Minutes of the October 1865 General Conference

Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, convened in the Bowery, Great Salt Lake City, October 6-9, 1865, President Brigham Young presiding. Choirs from the Tabernacle, Logan and Richmond, Smithfield, Spanish Fork, and Ogden all sang during the conference. ¶

Friday, October 6: Elder John Taylor offered the opening prayer, and President Heber C. Kimball delivered his "Others' Sins No Justification of Ours" discourse (filed separately). Elder A. Randall reported on his mission to the Sandwich Islands. In the afternoon, Elder Erastus Snow gave an extensive report on the southern "Dixie" settlements (St. George and surrounding cotton-growing towns), noting grain shortages in the more populous areas. Elder George W. Grant reported on his English mission, and Elder Charles C. Rich described the settlement of Bear Lake Valley. ¶

Saturday, October 7: President Daniel H. Wells, newly returned from Europe, was on the stand. Elder W. W. Phelps spoke briefly. Elder Orson Hyde spoke on settlement patterns in Sanpete County and the new counties of Sevier and Piute, advocating careful, well-managed farming over overextension, then delivered a fuller discourse, "Instructions Concerning Things Temporal and Spiritual" (filed separately). Elder George A. Smith delivered his "Prosperity of the Saints" discourse (filed separately). Elder John Taylor also delivered his "Revelation From God, True Knowledge" discourse this day (filed separately). ¶

Sunday, October 8: Elder George Q. Cannon delivered his "Riches of the Gospel" discourse (filed separately). Elder George A. Smith delivered a further discourse, "Synopsis of Remarks," reviewing the history of the Saints in the Great Basin (filed separately). President Daniel H. Wells delivered his "Eternal Life Revealed in the Gospel" discourse, recounting his recent mission to Europe (filed separately). ¶

Monday, October 9 (the conference appears to have continued past the weekend): Elder Amasa M. Lyman delivered his "Development of the Understanding Necessary" discourse (filed separately). President Brigham Young spoke briefly on the missionary calls about to be read. Elder George Q. Cannon read the list of missionaries called to Great Britain, Scandinavia, and the Sandwich Islands, reported on Perpetual Emigrating Fund expenses (nearly $1,000,000 since 1861), and made a statement on behalf of the First Presidency regarding Orson Pratt's publications. President Brigham Young delivered a discourse on home manufacture, "Home Manufacturing, Merchandising, and General Economy" (filed separately). Elder Ezra T. Benson delivered his "Exhortation to Home Manufacture" discourse (filed separately). In the afternoon, the Sacrament was administered by several Bishops and their counselors. President Heber C. Kimball preached on reproof and correction and on the poverty of the southern cotton mission. Elder John Taylor preached on rooting out iniquity. President Brigham Young bore testimony to the conference's instruction, addressed liquor and gambling licenses in the city, and called for aid (as a loan, not a donation) to the southern settlements. ¶

On motion of Elder George A. Smith, the conference was adjourned to October 6 of the following year. Patriarch John Smith blessed the people and dismissed the conference as follows: ¶

Brethren and sisters, I can truly say that I have been highly edified and instructed by what has been said here during this conference; and I feel to bless you all by virtue of my office and calling, and I ask God to bestow His blessing upon you, that we may live long upon the earth to do good and strive diligently to keep His commandments, that we may be worthy of all the blessings which our Father in heaven has in store for us. ¶

Arise and be dismissed. ¶

We thank thee, our Father, for that portion of thy Holy Spirit which has been manifested in our midst during the sitting of this conference. We pray thee, Heavenly Father, to cause the good instructions imparted to be treasured up in good and honest hearts. Wilt Thou let Thy choicest blessings rest upon Br. Brigham and his Counsel, also upon the Twelve Apostles and every authority in Thy kingdom; and grant, O Lord, to bless all Thy saints and servants as Thou seest they need; give them Thy Holy Spirit that they may proclaim the words of life and salvation unto Thy people, and may the words of Thy servants sink deep into the hearts of the honest; and may the time soon come when the wicked shall fear and tremble. Bless Thy people all over the earth, and hasten the day when the sinner in Zion shall be afraid, fear, tremble and flee away, that we as a people may be blessed and live upon the earth to accomplish the work assigned us. ¶

We pray Thee, Heavenly Father, to go with us to our several places of abode, and eventually save us in Thy kingdom. ¶

These blessings and favors we ask in the name of Jesus, Thy Son. Amen. ¶