Minutes and Discourse of the October 1840 Nauvoo General Conference

Source Text

Source note: General Conference of the Church, Minutes and Discourse, Nauvoo, Hancock Co., IL, 3-5 Oct. 1840. Featured version published in "Conference Minutes," Times and Seasons, 15 Oct. 1840, vol. 1, no. 12, 185-187. ¶

Document links below are preserved inline where the minutes or JSP annotation identify documents read, commissioned, or materially referenced during the conference. ¶

Minutes of the general conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in Nauvoo, Hancock county, Ill. Oct., 3rd 1840. ¶

The conference was opened by prayer by President William Marks. JSP notes that the previous general conference was Minutes and Discourse, 6-8 April 1840. ¶

Joseph Smith jr. was then unanimously called to the chair, and Robert B. Thompson, chosen clerk. ¶

A letter from elders Samuel Bent and George W. Harris and one from Elder John E. Page were then read by the Clerk, which gave very satisfactory accounts of their mission. JSP also links this setting to Letter from Orson Hyde, 28 September 1840. ¶

On motion. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to ordain such as have recommends to this conference for ordination, and that elders Jonathan H. Hale, Elisha H. Groves, Charles C. Rich, John Murdock, Simeon Carter compose said committee, and report their proceedings before the conference closes. ¶

The president arose and stated that there had been several depredations committed on the citizens of Nauvoo, and thought it expedient that a committee be appointed, to search out the offenders, and bring them to justice. ¶

Whereupon it was resolved, that, Joseph Smith, Elias Higbee, William Marks, Vinson Knight, William Law, Charles C. Rich, Dimick B. Huntington, compose said committee. ¶

On motion. Resolved, that R. B. Thompson be appointed the general church clerk in the room of Geo. W. Robinson, who intends to remove to Iowa. ¶

It having been requested by Elder Page that the conference would appoint an elder to take charge of the church which he and Elder Orson Hyde had raised up in Cincinnatti. ¶

On motion. Resolved, that Elder Samuel Bennett, be appointed to preside over the church in Cincinnatti. ¶

The president then rose, and stated that it was necessary that something, should be done with regard to Kirtland, so that it might be built up; JSP notes prior Kirtland direction in Minutes, 5-6 September 1840 and Letter to Oliver Granger, between circa 22 and circa 28 July 1840. and gave it as his opinion, that the brethren from the east might gather there, and also, that it was necessary that some one should be appointed from this conference to preside over that stake. ¶

On motion. Resolved, that Elder Alman Babbit [Almon Babbitt] be appointed to preside over the church in Kirtland, and that he choose his own councillors. ¶

Conference adjourned for one hour. ¶

One o'clock P. M. Conference met pursuant to adjournment. ¶

An opportunity was given to the brethren who had any remarks to make on suitable locations for stakes. ¶

Elder Henry Miller stated that it was the desire of a number of the brethren residing in Adams county to have a stake appointed at Mount Ephraim in that county, and stated the advantages of the place for agricultural purposes &c. ¶

On motion. Resolved, that a stake be appointed at Mount Ephraim in Adams county. ¶

There being several applications for the appointment of stakes, it was resolved that a committee be appointed to organize stakes between this place and Kirtland, and that Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight and Alman Babbit compose said committee. ¶

The president then spoke of the necessity of building a "House of the Lord" in this place. JSP points to Discourse, circa 19 July 1840 for earlier temple instruction. ¶

Whereupon it was resolved, that the saints build a house for the worship of God, and that Reynolds Cahoon, Elias Higbee, and Alpheus Cutler, be appointed a committee to build the same. ¶

On motion. Resolved, that a commencement be made ten days from this date, and that every tenth day be appropriated for the building of said house. ¶

President Hyrum Smith arose and stated that there were several individuals, who on moving to this place, had not settled with their creditors and had no recommend from the branches of the church were they had resided. ¶

On motion. Resolved that those persons moving to this place, who do not bring a recommend, be disfellowshiped. ¶

