Minutes of the October 1853 General Conference
Conference record
Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, commencing October 6, 1853, 10 a.m., President Brigham Young presiding. ¶
Present—Presidents: Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards. Patriarch: Isaac Morley. Of the Twelve Apostles: Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Ezra T. Benson, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards. Seventies: Joseph Young, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, Jedediah M. Grant, Benjamin L. Clapp. High Priests' Quorum: John Young, Reynolds Cahoon. Presiding Bishop: Edward Hunter. Presidency of the Stake: David Fullmer, Thomas Rhoades, Phineas H. Young. Clerk of Conference: Thomas Bullock. Reporter: George D. Watt. ¶
The Thursday morning session opened with Orson Hyde reviewing the season's immigration and the Indian disturbance, then delivering his discourse "The Man to Lead God's People" (filed separately). The afternoon session heard Franklin D. Richards' "Advice to Immigrants" (filed separately) and Brigham Young's "Gathering the Poor—The Perpetual Emigrating Fund—Ingratitude" (filed separately). The evening session heard remarks from President Joseph Young (recounting his testimony of Joseph Smith and the succession of Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards), Elder Benjamin L. Clapp, and Elder Albert P. Rockwood. ¶
On Friday, October 7, President Heber C. Kimball spoke in the morning, followed by Elder George A. Smith on "Disobedience of Counsel—The Indian War the Result of the Same" (published in Journal of Discourses 1:191-197; filed separately). The afternoon session addressed mission calls under the direction of President Brigham Young. ¶
On Saturday, October 8, the General Authorities were sustained, followed by remarks from Elder Orson Hyde and further mission calls and motions under President Young. The afternoon session heard from Elder John Taylor and President Heber C. Kimball, along with the Bishops' report. ¶
On Sunday, October 9, Elder Parley P. Pratt and President Brigham Young spoke in the morning. The afternoon session heard from President Heber C. Kimball, Cyrus Wheelock, Elder Erastus Snow, and President Brigham Young. An evening missionary meeting closed the conference with remarks from President Brigham Young, including a synopsis later published in the Deseret News, November 14, 1853 (not yet transcribed in this vault). ¶