At a General Assembly of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, according to previous notice, held on the 17th of August, 1835 to take into consideration the labors of a certain committee which had been appointed by a General Assembly of September 24, 1834, as follows:

“The Assembly being duly organized, and after transacting certain business of the church, proceeded to appoint a committee to arrange the items of doctrine [Lectures on Faith] of Jesus Christ, for the government of his church of the Latter Day Saints, which church was organized and commenced its rise on the 6th day of April, 1830. These items are to be taken FROM the BIBLE, BOOK OF MORMON, and the REVELATIONS which have been given to said church up to this date, or shall be until such arrangement is made.”

“Elder Samuel H. Smith, for the assembly, moved that presiding elders, Joseph Smith Jr, Olver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams compose said committee. The nomination was seconded by elder Hyrum Smith, whereupon it received the UNAMIMOUS VOTE of the assembly.”

SIGNED: OLIVER COWDERY, ORSON HYDE. {Clerks}

Wherefore Presidents O. Cowdery and S. Rigdon, proceeded and organized the high council of the church at Kirtland, and Presidents W W. Phelps and J Whitmer proceeded and organized the high council of the church in Missouri. Bishop Newel K. Whitney proceeded and organized his counsellors of the church in Kirtland, and acting Bishop John Corrill, organized the counsellors of the church in Missouri: and also Presidents Leonard Rich, Levi W. Hancock, Sylvester Smith and Lyman Sherman, organized the council of the seventy; and also, Elder John Gould, acting President, organized the travelling Elders [twelve apostles]; and also Ira Ames, acting President organized the Priests; and also Erastus Babbitt, acting President, organized the Teachers; and also William Burgess, acting President, organized the Deacons; and also Thomas Gates, assisted by John Young, William Cowdery, Andrew H. Aldrich, Job S. Lewis and Oliver Higley, as Presidents of the day, organized the whole assembly. Elder Levi W. Hancock appointed chorister: a hymn was then sung and the services of the day opened by the prayer of President O. Cowdery, and the solemnities of eternity rested upon the audience. Another hymn was sung; after transacting some business for the church the audience adjourned for one hour.

Afternoon.—After a hymn was sung, President Cowdery arose and introduced the “[1835] Book of doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of the church of the Latter Day Saints,” in behalf of the committee: he was followed by President Rigdon, who explained the manner by which they intended to obtain the voice of the assembly for or against said book: the other two committee, named above, were absent. According to said arrangement W. W. Phelps bore record that the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants] presented to the assembly, was true. President John Whitmer, also arose, and testified that it [1835 Doctrine and Covenants] was true. Elder John Smith, taking the lead of the high council in Kirtland, bore record that the revelations in said book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants] were true, and that the [L]ectures [on Faith] were judiciously arranged and compiled, and were profitable for DOCTRINE; whereupon the high council of Kirtland accepted and acknowledged them as the doctrine [Lectures on Fatih] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNANIMOUS VOTE. Elder Levi Jackman, taking the lead of the high council of the church in Missouri, bore testimony that the revelations in said book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants] were true, and the said high council of Missouri accepted and acknowledged them as the doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

President W. W. Phelps then read the written testimony of the Twelve, as follows. “The testimony of the witnesses to the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants] of the Lord’s commandments [covenants], which he gave to his church through Joseph Smith Jr who was appointed by the voice of the church for this purpose: we therefore feel willing to bear testimony to all the world of mankind, to every creature upon the face of all the earth, and upon the islands of the sea, that the Lord has borne record to our souls, through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us, that these commandments [covenants] were given by INSPIRATION [and revelation] of God, and are profitable for all men, and are verily true. We give this testimony unto the world, the Lord being our helper: and it is through the grace of God, the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, that we are permitted to have this privilege of bearing this testimony unto the world, in the which we rejoice exceedingly, praying the Lord always, that the children of men may be profited thereby.” Elder Leonard Rich bore record of the truth of the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants] and the council of the Seventy accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

Bishop N. K. Whitney bore record of the truth of the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], and with his counsellors, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

Acting Bishop, John Corrill, bore record of the truth of the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], and with his counsellors, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNANIMOUS VOTE. Acting President, John Gould, gave his testimony in favor of the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], and with the travelling Elders [twelve apostles], accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

Ira Ames, acting President of the Priests, gave his testimony in favor of the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], and with the Priests, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

Erastus Babbitt, acting President of the Teachers, gave his testimony in favor of the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], and they accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrines [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

Wm. Burges acting President of the Deacons, bore record of the truth of the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], and they accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

The venerable President, Thomas Gates, then bore record of the truth of the book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], and with his five silver-headed assistants, and the WHOLE CONGREGATION, accepted and acknowledged it as the doctrine [Lectures on Faith] and covenants [commandments] of their faith, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE. The several authorities, and the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE, accepted of the labors of the committee.

President W. W. Phelps then read an article on MARRIAGE [1835 Doctrine and Covenants 101, LDS REMOVED, RLDS 111, 1844 109], which was ACCEPTED and ADOPTED, and ORDERED to be PRINTED in said BOOK [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

President O. Cowdery then read an article on “governments and laws in general, [1835 Doctrine and Covenants 102, LDS 134, RLDS 112, 1844 110]” which was accepted and adopted, and ordered to be printed in said book [1835 Doctrine and Covenants], by a UNAMIMOUS VOTE.

A hymn was then sung. President S. Rigdon returned thanks, after which the assembly was blessed by the Presidency, with uplifted hands, and dismissed.

THOMAS BURDICK, WARREN PARRISH, SYLVESTER SMITH. {Clerks}

General Assembly, 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, page 255, The Joseph Smith Papers