Minutes of the October 1868 General Conference

The Thirty-Eighth Semi-Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, convened in the New Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, October 6-8, 1868, President Brigham Young presiding. ¶

Tuesday, October 6 Morning Session: Elder Orson Hyde spoke (summary only), and Elder Orson Pratt delivered [[1868-10-pratt-the-opposition-of-wickedness-to-righteousnesspersecutions]] (filed separately). ¶

Tuesday, October 6 Afternoon Session: Elder John Taylor and Elder Joseph W. Young spoke (summary only). ¶

Tuesday, October 6 Evening Session (6:30 p.m.): Bishop Edward Hunter spoke; President Brigham Young spoke on the emigration of the poor; and Elder George A. Smith spoke (all summary only; no JD text located for these remarks). ¶

Wednesday, October 7 Morning Session: The General Authorities of the Church were sustained by vote of the Conference; Elder John Van Cott spoke (summary only); and Elder George Q. Cannon delivered [[1868-10-cannon-self-sustainingpersecutionsoutside-influence]] (filed separately). ¶

Wednesday, October 7 Afternoon Session: President George A. Smith delivered Part 1 of his historical address, "History of the Church from Kirtland to Nauvoo," continued the next morning. ¶

Thursday, October 8 Morning Session: President George A. Smith continued with Part 2, "Emigration to Utah" — together filed as the single, combined [[1868-10-smith-historical-address]] (JD published both parts as one continuous entry). President Brigham Young then delivered [[1868-10-young-salvation-temporal-and-spiritual-self-sustaining-civilization]] (filed separately), calling for the Saints to cease trading with outside merchants and become wholly self-sustaining; the congregation voted unanimously in favor. ¶

Thursday, October 8 Afternoon Session: President Daniel H. Wells spoke on the providences of God and the need to remain separate from worldly influence (summary only). A large company of missionaries was called to the southern settlements, drawn from settlements across the Territory (Provo, Springville, Payson, American Fork, Spanish Fork, Nephi, Battle Creek, Bountiful, Farmington, Centreville, Coalville, West Jordan, Mill Creek, Grantsville, Tooele, Herriman's Fort, Draperville, Kaysville, Big Cottonwood, Morgan County, and Ogden City), and unanimously sustained. President Brigham Young then delivered [[1868-10-young-southern-missionsdeseret-alphabetrelief-societieshome-manufactures]] (filed separately), covering the Deseret Alphabet's introduction into schools, counsel to the Relief Societies on dress and language, silk culture, and the Perpetual Emigrating Fund. ¶

The conference was adjourned to April 6, 1869, to meet again in the New Tabernacle. President Young pronounced the closing benediction. ¶