Minutes of the April/May 1870 General Conference

Minutes of the Fortieth Annual Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Conference initially convened April 6, 1870, in the New Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, but adjourned immediately due to absent leadership and unfinished gallery work in the New Tabernacle; reconvened May 5-8, 1870. First Presidency: Brigham Young, George A. Smith, Daniel H. Wells. Quorum of the Twelve present: Orson Hyde, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, George Q. Cannon, Brigham Young Jr., Joseph F. Smith. Patriarch: John Smith. ¶

April 6 (opening/adjournment day): President Daniel H. Wells, Elder John Taylor, Elder Orson Pratt (an historical overview of the Church and fulfillment of Book of Mormon prophecies, reported only in the Deseret News, not JD), Elder Wilford Woodruff, Elder George Q. Cannon, and President Daniel H. Wells again all spoke briefly before the Conference adjourned to May 5 (all summary only). ¶

Thursday, May 5 Morning Session: President George A. Smith delivered [[1870-05-smith-organization-of-the-churchdifferent-gloriesgods-work]], President Daniel H. Wells delivered [[1870-05-wells-the-gospelbuilding-up-the-kingdom]], and President Brigham Young delivered [[1870-05-young-proper-conduct-in-meeting]] (all filed separately). ¶

Thursday, May 5 Afternoon Session: Elder Orson Hyde delivered [[1870-05-hyde-punctual-payment-of-debts]] and Elder Orson Pratt delivered [[1870-05-pratt-the-latter-day-workobeying-the-commandments]] (both filed separately). ¶

Friday, May 6 Morning Session: Elder John Taylor delivered [[1870-05-taylor-how-to-know-the-things-of]] (filed separately), followed by missionary calls. ¶

Friday, May 6 Afternoon Session: President Brigham Young delivered [[1870-05-young-the-fashions-of-the-worldmaking-our]], Elder Wilford Woodruff delivered [[1870-05-woodruff-the-work-of-godauthority-of-president]], and President George A. Smith delivered [[1870-05-smith-home-manufacturesunion-in-business-matters]] (all filed separately). ¶

Saturday, May 7 Morning Session: Elder George Q. Cannon and President Brigham Young spoke (summary only). ¶

Saturday, May 7 Afternoon Session: President George A. Smith spoke; the General Authorities of the Church were sustained by vote of the Conference; and Elder Erastus Snow, Elder Lorenzo Snow, and Elder Joseph Young, Sr. spoke (all summary only). President Young initially offered to resign as Trustee-in-Trust; the congregation's opposition led to reconsideration. ¶

Sunday, May 8 Morning Session: President George A. Smith spoke on music in the Church, Elder Joseph Young Sr., Elder Charles C. Rich, and Elder Franklin D. Richards spoke, missionary calls were read, and Elder George Q. Cannon also spoke (all summary only). ¶

Sunday, May 8 Afternoon Session: Elder Brigham Young, Jr., Elder Joseph F. Smith, and President George A. Smith spoke (summary only). President Brigham Young then delivered [[1870-05-young-character-and-condition-of-the-latter-day]] (filed separately), closing the conference. Multiple missionaries were called to England and to northern territory settlement initiatives. ¶