Minutes of the October 1849 Great Salt Lake City General Conference

Transcription status

The spine of this file is now a direct transcription of the original CHL manuscript minutes (11 leaves, Thomas Bullock's contemporaneous minute-hand), not an editorial summary. It is nonetheless graded fragmentary: Bullock wrote at speed in a heavily abbreviated hand, and word-level uncertainty is present throughout. Bracketed expansions ([people], rej[oice]) are editorial; [?] marks an uncertain reading; [struck: ...] records a cancellation; ^ marks an interlineation. ¶

Do not split this into individual talk files: Bullock's minutes run speakers together without discrete, separately sourced transcript boundaries, matching the pattern of the other early-restoration conference_record files in this vault. ¶

The Millennial Star summary that previously constituted this file is retained below, after the manuscript, as a second witness. ¶

CHL Manuscript Transcription

Source: "General Conference proceedings, Salt Lake City," CHL, CR 100 318, Box 2 fd 15, 11 leaves, recorded by Thomas Bullock. Leaves are presented in reconstructed document order; the bracketed leaf number at each heading is the delivery-order leaf, so the sequence of headings is not numerically consecutive. ¶

[Leaf 11] 6th Oct. 1849. 10 a.m.

Minutes of the General Conference held in the Bowery in G.S.L. City - pursuant to vote at last April conference ¶

Present. B. Young. H.C. Kimball - D. Spencer - J. Smith. W. Richards - Jas.[?] - L. Snow - W.W. Phelps. J.M. Grant. F.D. Richards. E. Snow - P. Pratt. J. Taylor ¶

Called to order by Pres[t]. Spencer - Choir sung "On the mountains tops appearing" Prayer by H.C. Kimball Choir sung a hymn - ¶

H.C. Kimball. it appears the S[ain]ts. are not turned out this morning, & are not enough to transact the bus. of the Conf. as there is much to be done, & it is beneficial to all - we are all of same family, one our God & one Savior - & therefore the bus. interests every man. this ought to be thot. of a little more than what it is - this cause that we are espoused. I laid hold of to continue in it thro' life & to all Eternities. this world is only my second Estate - & if I keep it. it is glory, & everlasting to all Eternities. read the works of Abram[?] on these matters - we want the [people] to feel as we feel - for the welfare of this [people] & the inhabitants of the Earth - shall we debar one portion of this community from what we av. obtained - how shd. we feel if they had rec'd. it. & wod. not commit it to us - we want the [people] to take an int[erest] with us in bearing off the K[ingdom] to all the nations of the Earth - the time is come when some of the 12 & 70's will go - how do you feel on the subject ye El. of Is[rael] - you ought to prepare your hearts & be ready to go forth - mormonism will stand & every man & woman that recs. it. will live for ever - this old house will tumble to pieces & will build a better one - & if our bodies fail it shews we shall av. a better one - evil savour & wretchedness shall fall on those who oppose this work - & good will rest on this [people] - dont prophecy anything that you are not willing to carry out - we av. commenced a machine so large. that we can pick up a nation at once - God established this work by J.S. & shall we become like drones in the house of Is[rael]. I say no - let us arise & make our election sure - this [people] are going to be rich & it will overthrow many - but a few years & you will all be rich. ¶

Pres[t]. Young thinks it not best to continue meeting long this forenoon - but give the men an opportunity to finish the doors & windows - & then be ready to come this P.M. - as soon as the Council House is built there will be meetings there every day & a reformation will take place in Is[rael]. your minds will be led to that, instead of carousing & dancing - when I hear preaching & music my mind is full of glory, joy peace & happiness - but my body is clogged with about 190 lbs weight of tabernacle ¶

John Taylor thinks there is no need of dismissing - if [we] are too largely[?] come we need not debar ourselves of our privileges & blessings we are met to confer tog[ether]. about the things pertaining to the K. of God - & we may av. to attend to the int. of some 100s. who are not here - we av. gone thro' many sceneries & endured many things - what will try one man will not try anot[her]. some are tried with poverty & ot[hers]. with riches - there is a great deal of diff. in temperaments - it is necessary we shd. go thro' every kind of trial that we may experience & understand them - who do we want to pilot men from the States - some one who has been the road - the S[avior]. sent forth to redeem the Earth - he was buffeted & cuffed around. & to make himself a sacrifice - for he was tried same as us - he knows what we are capable of enduring, & what we are worth - Jesus was an hungered 40 days - he was tempted of the Devil - forsaken by his friends - he understands all the sit[uation]s. - he cried out my God why hast thou forsaken me - av. you felt the powers of darkness bear over you, so as he - av. you seen the glory of the world - so as he - there is nothing we have thro' but he has - av. we not all had to grapple with poverty & sickness - if we are to go to heaven like the Sectarian Priest, we shd. no nothing - the S[avior]. av. put us into a School where we can learn & live for ever - we shall never die - we av. the seed of immortality in us - & we shall live for ever - there is something in our religion different to any one else - our Cov[enan]ts. are all Eternal they av. hold of Eternity - our bodies may slumber & our Sp[irit]s. go into anot[her]. existence - we go to possess a glory that has been revealed to us - we are a nucleus [?] pertaining to our Chil[dren] & Chil. Chil. worlds without end - if we are got to be K. & P. we are to be rulers - & if they dont no how to rule they will be in a poor place - they will be same as Napoleon at Elba - he an Emperor & no one to rule over - there are many great privileges placed on us - & if we dont make a ri[ght] use of them we shall want a Samaritan to wash the mud of us - we talk of the great missions to the nations - but we are all some objections to it - but if men dont go - they may go to the devil if they are a mind to - remember there are K. & Priests now sitting on thrones who wod. be glad to exchange situations with you - & go & preach the gospel - I feel by & by the El. of Is. will come but in & I want to go on missions - many hate to ask for a mission - but want to go - but Pres. Young I once say if you want 50 men to go they are on & to go - if you place some men in adversity you cant crush them - they are like [a] jack in the box - you cant put them down - always are heads up - whatever comes - you who are got bags of gold feed the hungry & clothe the naked & God will bless you - dont get your heart strings buckled up - but what you sow that shall you reap. ¶

B.Y. wanted those [who] expect to return with the mail this coming week - we want them to give in their names & their means of conveyance - ¶

The Bishops ought to av. a door keeper to each door - fix the seats for the P.M. - I realize we ought to bear off the K. to the nations of the Earth - the [people] in general, are a good [people] - I shall seek to do this [people] good & my heart is like a chariot of Amminadab[?] - & will in my mind - I feel happy for this ordinary shelter - I shall seek to do this [people] good & my desire[?] Sal[vation]. to the H. of Is. & want to see Zion built up - ¶

Choir sung "Come let us anew" Benediction by C.C. Rich dismissed for one hour - ¶

[Leaf 1] Oct. 6. 1849 1 1/2 P.M.

