Minutes of the April 1854 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 April 6, 1854, at 10 a.m., President Brigham Young presiding. ¶
In the Stand: Presidents Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball. 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. Seventies: Joseph Young, Henry Harriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, Jedediah M. Grant, Levi Hancock, Benjamin L. Clapp. High Priests' Quorum: David Pettigrew, Reynolds Cahoon. Presiding Bishop: Edward Hunter. Presidency of the Stake: David Fullmer, Thomas Rhoads, Phineas H. Young. Clerk of Conference: Thomas Bullock. Reporter: George D. Watt. ¶
This conference was the first General Conference following the death of Willard Richards, Second Counselor in the First Presidency. Conference was called to order by President Brigham Young, the choir sang, and President Heber C. Kimball offered the opening prayer, dedicating the conference and the people to the Lord. President Young then presented the business of the conference (filed separately), addressing Willard Richards' death, instructions for the day, and a proposal to establish Latter-day Saint gathering points in California, Oregon, Ohio, and Missouri. President Heber C. Kimball then delivered his "Discernment" discourse (filed separately). The choir chanted, and the morning session closed with a benediction by Elder Parley P. Pratt. ¶
The afternoon session opened with prayer by Elder Orson Hyde, and the conference was addressed by Elders Orson Hyde, George A. Smith, and President Young. Elder Hyde's "Parable of the Sower" discourse is filed separately. Elder George A. Smith followed with a discourse defending the Territory's defensive measures during the recent Indian war against criticism from some who had left for California over the matter, a sermon later published in the Deseret News, May 11, 1854, p. 49 (not yet transcribed in this vault). The conference continued over the following days with further sessions not yet summarized in this vault. ¶