Minutes of the January 23, 1832 Missouri General Conference

Source note

Preferred witness: Minute Book 2, pages 20–22, accessed 21 May 2026. The minutes preserve the Missouri general conference held two days before the Amherst conference. ¶

The transcripts below follow the Joseph Smith Papers expanded-transcription presentation: original spelling and punctuation are retained; editorial additions appear in brackets; insertions appear in angle brackets; cancellations appear with strikethrough; and manuscript page endings are linked to the corresponding JSP image and transcript page. ¶

Historical introduction

Church members in Missouri held a general conference on 23 January 1832. Joseph Smith was not present. The record addresses disciplinary matters, ordinations, and the requirement that local church voice support ordinations. ¶

This material remains one conference record because the surviving sources preserve proceedings, retrospective summaries, or reported remarks rather than a set of discrete, complete sermon transcripts. ¶

Transcript

Minute Book 2

23 January 1832 • Monday

Minutes of a general Conference held in the land of Zion (Kaw Township Jackson County Missouri,) at the dwelling house of Newel Knight. January 23.1832. ¶

Present ¶

Edward Partridge John Corrill Isaac Morley John Whitmer John Murdock William W Phelps Lyman Wight Harvey Whitlock Newel Knight Parley P Pratt Oliver Cowdery Levi Hancock Zebedee Coultrin [Coltrin] Selah J Griffin Calvin Bebee [Beebe] Joshua Fairchilds (License taken) Peter Dustin (Priest) Hezekiah Peck (Teacher) Isaac Bebee [Beebe] p. 21 ¶

Br Edward Partridge appointed moderator & Oliver Cowdery Clerk Prayer by br John Murdock. Various Commandments read. ¶

Resolutions offered by br Lyman Wight to take into consideration the circumstances of two brethren present. Isaac & George Bebee [Beebe] who desired to preach the Gospel Commandment read by the Clerk ceartain remarks made by him also & br William W Phelps The duty of the Priests Teachers & Deacons read by br John Whitmer from the Articles & covenants Remarks by br John Corrill, stating that the offices of Priests, Teachers, & Deacons, to be as importent as any in the Church ¶

Resolved therefore that there be no person ordained in the Land of Zion to the office of Elder Priest Teacher or Deacon without the united voice of the Churches in which such individual resides Closed. ¶

Prayer by John Corrill ¶

Oliver Cowdery Clerk of Conference. ¶

Compiler's notes

Tyler’s collection-level compiler’s note is preserved verbatim. ¶

Notes from Tyler’s compilation

Two days prior to the Amherst conference, the branch of the Church in Missouri held a “general conference.” However, Joseph Smith was not present at this conference. The minutes are as follows: ¶

Vault presentation

• Because Joseph Smith was absent and the source consists of institutional minutes, no individual talk files are inferred from it.