Conference again convened purs[uan]t. to adj[ournmen]t. - Called to order by D. Spencer ¶

Present H.C.K. - W.R. - J. Smith - L. Snow - F.D. Richards, E. Snow - J.M. Grant - B. Young. O. Pratt. C.C. Rich. Choir sung a hymn - Prayer by John Young - ¶

H.C. Kimball. there is lying before us much bus. to transact - & many little think they are to do a deal of labor - so it is thot. best to proceed to bus. the 1st. item will be to raise funds to bring the poor to this place - most of you are aware of the cov[enan]t. made in Nauvoo - to help all to come to this Valley - I av. seen Pres[t]. Smith so filled with the H.G. when he anticipated coming into this Valley - we are here, rich to what we are here & are a healthy country - when the 12 started for Engl[an]d and I saw & many Pres. so faint he cod. not stand on his feet - & dying on the right & left - & here we are healthy & plenty to eat, drink & to wear - & I prophesy you shall never see less while you live - some of us came here 2 yrs ago - & we ret[urned]. there - & came again with our families & 1000s. - & we are now more rich & wealthy than we ever were before - we are made a Cov[enan]t. - shall we fulfil it or shall we not. if you do, signify it by saying amen - (loud shouts) now if you are 10. but it in a few[?] months you shall have four fold - & the d[evil] has [n]o power in your tithes & your offerings & I will pour out a blessing that it shall overflow - now let every man & woman take hold. dont send your agent with less than 1,000 & then you will cause a day of rejoicing among the poor in Ill[inois] - the S[pirit]. will pour riches into this place as fast as you want it - this is but a drop to a mighty shower ¶

B.Y. I move we raise a fund to bring the poor to this place - sec. Carried - H.C.K. we want all to vote whether they belong to the Ch. or not - to gather up the poor - sec. Carr[ied]. B.Y. I move there be a com[mittee] of 5 to raise funds to send back to gather up the poor - sec. Carr[ied]. I nominate Willard Snow to be one of that com. - sec. & Card. John S. Fullmer ————— Carr. Lorenzo Snow ————— Card. John D. Lee ————— Carrd. F.D. Richards ————— Carr. I move that E. Hunter carry the funds back - buy cattle ^& av. the oversight of the whole & bring the poor to this place - sec. Card. B.Y. [struck: Amasa Lyman] C.C. Rich gather up funds in California, as agents, for this ^Perpetual fund - sec. Carr. J. Taylor moved that the whole of this concern be under the direction of the First Pres[idenc]y. - sec. Card. ¶

B.Y. I move that C.C. Rich go on a mission to Western California & assist Amasa Lyman to preach & gather up the S[ain]ts. sec. Card. Addison Pratt ⎫ James Brown ⎬ go to the Society Islands & preach the Gospel - sec. Carr. Hiram Blackwell ⎭ ¶

B.Y. motioned that one of the 12 go to Italy & anot. to Denmark & Germany - viz Lorenzo Snow & Joseph Toronto are nominated to go to Italy - sec. carried motioned that Erastus Snow & Peter Hansen go to Denmark - sec. Carried. ¶

H.C.K. cond. bro Hansen has translated the B. of M. into his native [struck] language - he came by a dream to this land & obtain[ed] a copy of the book - translated - & is now ready to return - & a better boy never lived - & Jos[eph]. Toronto also - they will preach the Gospel to the [struck: nations] - they will heal the sick & cause the old to come to life - he is filled with dreams & visions & prophesyings - & I never cared for persecution. the hotter it is the more glorious it is ¶

B.Y. I move that Joseph W. Johnson, & Joseph W. Young take a mission to England - sec. Carr. John Taylor take a mission to France - sec. Carried H.C.K. to Taylor - we want to try your words of this morning (laf) moved & sec'd. that Curtis E. Bolton take a mission to France with El. Taylor - Carr. moved & sec'd. that Fras[?] an. Pomeroy take a mission to the Coast with El. Rich - Carrd. ¶

B.Y. rose - concerning the 12. when they take a mission to any nation - they dictate the affairs there - same as I do here - the enquiry may be made can L. Snow dictate any where but in Italy - yes they dictate in all the world - two of them may Council tog[ether]. & send El. where they please & as they deem wisdom - as we app[ointed]. L. Snow. & E. Snow - are they any right any where else - yes I wish they wod. open the door all over the world - if any of them wish to take any from this place. they will council with the First Pres[idenc]y. - if they see any one professing to be an El. in the Ch. & bring disgrace on his P[riesthood]. he has right to walk up & take his licence & send him about his business - but it may be well to call the brandts[?] tog. & they will cut them off - as the [w]rite[?] is[?] they are always willing to part with - ¶

H.C.K. there are numerous bus. to come before this Conference - one is for the welfare peace & happiness of this community so as to benefit themselves - you are aware masons & mechanics of all sorts are left their bus. to attend to farming - now we av. grain enough to last over anot. year - we want you all to go into your former trades. classify yourselves & come into some order & manufacture the thing in this place instead of buying all from the States - & we are also to consider the Settlement in Sandwich[?] Valley - with Jos. Horsley[?]. C. Shumway & [struck: 30 others] ^Seth Taft - we except those going who are not timber & not easy handled. we wish to keep them in this mill until they become more reliable ¶

[Leaf 2] (continues Oct. 6 P.M. session)

B.Y. I move that F.D. Richards goes to England to preach the Gospel — sec. Carr. —"— Job Smith go with him to England ————— sec. Carr. —"— Haden W. Church[?] go to England ————— sec. carr. H.C.K. all those El. who have been appointed to go on missions are expected to start this week - ¶

B.Y. I move that Isaac Morley, Chs. Shumway & Seth Taft be the men to take the Presidency ^of the Settlement in of the Sandpitch Valley - Carr. J.B.[?] read the letter from Smith & Benson at Independence Rock - ¶

H.C.K. spoke of the classifying the tra[des] - some to lumbering - others to handling wood &c & some to tanning. the nations will soon be in motion - & we shall av. the Potters making as fine chinas as any in Staffordshire - some to Paper mill - making oil - shall we sit down in idleness - no. let us make the things ourselves - let us begin this moment. classify ourselves & go into manufacturing - we are now sending out thousands of dollars for things that we can make ourselves - we want a glass maker to make our window glass, tumblers - &c - ¶

motioned & seconded that H.G. Sherwood build a Glass Factory as soon as circs. will admit - Carried - H.G.S. I no you cant make it to advantage - this year - you cod. not get it into operation under 2 yrs - there are no tools or implements but what can be made in this Valley - ¶

H.C.K. we are workmen in Silk Cotton & Woollen - we can do this ourselves ^& not be dependent on the nations - I hope & pray that every man may be inspired to carry on these things - & bring down the prices of things - for the Stores av. shaved us & galled us all the days of our lives. let us come down & dont take soul & body at the first rake - for that man who does it, will not prosper - & if he dont atone in this world he will in the next - for his sins will come against him in the next world - this [people] never were beat for goodness by any o[ther] [people] - take counsel then & be subject to the powers that be - as a general thing I never saw a family of children more obedient to their parents than this [people] are to their leaders - ¶

P.P. Pratt. your experience in this Valley has taut you many things - for advantage & disadvantage - such as Shoemaker going into lumbering - a clothy maker[?] who used to be a cheese maker - an unacquainted man going into the Kanyons - no man can no many trades - it is not required of him. let every man wherein he is called - abide - through necessity we are all been farmers whether we would or not. &c &c ¶

H.C.K. It is motioned & sec. that George B. Wallace & John S. Higbee take a mission to England - Carr. John Pack go to France with Elder Taylor ————— sec. Carr. - ¶

John Taylor stated that it is proposed to av. a Carrying Co. from the States to this place - upon national principles - if it cod not been for the El. going to the nations to preach - we shd. av. been always poor - we are now beginning to wake up. how smart we are to pay .50 a pound for leather & throwing thousands of hides away - if it had not been for these Gold mines we shd. av. been in poverty - labor is wealth. the carrying business is going to be a lucrative business. ¶

I move that a Company be organized to carry goods & merchandize from Mo. River to this place - sec. Carried B.Y. I propose they start a Passenger Co. from this place to the States forthwith - J.T. thats what I go in for. that will pay better than the other - P. Pratt that is as easily done as I cod. make the road thro the Kanyon. I began with only provisions for one week - & can get the road thro' by Monday night next. - C.C. Rich - any persons who are desirous to go with me to the West - will let me no early - so as to make arrang[emen]ts. ¶

motion for adjournment until tomorrow at 10 a.m. at this place - The Official members notified to meet at Early Candlelight - ¶

Choir sung a hymn Benediction by Isaac Morley ¶

[Leaf 2, cont.] Early Candlelight Oct. 6. 49

Conference of officers Present B.Y. - H.C.K. - W.R. - L. Snow. F.D. Richards. J.[M.] G[rant]. on stand "Glorious things of thee are spoken" - was sung Prayer by J.M. Grant "From Greenlands Icy mountains" - was sung ¶

