Letter from William Clayton, 7 October 1844
Nauvoo
Dr Brother Woodruff,
I sit down this morning to send a
line to you by brother Benjamin Halkins who leaves here to day to
come to England, but inasmuch as it is conference and a very busy
time I can only say a very little. Since you went away we have
had all kinds of times and some very warm I assure you. E[lde]r Rigdon
came out decidedly opposed to the Twelve and declares himself above
them and not responsible. He held secret meetings at Sobys night
after night and there ordained a number of men prophets, priests,
and kings without any ordinance or authority. He likewise taught
them that Joseph was fallen and that the Twelve were corrupt and
wicked, engaged in Bogus making and adultery &c. &c. &c. This you
may think cause a little rapture because in spite of his cunning
it leaked out and although he told the people in publick that
Joseph died holding the keys of authority he taught them in private
that Joseph was a fallen prophet and he had known it for years.
He said in publick that he did not want to divide the church,
but in private he said he wanted to feel on the minds of the people
and if he could gain enough to go with him he should come out
publickly against the Twelve and rout them. When these things
were proven to the Twelve some of them sent to see him and finally
got a confession from him which satisfied them that the reports
were true. The consequence was he was cited to appear before
the High Council in publick meeting for trial, but he refused
to come. The whole case was investigated and a black catalogue
of accusations substantiated against him, and he was cut off
from the church and delivered over to the buffettings of Satan
for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in
the day of the Lord Jesus. There are a number gone with Er.
Rigdon to "the mountains" as he said or to Pittsburgh