J[ohn] C. Bennett, M. D. then spoke at some length, on the oppression, to which the church had been subject, and remarked, that it was necessary for the brethren to stand by each other and resist every unlawful attempt at persecution. ¶

Elder Lyman Wight then addressed the meeting. Conference adjourned until to morrow morning. ¶

Sunday morning. Conference met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened by prayer by Elder Babbit. ¶

The clerk was then called upon to read the report of the presidency, in relation to the city plot. after which the president made some observations on the situation of the debts on the city plot and advised that a committee be appointed to raise funds to liquidate the same. JSP notes the land-purchase context with Bonds from Horace Hotchkiss, 12 August 1839-A and 12 August 1839-B. ¶

On motion. Resolved, that William Marks and Hyrum Smith compose said committee. ¶

On motion. Resolved, that a committee be appointed to draught a bill for the incorporating of the town of Nauvoo, and other purposes. ¶

Resolved, that Joseph Smith Jr. Dr. J. C. Bennett and R. B. Thompson, compose said committee. ¶

Resolved that Dr. J. C. Bennett, be appointed delegate to Springfield, to urge the passage of said bill through the legislature. JSP later identifies this work with the Act to Incorporate the City of Nauvoo, 16 December 1840. ¶

President Hyrum Smith then rose and gave some general instructions to the church. ¶

Conference adjourned for one hour. ¶

One o'clock, P. M. Conference met pursuant to adjournment and was opened by prayer by Elder J. P. Green [John P. Greene]. ¶

President Joseph Smith jr. then arose and delivered a discourse on the subject of baptism for the dead. which was listened to with considerable interest, by the vast multitude assembled. ¶

Dr. Bennett, from the committee, to draught a charter for the city, and for other purposes, reported the outlines of the same. ¶

On motion. Resolved that the same be adopted. ¶

Dr. Bennett then, made some very appropriate remarks on the duty of the saints in regard to those, who had, under circumstances of affliction, held out the hand of friendship, and that it was their duty to uphold such men and give them their suffrages, and support. ¶

Elder Ebenezer Robinson then arose, and gave an account of the printing of another edition of the book of Mormon, and stated, that it was now nearly completed and that arrangements had been made for the printing of the hymn book book of doctrine and covenants, &c. JSP links the edition discussed here to the 1840 Book of Mormon. ¶

Conference adjourned to Monday morning. ¶

Monday morning, Oct., 5th. Conference met pursuant to adjournment and was opened by prayer by Elder Lyman Wight. ¶

Elder R. B. Thompson after a few preliminary remarks, read an article on the priesthood, composed by president Joseph Smith jr, after which, ¶

Elder Babbitt delivered an excellent discourse on the same subject at some considerable length. ¶

Conference adjourned for one hour. ¶

During the intermission a large number were baptized. ¶

Two o'clock P. M. Conference met pursuant to adjournment. ¶

Elder Lyman Wight addressed the conference on the subject of baptism for the dead and other subjects of interest to the church. ¶

The president then made some observations, and pronounced his benediction on the assembly. ¶

Dr. J. C. Bennett said that many persons had been accused of crime, and been looked upon as guilty, when on investigation it has been ascertained that nothing could be aduced against them,--Whereupon, ¶

On motion; it was resolved that no person be considered guilty of crime, unless proved so by the testimony of two or three witnesses. JSP links this standard to Revelation, 23 February 1831. ¶

Dr. Bennett next brought before the conference the treatment the saints had experienced in Missouri, and wished to know, whether the conference would take any further steps in relation to obtaining redress. ¶

On motion. Resolved that Elias Higbee and R. B. Thompson be appointed a committee to obtain redress for the wrongs sustained in Missouri. ¶

The committee on ordinations reported that they had ordained thirty nine to the ministry. ¶

On motion. Resolved that this conference be dismissed, and that the next conference be held on the 6th day of April next. ¶

JOSEPH SMITH jr., Pres't. ¶

R. B. Thompson, Clerk, ¶