B.Y. is not sufficiently well to raise my voice (& called the bre[thre]n nearer to the stand) my text is "Joseph the Seer was called to bring forth the Gospel of Salva[tio]n. to the human family & to build up the K. of God on the Earth to the downfall of Satan's reign" - the foundation is laid & it is for us the El. of Is. to build thereon - my heart is like the Chariot of Amminadab - I labor to the extent of my strength & ability - I am full of joy & comfort - & every man who does the will of the Far. in heaven is full of joy - & can rejoice with those that rejoice - & wod. as soon go to the house of mourning - I feel that of. better to preach a funeral sermon than to go to house of dancing - when I see all creation - the world & all its inhabitants bound to be ruled by an all wise Providence & it will result to the glorification of the S[ain]ts. - for the S[ain]ts. will reign over them - they cant do any thing agst. the truth - every time the devil has kicked the L.D.S. they are kicked them into better circs. - we av. the best house we ever av. for a winter - in Nauvoo we were 7 years - but av. no place to meet in in winter - the Lord wont let us think of every thing at once - there is not a person who is going but is sorry to leave us - & yet glad to go - every man that has the Sp. of God in him wants every living thing to hear his voice - the very design of our Far. in heaven was that our bodies wod. go into the Earth - I wod. not want to live in this world so very long - this old body has shook with the ague for 30 yrs - I want this old body to be renewed every voice to be as that at the end of the world wod. hear me - or be as quick as light to be in their midst & roar among them ¶

[Leaf 3] p. 4 — (B.Y. continues, Early Candlelight Oct. 6)

I av. confidence in a good man as much as in God according to his capacity - I am as true to my bre[thre]n as the sun is to rise upon us - if I dont love the bren it is bec. I dont no [k]now. the El. of Is. are more obedient than a family of chil[dren]. - they quarrel so do chil. but are they not quiet when they come home - yes - I hate to see the bren go away I love them - we are now in a sit[uation]. to begin to av. the comforts of life - we anticipate better times - last Spring it was all hurrah for the Corn & Wheat - hurra[h] for the time will soon come that the El. will av. to go to the nations - you see a good crop - good Corn - beans - melons - the L[or]d. has blest us - we live & are under shelter & we mean to line it up & whitewash it - & if I'm able I will stand here & thunder to the El. of Is. post[?] - I say the foundation is laid - av. you got this building built - we av. got to erect that building - no man is fit to handle Gold until he is past lusting after it - no man is fit. to av. farms wives &c - until he does not lust after it - when the El. of Israel can ride on the wings of the Al[mighty]. that little strip of 40 miles wide & 500 long is not the only stripe of Gold - I expect the L[or]d. will close up the vail by & by - and when the El. of Is. can command it - they will av. it - when the El. of Is. can handle governmental rule - they will control it - & say do this, or go there - we can build up the fabric by going to France Germany Italy - China or Gold mines - all the time in every place - & we can operate to our own destruc[tion]. every where in every thing that we do, in all of our movements - when men can act on rite[ous] principles the world is under their feet with all its pomp & splendor, for their whole aim is to build up the K. of God on the Earth - if their object is to build up the K. of God - & their only object - that is their place - & tho a man shd. go to the Gold mine & come back to make himself happy he is not where he shd. be - unless his sole object is to build up the K. of God - we av. a good place to meet in - thank God & the bren - when I came in here on 20 Sept. last year - I saw in the fort every day from 20 to 150 men & boys wrestling &c nothing to do - & it was contention & hurra' - I saw nature acted out there - how like the devil they ride - get out of the way - but I av. not be annoyed that way this Summer - there is not a loafer in this town that I no of - I av. laid plans & done the best I cod. - & we av. raised the grain - & done first rate - we got up this shade by having the dinner on 24 July & it is to be praised - we are now in a sit. to say to Lumbermen & Sawyers go into a Kanyon - & no man shall av. the [k]nack[?] of getting one log & shove it into market - if our lumbermen wod. work on safe prin[ciples]. we cod. av. it cheaper if I shod. see a man steal a saw log of mine I shod. be tempted to shoot him dead - it is abhorent to me a cursed dam'd thief - thieves will be in our midst so long as we av. the Goats & Sheep tog[ether]. - I sometimes feel like Jesus when he took a scourge of ropes & cried get out of my way ye old thieves - ¶

bren you av. seen my course for years back - I used to feel that every El. in the Church knew more than I did - it was astonishing when the S[avior]. called me to be an Apostle - if I do the best I can & he dont add to that. its his look out not mine - my mind wod. be torn to pieces if it were not for Calving[?]. there is not an El. of Is. but will off with his coat & labor all the days of his life - you young men had better go while you are young - just as fast we make improvements here. we will bring men into their own order - I wod. rat[her]. furnish wood at 400 a cord - than bring it here at 8. & run my chance - we want men to go to handling in the Falls[?] - every man can have work - every man to his bus. & let men work to their form[er]. & trades - I say to Blacksmiths - they rule the price your course is impolitic - if you av. confidence in me & this community - let the general matters be dictated by them - wod. I put price on a Blacksmith, Shoemaker & masons work - no - & its impolitic to continue tog. - dont throw fetters on your feet - you will be hated for ever if you put on the grip[e]s on any man - there is many a man that I've seen working on the Temple - bare feet - & av. nothing to eat but dry bread - it is Gods truth the poor av. built the Temple - & the rich av. done nothing - now I am sworn to feed the poor I'm determined they shall fare well - I mean to monopolize all for who work on the public buildings - I dont want to see men poor - I am the boy than can tell them what to do with their money - we want a paper mill - cotton factory - oil mill - next year I want to walk over that rim of the basin - & drop down - to raise Cotton & Cane - I want men with means to be dictated - & I wod. rejoice to av. men go & buy what we want - the Sheep & machinery - why av. I implicit confidence in men - because they av. implicit confidence in me & I av. confidence in myself - if men will only invest their own Capital that is all I ask - I dont no what the L[or]d. is going to appoint to me - I calculate we shall av. a tabernacle that will cost as much as the Nauvoo Temple did - 3 or 4 Baptismal fonts - & then the Temple - but what we shall accomplish I dont no - if we get up the Camping[?] &c - I do no that thousands of dollars will center here - & if we dont do it - it will center in other places - I wod. like to see the Pres[iden]ts. of 70. begin to meet here - & the H.P. - & Bishops - night after night. may the God bless you - altho' I av. not s[aid]. a quarter I intended to - ¶

9 P.M. ¶

I want every man that is going East to be armed to the teeth - as no men ever stood in need of arms as this Season - according to request of the [people] last fall - I put out a paper currency - then they wanted to av. the Gold in their fingers & I av. got what must that does first rate - & if any man can get as much pure Gold out of 2 Eagles & 1/2 as out of the 20. piece. I will give him the 20. piece — & called on the bren to bring in their dust to be coined - ¶

"All is well" was sung. Dismissed by G.B. Wallace 1/4 past 9. ¶

                Thos. Bullock
                   Clerk of Conference

[Leaf 4] Sunday Oct. 7. 1849. 10 a.m.

