Church councils in Kirtland, Ohio in 1833 were active decision forums.
On March 23 at 9 AM, a group of church leaders gathered in the school room on the second floor of the Newell K. Whitney store. They discussed several properties they would like to purchase, and they sent representatives to speak with the owners about possible terms of sale, while the rest of the council waited for several hours “in prayer and fasting.” When they reconvened, Ezra Thayre reported that a man named Peter French was willing to sell a 103-acre plot of land to the Church for $5,000. The property included a building, a brick yard, and a farm. There was a catch: the ground floor of the building had been rented out to another man named Thomas Knight, so the church would not have full use of the building during term of the lease agreement. The council voted to purchase the land.
A week and a half later, on April 2, a council of church leaders assigned Frederick G. Williams, a member of the First Presidency, to superintend the property, including employing people to work in the brickyard and renting out the farm. The purchase agreement was formally signed on April 10.
On June 1, the Lord chastised church leaders for failing to make progress on the temple, which He had commanded them to build six months earlier. (See Doctrine and Covenants 95, 88:119.) In the first week of June, they identified a site (on the French farm) and began construction.
On June 4, a council met to decide how the French farm should be “disposed.” There was a lot of disagreement in the meeting, probably due to Frederick G. Williams being previously assigned to “superintend” the property, while Bishop Newell K. Whitney was responsible for assigning land to families for their stewardships. Since the council couldn’t agree on a path forward, Joseph Smith prayed and received a revelation, now known as Doctrine and Covenants 96. The Lord gave two instructions in this revelation:
- Newell K. Whitney should oversee the land, dividing it “into lots, according to wisdom, for the benefit of those who seek inheritances, as it shall be determined in council among you” (v. 3).
- John Johnson, a prominent church member, should be assigned to resolve outstanding issues with the property, including “[taking] away incumbrances that are upon the house,” probably a reference to Thomas Knight’s lease (v. 9).
The council formally agreed to follow both instructions during the same meeting.
A similar pattern of deliberation and action appears in the Book of Mormon. After a rescue party from Zarahemla arrives in the land of Nephi, King Limhi consults with his people to craft a plan for escaping from bondage. When Gideon proposes a workable plan, the king “[hearkens] unto [his] words” and quickly puts them into action (Mosiah 22:1-13).
The decision-making pattern I see in both of these examples is:
- Counsel together, seeking inspiration.
- Agree on a course of action.
- Execute the plan immediately.
Today, I will strive to build consensus, seek revelation, and act promptly when decisions are made. I will remember that forward momentum requires both unity and initiative.