Minutes of the May 1834 Conference on the Name of the Church

Source note

Preferred witness: Minutes, 3 May 1834, page 160, accessed 23 May 2026. The JSP transcript presents the version published in The Evening and the Morning Star. The preliminary drafts made by Oliver Cowdery and Frederick G. Williams are not extant. ¶

The transcript below follows 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

The conference met in Kirtland, Ohio, on 3 May 1834. Its proceedings included the formal adoption of the name “The Church of the Latter Day Saints,” instructions concerning church governance, and reports from branches represented at the meeting. ¶

This material remains one conference record because the surviving source intermingles proceedings, reported remarks, and institutional business rather than preserving a set of discrete, complete sermon transcripts. ¶

Transcript

Kirtland, Ohio, May 3, 1834. ¶

MINUTES of a Conference of the Elders of the church of Christ, which church was organized in the township of Fayette, Seneca county, New-York, on the 6th of April, A. D. 1830. ¶

The Conference came to order, and Joseph Smith Jr. was chosen Moderator, and Frederick G. Williams and Oliver Cowdery, were appointed clerks. ¶

After prayer the Conference proceeded to discuss the subject of names and appellations, when a motion was made by Sidney Rigdon,¹ and seconded by Newel K. Whitney, that this church be known hereafter by the name of THE CHURCH OF THE LATTER DAY SAINTS. Appropriate remarks were delivered by some of the members, after which the motion was put by the Moderator, and passed by unanimous voice. ¶

Resolved that this Conference recommend to the Conferences and Churches abroad,² that in making out and transmitting Minutes of their proceedings, such minutes and proceedings be made out under the above title. ¶

Resolved that these Minutes be signed by the Moderator and Clerks, and published in The Evening and The Morning Star. ¶

p. 160 ¶

Compiler's notes

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

Notes from Tyler’s compilation

These minutes were published in The Evening and the Morning Star. Both Oliver Cowdery and Frederick G. Williams took minutes, but neither of their drafts are extant, according to the Historical Introduction to this source. ¶

Vault presentation

• The publication note remains outside the source quotation so it cannot be mistaken for transcript text.

Textual and contextual notes