Conference again convened in the Bowery purs[uan]t. to adj[ournmen]t. of last evening ¶

Present B. Young - J. Smith - D. Spencer - J.B.[?] - O. Spencer - R. Cahoon - W. Richards - P. Pratt - H.C.K. - J.M. Grant - C.C. Rich - E. Snow Called to order by D. Spencer 1/2 past 10. Choir sung "the Jubilee" Prayer by Orson Spencer Choir sung "Joy to the world the Lord will come" ¶

B.Y. called the Cong[regatio]n. to be composed while we transact the bus. of the day - the 1st. will be to present the diff[eren]t. Quo[rum]s. - for approval or disapproval - & also to converse on tithing - & illustrate & exhibit the true prin. of the tithing of the S[ain]ts. of the mo[st] hi[gh] - it will be necessary for each Bishop to av. a door keeper - & two marshalls to keep general order, one at E. & one at West - & being quiet we can be heard & understood - it is a matter of rej[oicing]. to be priv[ileged]. with you - & rej. to meet with you & enjoying the Society of [people] who profess Christianity & are followers of the L[or]d. J.C. - I am thankful to God my heavenly Far. that necessity does not confine me in the Society of those who blaspheme - I am thankful for this shelter from the rays of the Sun in Summer - & shelter from the inclemency & severity of the Cold Stor[m]s that we av. hitherto - it causes my heart to rejoice - I presume the Sis[ters] will reflect how long av. been exposed to sun & showers - why we did not build a shelter in o[ther]. places - we spent 7 yrs in Nauvoo & met out of doors - we never thought of it - & cod. not do what we did not think of - we'll occupy this house until we get a better - I av. no doubt we shall av. the privilege of staying here as long as we've a mind to - even until we are 150 yrs old - & I doubt whet[her]. there will be a dog to wag his tongue ¶

Daniel Spencer rose to present the Officers of the Ch. & presented Pres[t]. B.Y. as the Pres[t]. of the Ch. - those who sustain him ^in his office will signify it - ^by uplifted hand - Carried Clear vote H.C.K. — 1st C[ounselo]r. ————— do - W.R. — 2nd C. ————— do - Orson Hyde as Pres. of Quo. of 12 ————— do. P.P. Pratt as one of the 12 ————— do. O. Pratt ————— do. Wilford Woodruff ————— do - John Taylor ————— do - George A. Smith ————— do - Amasa Lyman ————— do - E.T. Benson ————— do - C.C. Rich ————— do - L. Snow ————— do. E. Snow ————— do. F.D. Richards ————— do - [struck: Joseph Young as 1st Pres. of Quo. of all 70.] ————— do - John Young Pres[t]. of H.P. Quo ————— do. R. Cahoon 1st Co. ————— do. G.B. Wallace 2nd Co. ————— do. Joseph Young 1st Pres. of Quo of all 70 ————— do. Levi W. Hancock - 1 Co. — do ————— do. H. Herriman — 2nd Co. — do ————— do. Zera Pulsipher — do — do ————— do. A.P. Rockwood — do — do ————— do. B.L. Clapp — do — do ————— do. J.M. Grant — do — do ————— do. ¶

P.P. Pratt presented D. Spencer Pres[t]. of this Stake of Zion ————— do. D. Fullmer 1st Co. to — do ————— [do.] ¶

B.Y. again drilled the S[ain]ts. as to the negligence of raising the [hand] - if you av. no int[erest]. in the matter sit still - if you are when a vote is called for in a legal way, there is a token or ^evi[dence] sign made - I am ready to lift my [hand] - when I get so long as not to lift up Moses & his Co. - so long as I follow Moses I lift up him & his Co. - realize that the uplifted [hand] will be recorded - dont be dilatory - ¶

P.P. Pratt ——— W. Snow 2nd Co. to Pres[t]. Spencer - ————— do ————— do. B.Y. the next Quo. is the Hi. Co. - in our organi[zin]g. Hi. C. last winter we ord[ained]. Fat[her]. Morley as Pres[t]. of Hi. Co. - all ri[ght]. - bro Sherwood was set apart for a Hi. Co. - I soon learnt his age placed him as Jun[io]r. to Fat. Morley - bro S. is now in Fat. Morley belongs to our Co. & is now going to leave, to Sandpitch Valley I wish to present bro Sherwood as Pres[t]. of the Hi. Co. ————— do ————— do. Edwin D. Woolley as a member of Hi. Co. ————— do ————— do. Wm. W. Major — do ————— do ————— do. Titus Billings — do ————— [do] ————— [do] John Vance ¶

[Leaf 5] (continues Sunday Oct. 7 morning session)

P.P. Pratt presented Ira Eldridge as a member of the Hi. Co. ————— Clear vote Levi Jackman ————— do. Eleazer Miller ————— do. Elisha H. Groves ————— do. ¶

B.Y. if we omit bro Billings name there will be 2 vacancies - if the bren want to fill C[ouncil] those vacancies -do so ¶

J. Taylor nominated [struck: Joseph Hood[?]] as a member of the Hi. Co. ————— do. Thos. Grover ————— do ————— do. B.Y. ——— Lewis Abbott ————— do ————— do. H.C.K. ——— Herman Hyde ————— do ————— do. B.Y. ——— John Kempton ————— do ————— do. ¶

P.P. Pratt presented John Smith as Patriarch of the whole Ch. of J.C. of L.D.S. ————— do. Willard Richards as Historian of Ch. ————— do. N.K. Whitney as Presiding Bishop of Ch. of J.C. of L.D.S. ————— do. John Nebeker Pres[t]. of El. Quo ————— do. James H. Smith 1st Co. W[ith] ————— do. Joseph Harker — Pres[t]. of Priests Quo ¶

H.C. Kimball we discover by dissecting the body, that some of the lesser members are lost - its hi[gh] time we shd. make some new members to be active in this Ch. - when persons are so dormant they cant report their names it is pretty sure they are dormant - the Office of a Teacher or Deacon is as important as any - & the Teachers ought to go from house to house & regulate matters - I av. not seen those officers active in their Office - if they dont magnify that office how can they get a higher calling - if they do not sustain that office & make it honorable bec. they do not honor themselves - persons that do not honor themselves will not be honored by we[?] God - they are not represented themselves - suppose my fingers or my toes or detached from my body they [wod.] be [dead] also & be dead - ¶

Bishop [Newel K. Whitney?] remarked the lesser priesthood has become so small that they are called into the 70. - ¶

B.Y. the Sermon is a good one - if it does not fit the case now - it has done many a time - & may be hereafter applicable to the case - last Winter when we org[anize]d. the Quo. we handed to the Bishops to organize P[riests]. T[eachers]. & D[eacons]. Quo. - I am apprized there has been no house to meet in - we expect to carry that arrang[ement]. out - if I was to go to P. T[eache]r. & D. I shod. find him exhorting the bren to plant his grain - & watch - thats the line of duty for [most] men - the duty of a teacher is to teach the S[ain]ts. - if they feel as this. they view something - & walked into the house of a H.P. - & was visiting the families in their ward - & making enquiries. whet[her]. they pray - administer comfort & counsel &c - & be full of good works - the H.P. wod. say my little boy you are a teacher aint you, & coming to teach a great big H.P. - they are insulted & trampled upon by the H.P. - I'll take the 12. the H.P. & all 70. put them in this City to sustain their families - & say to Bishops send out your teachers - those B[ishop]s. P[riest]s. T[eacher]s. & D[eacon]s. preside over you as much as you preside over the Ch. in England Germany or the nations. they are to teach & guide & direct you - & if I were to hunt for men committing iniquity or rascality I wod. look for it in the H.P. Quo - they are men to a Quo - to get a recommendation to be a H.P. when Jos[eph]. commenced ordaining H.P. - men came to me & wanted me to be ord[ained]. a H.P. - I believed if I can see a man that magnifys the calling of an El. I shd. see a man that magnifys his calling - I av. not ordn. them ord. a H.P. — I understand the whys & wherefores - we dont look or speak alike - men av. a certain chain of words to contain their ideas - there is not the 100th. part of diff. in our Sp[irit]. - as there is in the words & we understand [al]t[ogether] alike - & feel alike - we might convey the same words & ideas - unless they are spoken in same way - it wod. not convey same ideas - ¶

