Minutes of the October 1838 Far West Quarterly Conference

Source note

Preferred witness: Minute Book 2, pages 160–162, accessed 1 June 2026. The JSP transcript preserves the third quarterly conference of church authorities at Far West on 5–6 October 1838. ¶

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

Church authorities met at Far West on 5–6 October 1838. After an initial adjournment for lack of a quorum, the conference conducted business concerning missions, vacancies, the high council, and the temporal affairs of the church. ¶

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

5–6 October 1838 • Friday–Saturday

Conference. ¶

The 3rd Quarterly conference of the authorities, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, assembled in the Far-West on Friday, October 5th 1838. ¶

President Brigham Young presiding. ¶

Conference opened by singing, “O! happy souls who pray.” &c and prayer by the President— ¶

After which the following hymn was sung: “Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation”. &c ¶

As there were not a sufficency of members present to make a quorum to do buisness, therefore, the Conference adjourned untill 2 o’clock P.M. ¶

The conference convened agreeable to adjournment. ¶

Opened by singing and prayer by Elder [Heber C.] Kimball. ¶

Presidents Young and [Thomas B.] Marsh presiding. ¶

As there were not a sufficient number of the High Council and other ordained members, to form quorums, to do buisness as a quarterly Conference, yet there were some some recommends for ordination which were read and one passed the Conference in the name of the Church, viz: Br Isaac Laney, as he was about to go on a visit to his friends in the South. ¶

Br Horace Alexander made a request to have an Elder accompany him to Indiana and Ohio, also requested an ordination to the office of an Elder, which was granted by the Conference & Elder Ebenezer Page was appointed to accompany him. ¶

A recommend was handed to the Conference by the Clerk of the Elder’s Quorum, recommending Stephen Chase to be ordained as President of the Elders Quorum— which was read by the Clerk and passed unanimously p. 160 ¶

Emanuel M. Murphy made a request to have an Elder accompany him to South Carolina this Season, when Almon Babbitt was appointed to be his Companion, if it met his feelings. ¶

After some remarks by various members of the Conference, it was moved, Seconded and Caried—— ¶

That Brs Isaac Morley, John Buchanan, and James Allred be ordained or not to the Bishopric, by the First Presidency, as they see proper. ¶

The Conference adjourned untill to-morrow 10 o’Clock. Closed in prayer by Isaac Morley. ¶

Saturday October 6th 1838. ¶

Conference convened agreeably to adjournment, Opened by singing “To him that made the sun and moon and stars” &c. and prayer by President B[righam] Young ¶

Prests [Thomas B.] Marsh and Young presiding. ¶

Elder Benjamin L. Clapp gave a statement of his travels in Kentucky, as he had just returned from there, many doors were opened in that part of the country, and calls for preaching continually ¶

He wished some Elders to go to that country. ¶

A call was then made for volunteers to go forth and preach the gospel, when several Elders offered themselves, also a call for volunteers, <​members,​> who wished to be ordained and go into the vineyard to make it manifest, when Br Albert Sloan made a request to be ordained to the office of an Elder, after some remarks it was moved, Seconded, and carried, that he be ordained as aforsaid. ¶

The following are the names of the Elders, who volunteered to go forth into the vineyard this season. James Carroll, James Galliher, Luman A. Shirtliff, James Dunn, Ahaz Cook, Isaac Decker, Cornelius P. Lott, and Alpheus Gifford. p. 161 ¶

President Marsh gave some very good instructions to the Elders who have volunteered requesting them not to go forth boasting of their faith, or of the judgements of the Lord; but to go in the Spirit of meekness and preach repentance unto the children of men. ¶

Elder John Taylor, from Canada, by request, gave a statement, of his feelings respecting his being appointed as one of the Twelve. He said he was willing to do any thing, which God would require of him, by the assistance of the Lord. ¶

After which it was voted by the Conference that Br John Taylor fill the vacancy of one of the Twelve. ¶

After which Stephen Chase came forward and was ordained a President to preside over the Quorum of Elders, in this Stake of Zion ¶

The following persons then came forward and were ordained to the office of Elders under the hands of the Presidents; viz: ¶

Isaac Laney, Horace Alexander and Albert Sloan. ¶

Voted by the Conference that Samuel Bent and Isaac Higbee fill the seats of John Murdock and George M. Hinkle, in the High Council, who have moved to De Witt. ¶

Elder Kimball made a few appropriate remarks to the Elders respecting their duty. ¶

Bishop E[dward] Partridge made a Report of the temporal affairs of the Church. ¶

Conference adjourned untill the first friday and saturday in January next at 10 o’clok A.M. p. 162 ¶

Compiler's notes

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

Vault presentation

• This remains a single third-quarterly-conference record rather than extracting brief reported remarks as independent sermons.
• The preferred source now begins on JSP page 160; the existing archived source and provenance remain recorded in frontmatter.