," and the other "traveling." The Traveling High Council is generally known as the Quorum of Twelve Apostles...
in Zion
Zion (Mormonism)
Within the Latter Day Saint movement, Zion is often used to connote a utopian association of the righteous. This association would practice a form of communitarian economics called the United Order meant to ensure that all members maintained an acceptable quality of life, class distinctions were...
, and the "travelling high council" better-known as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
.
History of high councils
On February 17, 1834, Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the movement, created a Presiding High CouncilPresiding High Council
In the Latter Day Saint movement, there are two Presiding High Councils, one said to be "standing," and the other "traveling." The Traveling High Council is generally known as the Quorum of Twelve Apostles...
at church headquarters in Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
. This body consisted of Twelve men, headed by the First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
. This High Council took on the role of chief judicial and legislative body of the local church and handled such things as excommunication trials and approval of all church spending. This High Council became subordinate to the High Council of Zion, which was organized in Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. With a population of 674,158 in the 2010 census, Jackson County is the second most populous of Missouri's counties, after St. Louis County. Kansas City, the state's most populous city and focus city of the Kansas City Metropolitan...
. Later, when other High Councils were established in newly formed stakes
Stake (Mormonism)
A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. A stake is approximately comparable to a diocese in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations...
of the Church, the High Council of Zion (first Kirtland, then Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri.-Foundation and early history:The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a square area,...
and finally Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
) took on a role of "presiding" over the lesser High Councils. (Cases tried in the High Councils of outlying stakes were regularly appealed to the Presiding High Council). Most Latter-day Saint historians view the High Council of Zion as distinct from a Stake High Council, as there is no "Stake" at the "center place" of Zion, and Zion, and its branch of the Church (sometimes referred to as The Church of the Firstborn or the Church of Enoch) would preside over other branches of the Church. During this time, High Council members were ordained high priests, but not given any priesthood keys.
In 1835, Smith created an additional "Traveling High Council" of twelve men to oversee the missionary work of the church. Like many early church leaders including the Three
Three Witnesses
The Three Witnesses were a group of three early leaders of the Latter Day Saint movement who signed a statement in 1830 saying that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon and that they had heard God's voice testifying that the book had...
and Eight
Eight Witnesses
The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. said was his source material for the book...
Witnesses of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
and, initially all church elders
Elder (Mormonism)
Elder is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek Priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
, the members of this Travelling High Council were known as "apostles." (Later, as this council grew in importance it became known as the Council or Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve was one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy organized by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, Jr., and patterned after the twelve apostles of Christ In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve (also known as the...
and other church leaders ceased to be called apostles.
Thomas B. Marsh
Thomas B. Marsh
Thomas Baldwin Marsh was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He served as the first President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1835 to 1839...
the original president of this Traveling High Council which, in practice, was initially subordinate to the Presiding High Council of Zion. For example, in 1838, when vacancies arose in the Traveling High Council, it was the Presiding High Council at Far West which voted on and filled the vacancies. Later, as the Traveling High Council evolved and began to be known as the Quorum of the Twelve
Quorum of the Twelve
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve was one of the governing bodies of the church hierarchy organized by the movement's founder Joseph Smith, Jr., and patterned after the twelve apostles of Christ In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Quorum of the Twelve (also known as the...
apostles, it acquired equal status with the Presiding High Council and both were subordinated to the First Presidency. When the High Council of Zion was dissolved after the Church was expelled from Missouri, the High Council organized at the new church headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
functioned as the Presiding High Council of the church, overseeing appeals from high councils in outlying stakes.
After the 1844 succession crisis
Succession crisis (Mormonism)
The succession crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the violent death of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., on June 27, 1844....
, High Councils developed differently in the various denominations of the Latter-day Saint movement.
High councils in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Each stakeStake (Mormonism)
A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. A stake is approximately comparable to a diocese in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations...
in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest Latter-day Saint denomination, has a High Council consisting of twelve members. These Stake High Councils assist the Stake Presidency in disciplinary council
Disciplinary council
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a disciplinary council is an ecclesiastical trial during which a member of the church is tried for alleged violations of church standards. If a member of the LDS Church is found guilty of an offence by a disciplinary council, he or she may be...
s and in communicating to the wards and branches within the stake.