I wod. like to take a text "Take care of your grain & crops - I say to all watch - & marshalls watch the streets a little more - & dont see oxen lying in Corn - I say watch your grain & your gardens a little more - for without the bread & dinner you need not talk of going to the nations - be at your duty all the time & all is right & well - ¶

we contemplate laying out a city bet[ween]. Weber River & Ogdens Fork - shall we do it or not - motioned that we lay out a city in Capt. Browns neighborhood - ——— sec. ——— Clear vote Utah Valley also ——— do ——— do make a Settlement in Sandpitch ^Valley & lay out a city there [do] ——— [do] ¶

those that wish to go to bro Browns Sett[lemen]t. - you are at liberty to go - & also to Utah Valley - there may be a suff[icienc]y. not to go South - I say to poor men who av. got a little improvements - if you can get a chance to sell your betterments to a man thats pretty well off - do so & better yourselves - the very Indians know better than to sell their own land - when a man locks out a piece of land. he sets stakes - that land will be held sacred by me - if men come in collision are with anot. - ¶

We av. the names of Bishops who were to send back oxen to help G.A.S. & E.T.B. we shall notify them to raise help to bring them over the last mountains - to those who are going S. with bro Morley we shall not crowd you, if you cant pay your tithing - & I want the bren to go & help them up there - & not to charge any thing - I am bound to gather tithing - tease the rich - & spend it for the benefit of the poor - ¶

H.C.K. motioned & seconded that John Forsgren take a mission to Sweden — Carried - Clear vote [struck: moved &] motioned & seconded that all the Bishops attend to administering the Sacrament this P.M. ——— do ¶

Choir sung "Jerusalem" Benediction by P.P. Pratt - ¶

[Leaf 6] Oct. 7. 1849. 2 P.M.

Conference met again pursuant to adj[ournmen]t. - called to order by D. Spencer Present H.C. Kimball - W. Richards - P. Pratt - D. Spencer - I. Morley - J.B.[?] L. Snow - F.D. Richards - J.M. Grant - J. Young - W. Snow - O. Spencer - R. Cahoon J. Taylor - C.C. Rich - E. Snow - ¶

Choir sung "the Prodigal Son" Prayer by Willard Snow Choir sung a hymn - "Let Earth receive her King" ¶

D. Spencer called on the Bishops to proceed & administer the Sacrament While the Bishops were breaking bread - P. Pratt rose to express his thankfulness that so many S[ain]ts. cod. be convened in one place - & spoke, in June '31 in Kirtland a conference was held & the Prophet Joseph explained the nature of the H.P. he stood up in midst of Cong. & by rev[elatio]n. pointed out each individual that shd. be ord[ained]. to the Melchisedek Priesthood - I was an Elder then - I realized you are the Holy P. I av. not, you are what I av. long sought for - they laid hands on me & ord[ained]. me an El. next Sunday I went to hear them preach & I was called on & did speak - I honored & revered that power ¶

N.K. Whitney asked a blessing on the bread - ¶

P. Pratt I did not feel worthy to be in the place - I fell on my knees as if J.C. ad been present in person - I felt my breast leap - & told O. Pratt this work. there wod. be 12 Apos. chosen & you will be one of them - some persons are very willing to see miracles & related a miracle. while we were weak in faith both small & young - Luc[y]. Smith lived on one of the Morley farms - she was taken very sick & was expected to be taken out of the world every moment - & she trusted in the L[or]d. & our enemies lay in wait to hear the rumors. Pres[t]. Smith s[ai]d. let us go & see Clari[ssa?] Smith - we all prayed one by one - he then went to the bed side & s[ai]d. in n[ame] of J.C. of Naz[areth] arise & walk - I wanted to hide as I thot. I was not worthy to see such a scene - she got up - sat by the fire - sung a hymn - & the [people] came running into the house - & she went about her bus. I wish many tears cod. be brought to feel my then feelings - those were days of rej[oicing]. & come not by the aspirations of men, but counsel of God only ¶

J.L. Heywood asked a blessing on the Water - ¶

[O./P.] Pratt when a little is given & improved. more is given - same as we give to a child - the gift of the H.G. the immediate power of God cometh by faith & diligence - & if a man will open his mouth - first he knows he will have more & all the powers of his body & mind will be very busy - the Sp. will never let him rest - we never will rest to all Eternity short of accomplishing the building up of the K. of God & the glorifying him - here am I & the Child thou aist given me - they are thine - the Crown of the K. is Et[ernal]. life - not laid down in book - a theory - but in your sanctu[ary?] mind & like every particle of your system & a river of life pours out of your heart - but that power on a man & he can never corrode - death pain & sorrow who cares for it - one thrill of eternal life will outweigh all little things & sicknes[s] a man have a large soul - hence the man that as the rel[igion]. of J.C. is a child of light - & all rest are in darkness it is int[eresting]. conversing with it - men call it the enthusing of the Sp. it is his & int. poured into the mind - the more a man has, the more he will sit still & if he wanted to impart it into a Cong[regation]. he wod. want them all to be still - that he might impart more into the [people] - ¶

Pres[t]. Young desires me to speak on the subject of tithing - the prin. of tithing is not peculiar to this Ch. or [people] - it is as old as the bible - we see it illustrated in Abrams day - & including the power of the Kingdom of God - Abram p[ai]d. one tenth of all he possessed - where is there a L.D.S. who does not no & understand that it is by power of Melch. P. that we rec[eive] forgiveness & justification & eternal life - the Melch. P. is here. &c &c ¶

To fulfil the law of tithing - a man lays before the Bishop a Schedule of all his property - & pays one tenth of it - what he has tithed once he has no occasion to tithe again - but next year he must put in one tenth of increase - of labor, of improvement of his cattle, money goods & trade & whatever he does or has - & whatever use it is put to - it is our own - the Lord does not carry it away with him to Heaven - we are to establish the Government of God on Earth - & that requires means & to know how to use it - & to av. every thing written on Holiness to the Lord - & let God have what is his - & every thing be under the control of the Lord & not of Ceasar or this world - if this Church does not hold itself responsible to help carry off the K. of God - how do you expect we can do it ourselves - the 12. & all of you are minute men - & that makes us diff[eren]t. to the rest of the world - ¶

E. Snow I feel you all appreciate what we av. heard - & the more you hear the more you will appreciate it - & the more you see it is for our int[erest]. as a Ch. & [people] - they are as necessary to the accomplishment of ourselves obtaining glory - as for us to eat & drink & sustain our tabernacles while in the Flesh - & if any reluctance or backwardness has existed it is because the [people] are not reflected on the prin[ciple]: the object & the end of these things - no sooner are they informed of things than they are willing to obey them - I wod. no more consent to be deprived of the priv[ilege]. of being tithed among the [people] of God than be deprived of food daily - when Is. become negligent of these things then the hands of the L[or]d. were slackened agst. them - in the same proportion as they rec[eive]. blessings from the Al[mighty]. will they move forward to act in the light they have - there are many who want light on the subject - who is the author of our lives - he who is the Fat. of the Sp. of all flesh - who has measured time unto man & gives us days & nights - he requires a tenth of our time - & if he gives us ability to use that time he requires us to give a tenth of the inc[rease]: the Lord requires the firstlings of the Flock - & without blemish - & as long as we act on this thing the L. will bless us & send the former rain & latter rain & cause our herds to inc[rease]: - if he calls for a portion of the prin[ciple]: it ought all to be on the altar - this is the feeling that ought to pervade the bosom of every El. in Is. - freely we av. rec'd. & shall we freely give - if we dont we dont realize the bles[sin]gs. - nor realize that Salv[ation]. - an acct. of our Stewardship is required at our hands - & as we rec[eive]. freely - so extend unto others - every time that we av. entered into the narrows we av. come out at the big end of the Horn ¶

[Leaf 7] p. 4 (continues Oct. 7 afternoon session)

