Minutes of the October 1854 General Conference

Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, commencing Friday, October 6, 1854, at ten a.m., President Brigham Young presiding. ¶

In the Stand: Presidents Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant. Of the Twelve Apostles: Orson Hyde, George A. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, Wilford Woodruff, Orson Pratt, Ezra T. Benson. Seventies: Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, Henry Herriman. High Priests' Quorum: David Pettigrew. Presiding Bishop: Edward Hunter. Presidency of the Stake: David Fullmer, Thomas Rhoads, Phineas H. Young. Clerk of Conference: Thomas Bullock. Reporter: George D. Watt. ¶

The Friday morning session opened with prayer by Phineas H. Young, and the congregation was addressed by Elders Phineas H. Young, Ezra T. Benson, Orson Hyde, and President Brigham Young. Elder Benson's discourse, recounting his mission leading relief trains to meet the season's emigrant companies on the plains, and President Young's "Debtors to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund" discourse are filed separately. Elder Orson Hyde followed Young's discourse with brief remarks praising the brethren who had volunteered, despite their rough conduct on the trail, to carry food to the hungry emigrants, while gently rebuking their card-playing and other improprieties. Elder Hyde then gave notice of an evening lecture on marriage relations and of a bishops' meeting the following evening. ¶

The afternoon session opened with prayer by Elder George A. Smith, and the congregation was addressed by Elder George A. Smith ("Perpetual Emigrating Fund, Etc.," published in Journal of Discourses 7:59-62; filed separately), Elder T. D. Brown, and President Heber C. Kimball ("Adherence to 'Mormonism'—Perpetual Emigration Fund," published in Journal of Discourses 7:39-41; filed separately). ¶

The conference continued through October 7-9 with further discourses, all filed separately: Jedediah M. Grant, "The Immigration—The Perpetual Emigrating Fund—Scoffers" (October 7, JD 2:71-74); Orson Pratt, "The Perpetual Emigrating Fund—Emigration of the Saints and the Nations" (October 7, JD 2:54-61); Orson Hyde, "Gathering the Saints—Perpetual Emigrating Fund" (October 8, JD 2:61-70); Orson Hyde, "The Marriage Relations" (October 6 evening lecture, JD 2:75-87); and Brigham Young, "Marriage Relations of Bishops and Deacons" (JD 2:88-90). ¶