John Taylor followed - bro Snow has had to pay his tithing altho he is going on a mission - a number of men are thinking if their families wod. be as well taken care of as the 12. they wod. go - well you shall av. it - some enquire what in creation becomes of it? great many think it ought to belong to the P. - at the time of the mosaic Economy there were 12 tribes. 11 got their living by attending to all the avocations of life - but the 12th tribe. had no lands, no possessions - but ad to work at the altar as busy as bro Shurtliff attending to sacrifices & offerings - if a man cant pay his tithing support his family & go to the nations to preach - he cant create a world - we are not under the Levitical Economy but under the P. of an Et[erna]l. life - Melchisedek was a K. & P. to the most hi[gh] God, & distributed as he thot. fit & we av. P. houses &c to build. that [people] who are most enterprize are thot. most of by nations - it has a tendency to exalt that nation - we av. temples to build that shall be more magnificent than any on the Earth & Princes shall come to Zion to learn wisdom - the God that sits above as been all his days engaged in public enterprize as he wod. not av. been there - we are to raise ourselves in the scale of society & outstrip every thing that exists on the Earth we are the most prudent & politic of any on the Earth - then shall the law go forth from Zion - & all nations shall bow at the feet of Jehovah & call us blessed - if a man cant av. confidence to walk off ten or 2,000 miles to preach the gospel he is a poor tool - as the great God lives we av. a friend in Court - if we are in the Desert or mountain - or on the tempestuous Ocean. who cares. if we live we live to the Lord - ¶

motioned & seconded that Jacob Gates go on a mission to England - Carried ¶

W. Major s[ai]d. if we but now exercise the beautiful exhortations we av. rec'd. we shall always see the hand of the Lord - while his hand is not seen by the impure in heart - we are counciled to bring into the Lords storehouse, that all climes are while his hand ... nations may come into Zion - for when we lift up the K. - we glorify our maker in all things & our hands are as the hands of God - & we shall reap life everlasting - let us now awake & act. the Lord in all things & the Lord will bless us - ¶

Fat. Morley notified all going to the Sandpitch Valley to be ready two weeks tomorrow - W. Snow notified all the bren that ad can. for gathering perpetual fund — want to close their accounts - I hope the bren will not av. to say the Summer is over, the harvest is ended - & we av. done nothing for the Perpetual fund - ¶

D. Spencer called for any bus[iness]. business that wants attending to - B. Young called upon those who are going on missions to meet here at Early Candlelight - & gave an invitation to all the El. of Is. to meet here with us this evening - the bren who go to the States I propose start next Thursday - The Council will meet on Wednesday at 5 P.M. at H.C.K's School room - if there is no more bus. we shall adjourn until next 6 April - O.P. Pratt I move that this Conf. adjourn to the 6 April next at 10 o'clock A.M. to meet in this place - sec. Carr. ¶

Choir sung a doxology - Dismissal Benediction by Willard Snow - Thos. Bullock Clerk of Conference ¶

---

W.R. called on J.B. to go to a marriage of J.M. Fife ¶

After leaving W.R. J.B. went to meeting at Bowery found P.P. Pratt preaching on the subject of missions - to the Elders - [20 min to 8] ¶

P.P. Pratt called the bren who were going missions to take the Seat in front of the Stand when B. Young - W. Richards & P. Pratt went down to them ¶

B.Y. W.R. & P. Pratt laid hands on John Taylor & set him apart to a mission to the nations of the Earth even to open the door of the K. in France - & to all the nations of the Earth - & seal power over the Elements &c - thy voice shall be like the voice of an angel - when thou dost return thou shalt say never have I felt the power of God as on my last mission & be like the Chariot of Amminadab - & go in peace prosper & return in safety to thy bren &c - "& every word shall come to pass" - John I believe it - ¶

W.R. mouth on L. Snow's head - to open up the door to those who are long sit in darkness - go forth with your soul lighted up - & comprehend all things you are to do - see all evil & shun it - act by the Sp. of Rev[elatio]n. which shall rest upon you - av. power over all elements & men - av. strength that you av. never yet ask'd. - & return to the Ch. with a joyful heart - your tongue may be like fire - & voice like thunder - & av. wisdom that your adversarys cant resist - the Sp. God will teach you the Languages that you may speak to all [people] - come agn. & find your family safe - ¶

B.Y. mouth on F.D. Richards - seal all bless[in]gs. hitherto conf[erred]. - & set apart on mission to England - & shall be filled with wisdom aboli[ty]. & sal[vation]. - power & wisdom shall be given thee - devils shall be subject to thee - av. all beasts - & control Elements - lack for no good thing - thy family shall not suffer as they are hitherto & they shall be preserved unto thee - he shall be a help meet to thy serv. Orson in G[reat]. B[ritain]. & Wales - &c - ¶

B.Y. mouth on C.C. Rich - set apart to thy mission - be a comfort & consol[ation]. to the weak - av. power over the Sons of men - thy work shall be a joy & consol[ation]. - set thee apart to go to W. Cal[ifornia]: & if thou extend thy labors - the way to return shall be made known to thee - & be a comfort to Amasa - no power or man shall harm thee - av. wisdom to Council in all Church matters - be a li[ght]. to Chil. of men - & go in power - so the word & it shall be done - thy words shall be like an angel & & ret[urn]. to us in safety - ¶

B.Y. mouth on E. Snow seal all bless[in]gs. pronounced this eve - shall be on thy head - go & fear not - tho thou [be] in midst of wars - disease & pestilence - thou shalt be filled with power of God - be joyful - go & magnify thy calling - t[?] & rulers shall be astonished & inquire after thee - thy family shall not hunger nor suffer - they shall enjoy the same power resting on you - open the door whithersoever thy mind shall lead - & return to thy family &c ¶

[Leaf 8] p. 5 / archival ⑨ (missionary setting-apart, continued)

B.Y. the power of God will be 10 time more manifest than they ever av. done - on the El. of Is. - ¶

J. Taylor - O. Pratt & L. Snow - [struck: E. Snow] C.C. Rich[?] laid hands on G.B. Wallace - P.P. mouth - bless you & set you apart to go to England - & bless you with the gifts necessary - & seal all your bless[in]gs. on you - thou shalt be as the voice of many waters - as if Jesus spoke in their midst - & they shall confess thou at sent - & rise up obey the gospel - thou shalt rej[oice]. in 100 & 1000s. - lay [hands] on sick - & shall rise up & be healed - dumb speak - & eyes of blind be opened & thou shalt no what to say & discern where there is faith & not be confounded nor disappointed thou shalt live & ret[urn]. ag[ai]n. & your family will not av. suffered - many shall av. thee in honor - & ret[urn]. in peace ¶

J. Taylor mouth on bro Pack - bless thee & set thee apart to France - thy heart shall be full of rej. - & bless God he has sent thee on this mission — Angels shall minister unto thee - the Sp. of the H. God shall overshadow thee thou shalt overcome thy trials - lead many into baptism - who shall prophecy - the things prophecied on thy head in Temple shall be realized by thee - dumb [struck: speak] & deaf hear - thou shalt return in safety to thy family & C[hurch] — ¶

L. Snow mouth on J. Gates set you apart to England - & seal all bless[in]gs. & gifts necessary. the power of the highest shall rest upon thee - angels shall minister unto you - & thou rej. that thou at released from trouble - seal life - av. power to escape thy enemies - return home & thy heart rej. - ¶

P. Pratt mouth on J.W. Johnson confirm all former bless[in]gs. - & set you apart to go to England - & take care of the Lambs of your Redeemer - let thy mind expand above thy Mechanical calling - thy voice shall be as the voice of an angel & filled with the Sp. of love & compassion & kindness - bear test[imony]. & they shall no - thou art a message to them - men shall be ord[ained]. & return with thee - & thou shalt hardly no[te] the Souls that shall rej. at thy being sent - thou shalt be preserved from wars - pestilence - elements & shipwreck - & return in peace. thou shalt av. all gifts necessary - thou shalt be a blessing to mankind - ¶

J. Taylor mouth on Joseph Young - set apart to go to England - council lead & instruct - & set apart as number of 1st. 70 seal wisdom faith & utterance - multitudes shall wonder at the wisdom of thy tongue - do a great & mighty work & return to Zion & many shall hail thee as their Savior & benefactor - & give thee power over devils - cause the lame to walk dumb to speak & deaf to hear - shalt not be hurt - go forth in the midst of desolation & be blest - return in safety & rej. in the Holy one of Is. - ¶

L. Snow to John Forsgren set apart to go to Sweden - & remove the vail of darkness from over them - seal life & prosperity - & return in perfect safety ¶

C.C. Rich to Curtis E. Bolton - go on mission to France & comprehend the things of God - & do much good cast out devils & do what is necessary to be done - & return to your family - ¶

E. Snow to J.L. Heywood & set him apart to go East - no power shall prevail against thee - thou shalt return healthy ¶

F.D. Richards to E.D. Woolley set apart to the faithful performance of your missions - you shall be profitable to the Ch. & K. of God - do great good & return with joy - & be of great advantage to Zion in many things - we dedicate you to the Sp. God - & live as long as you desire on the Earth - ¶

C.C. Rich to F.M. Pomeroy set apart to go to Cal. - & av. influence & power of mind over that country & be a blessing to all in that country ¶

L. Snow to H.W. Church - set apart to go to England - av. power over the elements - & lack nothing, & return in safety ¶

F.D. Richards to Joseph Toronto - set apart to go to Italy with L. Snow & open the ev[erlastin]g. Gospel to that & o[ther]. nations - be preserved from all harm & evil - altho many may fall around you by reason of the plague yet the L. thy God shall be round thee - the desires of thy heart shall be more than realized - the powers of darkness shall not allure you from the path of rectitude ¶

O. Pratt to Peter Hansen to go to Denmark - be blest - & that which was made manifest in your native County shall be realized by thee, & much more - sick shall be healed & be bapt[ized]. - & news spread from city to city - & they shall rejoice - tho many shall foam & be angry because of thy word - thou shalt be filled with prophecy & rev[elation]. - & be carried off triumphant - thou it a chosen vessel to thy native County - He then spoke in tongues on his head — when all the Congregation jumped to their feet, like Electricity - ¶

John Taylor - to John S. Higbee to go on thy mission as a Shepherd - bind up the broken hearted - wisdom shall rest upon thee - thy word shall be law unto them - S[ain]ts. & Sinners shall admire & honor thee - bring many to the knowledge of the truth - no man shall deprive thee of thy blessings & rev[elation]. & the knowledge of God shall be on thee - thou shalt return to this place - ¶

L. Snow to Job Smith - to go among thy [people] - & lift up thy voice with greater power & wisdom - the gift of utterance was given you - the power of the highest shall be on thee - & great shall be thy voice - & thy words shall be the words of the Al[mighty]. - & 100s. & 1000s. shall go into waters of baptism - the visions of the Al. shall be open to your mind - sinners shall tremble & the honest in heart shall no that the L[or]d. has sent thee - thou shalt be a mighty man of God on the Earth - & return after a long arduous & glorious mission — ¶

P. Pratt to James Brown to be in 3rd. Quo. of 70 - & seal all cov[enan]ts. & blessing on thee - thou shalt be blest with the gift of the H.G. & work a work of the ministry - they shall bear thee with joy - & hail thee as their bro. & bind heal their sick, bring many souls to the waters of baptism - & ret[urn]. with gladness to the Holy One of Israel - the very devils shall be subject unto thee - & thou shalt be del[ivered]. from prison, watery wave &c & seal Eternal life &c ¶

[Leaf 9] archival 10) — conclusion of the setting-apart meeting

B.Y. when bro Rich comes to bro A. Pratt & Blackwell lay your hands on them & bless them ¶

L. Snow to Edward Hunter set apart to go to Eastern lands as a minister of Sal[vation]. to the poor of the S[ain]ts. & W[ard]s. & go as a Bishop in Israel - long shall this calling be remembered - go forth as the Agent of thy bren & av. wisdom & power - & return in peace - & add to the [fund] that is in thy hands - & distribute in wisdom & bear a faithful testimony - & realize the presence of the Almighty - & return in health - ¶

B.Y. enquired if bro Shurtliff wod. furnish this house with Candles — Ans[wer]. yes - then if its your mind to pay the contributions for Candles signify it - Carried - gave directions to bro Jervis[?] to make 50 Candlesticks of Tin - ¶

J.L. Heywood send 1 yoke of oxen to assist the Camps from Weber River Addison Everett 2 yoke - Thos. Jenkins — do — S. Roundy ————— 1 Thos. Jenkins ————— 1 (for B.Y.) Chas. Decker [^Jed. Grant] 1 E. Ellsworth ————— 1 Daniel Sharp ————— 1 David Pettigrew ————— 2 Wm. Young ————— 1 Judson Tolman ————— 1 ¶

"Come Come ye Saints" was sung 20 min past 10 - Dismissed by P.P. Pratt - ¶

Attendee List, per the CHL Copy

Source: "Minutes of the General Conference, held Great Salt Lake City, Oct. 6 & 7, 1849" (CHL manuscript, copy by Thomas Bullock), leaf 1. This heading and named attendee list is fuller than the generic "several of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles" the Millennial Star summary gives below, so it is transcribed here as a supplement rather than folded into the summary paragraph. ¶

Present: Of the First Presidency -- Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards. Patriarch -- John Smith. ¶

Of the Twelve Apostles -- P. P. Pratt, J. Taylor, C. C. Rich, Erastus Snow, Lorenzo Snow, and Franklin D. Richards. ¶

Of the Presidency of the Stake -- Daniel Spencer and Willard Snow. ¶

Of the High Council -- Isaac Morley, Henry G. Sherwood, George Miller, John Vance, [Elias?] Billings, [Lorin?] B. Woolley, William W. Major, Ira Eldridge, and Elisha H. Groves. ¶

Presidency of the Seventies -- Levi W. Hancock, Zera Pulsipher, and Jedediah M. Grant. ¶

Summary, as printed

Source: Millennial Star, Vol. XII, No. 8, pp. 122-124. ¶

A General Conference was held at the Great Salt Lake City, October 6th and 7th, 1849. ¶

Present -- the quorum of the First Presidency, several of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Patriarch, the Presidency of the Stake, the Presidency of the High Priests' Quorum, the High Council, and Thomas Bullock, clerk of conference, together with a large number of high priests, seventies, elders, &c. ¶

President H. C. Kimball then made some excellent remarks upon the importance of the Saints going to work with their might, to fulfil the covenant made in the temple of the Lord in Nauvoo, that they would not cease their exertions until the poor were gathered to this safe and quiet resting place; and the importance of the elders bearing forth the gospel to the nations, that the honest in heart in all the world might have the opportunity of participating with us in the blessings, light, and liberty of the gospel. ¶

Elder John Taylor followed with some excellent remarks on the same subject. ¶

President Brigham Young arose and gave some instruction about finishing the Bowery, and said, "I feel happy for this shelter from the rays of the sun and the blasts of winter. I feel well in my mind; my heart is like the chariot of Ahinadab, full of joy. I realize we ought to bear off the kingdom to the nations of the earth. This people as a whole are a good people, and I shall seek to do them good, and bring forth salvation to the whole house of Israel, for I want to see Zion built up." The conference adjourned for one hour. ¶

In the afternoon a great deal of important business was done. A vote was taken to raise a fund to gather the poor to the Valley. A committee was appointed to collect the fund by subscriptions. It was resolved that the "Perpetual Emigration Fund" be under the control of the Presidency. The appointments of C. C. Rich to Lower California, Elders A. Pratt, James Brown, and Hyrum H. Blackwell, to the South Sea Islands, and the missions to England and various European countries, were unanimously sanctioned. It was motioned and carried that every man, as far as possible, should establish his own branch of business in the Valley; and, as a beginning, H. G. Sherwood was requested to establish a glass manufactory as soon as possible. The Great Salt Lake Carrying Company was organized. Conference adjourned till next day. ¶

Sunday, October 7th, conference met pursuant to adjournment. It was unanimously voted to sustain the quorum of the First Presidency, the quorum of the Twelve, John Smith as Patriarch of the whole church, Willard Richards as church historian, Orson Hyde as president of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles, John Young, Reynolds Cahoon, and George B. Wallace as the presidency of the High Priests' Quorum, Joseph Young, Levi Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, A. P. Rockwood, B. L. Clapp, and J. M. Grant as the first presidency of all the quorums of the Seventies. Also to sustain the High Council, the presidency of that stake, and, finally, all the constituted authorities of the church in all the world. Several new places of settlement were appointed, the account of which is contained in the "General Epistle." Conference adjourned for an hour. ¶

In the afternoon the conference assembled and opened as usual, when the several bishops proceeded to administer the sacrament. ¶

Elder Parley P. Pratt related his experience at the commencement of the work, and the time when the prophet, Joseph Smith, stood up in the midst of the congregation, and by revelation pointed out each individual to be ordained to the Melchisedec priesthood; and also related a miraculous case of healing a woman who was near her death. He then delivered a discourse on the subject of tithing: said he, the principle of tithing is not peculiar to this church or people -- it is as old as the Bible. We see it illustrated in Abram's day, for when he held the power of the kingdom of God, Abram paid one-tenth of all he possessed. Where is there a Latter-day Saint who does not know and understand that it is by the power of the Melchisedec priesthood that we receive forgiveness, and justification, and eternal life. To fulfil the law of tithing, a man should make out and lay before the bishop a schedule of all his property, and pay him the one-tenth of it; when he has tithed his principle once, he has no occasion to tithe again, but the next year he must pay the one-tenth of his increase, and the tenth of his time, of his cattle, money, goods, and trade; and whatever use we put it to, it is still our own, for the Lord does not carry it away with him to heaven. We have to establish the government of God on earth, and that requires means, and a knowledge how to use it, and to have every thing written on "Holiness to the Lord." Let God have what is His, and every thing be under the control of the Lord, and not Caesar, or the world. If the people do not hold themselves responsible to help to carry off the kingdom of God, how do you expect we can do it ourselves. The Twelve and the elders are all minute men, and that is what makes us different to the rest of the world. ¶

Elders Erastus Snow and John Taylor spoke on the same subject. Elder P. P. Pratt then moved that this conference adjourn to the 6th of April next, at 10 o'clock, a.m., to meet in this place: carried. The choir then sung the doxology, and were dismissed with benediction by Willard Snow. President Brigham Young then blessed the people in the name of the Lord, when they separated rejoicing in the Lord for His many mercies, that He has extended to His Saints, and for the happy and glorious conference that they had been privileged in attending. ¶

In the evening the brethren who had been appointed to go on missions were called together for the purpose of receiving instructions, &c., whereupon the first Presidency proceeded to lay their hands on the quorum of the Twelve, and set them apart for their respective missions. ¶

The Twelve then laid their hands on the elders who had been appointed missions to the different nations of the earth, and set them apart, predicting their success, and the remarkable scenes that will transpire during their absence from their families. A joyful meeting was continued until twenty minutes past ten, when the meeting was dismissed, all enjoying the peaceable influence of the Spirit of God, and filled with faith that the Lord God of Israel will speedily work a great and glorious work on the earth. ¶

Collation notes

• The manuscript now transcribed is the original, not the copy. The Bullock fair copy (8 leaves) previously cited as this file's preferred witness carries its own note, "See following for original minutes with more detail," pointing to the 11-leaf item transcribed above. That pointer has now been followed. The copy is retained as a secondary witness and the source of the attendee list section.
• Leaf order. The delivery API returns the leaves out of document order. The reconstruction above rests on three independent signals that agree: the session headings themselves (Oct 6 10 a.m. → Oct 6 1½ p.m. → Oct 6 candlelight → Oct 7 10 a.m. → Oct 7 2 p.m. → Oct 7 evening); Bullock's ink leaf-numbering, visible as "4" on leaves 3 and 7, "5" and a circled "9" on leaf 8, and "10)" on leaf 9; and sentence-level continuity across the breaks, most clearly leaf 11's "dismissed for one hour" running into leaf 1's "Conference again convened purs. to adj." Leaf 10 is the folded wrapper, bearing Bullock's docket and the bleed-through of leaf 9.
• The Perpetual Emigrating Fund committee is corrected. The prior heavyweight pass, reading the fair copy, named the committee "Willard Snow, John [?] Hunter, Erastus Snow." The original minutes record five separate nominations, each moved and carried in turn: Willard Snow, John S. Fullmer, Lorenzo Snow, John D. Lee, and F. D. Richards. Edward Hunter was a distinct motion — to "carry the funds back - buy cattle ^& av. the oversight of the whole." The word "Perpetual" is an interlineation, inserted by caret into the motion making C. C. Rich an agent to gather funds in California; the fund is not called "Perpetual" in the earlier motions on the same leaf.
• "O. Pratt" vs "P. P. Pratt." Bullock's initial before "Pratt" at the tithing discourse (Oct 7 afternoon) is formed as a round letter that reads more naturally as "O" than "P," and he writes "O.P. Pratt" at the adjournment motion. The Millennial Star assigns both the Kirtland reminiscence and the tithing discourse to Parley P. Pratt. The manuscript itself settles the question against a literal "Orson": in the evening setting-apart meeting, F. D. Richards is blessed to "be a help meet to thy serv. Orson in G[reat]. B[ritain]. & Wales" — Orson Pratt was presiding over the British Mission and was not in the Valley. The reading is therefore left as [O./P.] Pratt in place rather than silently resolved, and the discourse should be attributed to Parley P. Pratt.
• The docket says "Sandwich Islands"; the minutes say "Society Islands." Bullock's wrapper docket summarises the missions as being to "Europe, California, Sandwich Islands, &c.," but the motion in the body sends Addison Pratt, James Brown and Hiram Blackwell "to the Society Islands." The body is the contemporaneous record and the Society Islands is correct; the docket conflates the two Pacific groups, as period usage often did.
• "Sandpitch Valley." Bullock consistently spells the Sanpete/Sanpitch settlement "Sandpitch." Left as written. This is the Isaac Morley company's settlement, later Manti; the minutes place its presidency (Isaac Morley, Charles Shumway, Seth Taft) and record Morley notifying his company to be ready "two weeks tomorrow."
• The Millennial Star summary independently corroborates the manuscript on the covenant-to-gather-the-poor remarks, the "chariot of Amminadab" (the Star prints "Ahinadab"), the Sherwood glass manufactory vote, the Carrying Company, the PEF being placed under the direction of the First Presidency, the sustaining list, the adjournment to April 6, and the evening setting-apart meeting closing at twenty minutes past ten. Where the two differ, the Star compresses; it does not contradict.
• What the Star omits entirely and the manuscript preserves: the whole October 6 candlelight officers' meeting, including Brigham Young's discourse on classifying the trades and his call for the brethren to bring in their gold dust to be coined; the individual missionary blessings; the votes laying out cities at Captain Brown's neighborhood, Utah Valley and Sandpitch Valley; John Forsgren's call to Sweden; the ox-team pledges to assist the incoming companies from Weber River; and Bullock's note that after Peter Hansen's blessing the speaker "then spoke in tongues on his head" and "all the Congregation jumped to their feet, like Electricity."
• This conference adjourned to "the 6 April next," matching the companion 1850-04-conference-record-great-salt-lake-city-conference.md file (April 6, 1850) in this vault.
• The same Millennial Star issue also printed a "General Epistle of the First Presidency" (dated Great Salt Lake City, Oct. 12, 1849) and a separate letter to Orson Hyde about the Perpetual Emigrating Fund. Both are distinct documents from this conference and are not included here.