Minutes of the April 1872 General Conference
Conference record
Minutes of the Forty-Second Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sessions held in the New Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, April 6-9, April 14, April 21, and April 28, 1872. Presiding: First Presidency represented by George A. Smith and Daniel H. Wells (Brigham Young absent due to legal incarceration). Quorum of the Twelve: Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young Jr., Joseph F. Smith, Albert Carrington. Patriarch: John Smith. Minutes recorded by David W. Evans. ¶
April 6 (Morning): Elder George A. Smith on "Persecution—Temples—Cooperation," addressing religious bigotry preventing the First President's attendance, cooperative associations, and Relief Societies. Elder Wilford Woodruff on "His Testimony—The Fulfilling of Prophecy—Advice to Mothers," connecting Isaiah's prophecies to current events: "This is one of the most important generations that men...have ever seen on the earth." Elder Charles C. Rich on truth application and salvation. ¶
April 6 (Afternoon): Elder Abraham O. Smoot on "Earthly Mission of the Savior." Elder John Nicholson on gospel comprehensiveness and temple work for the dead. Elder Charles W. Penrose on "God is at the Helm." ¶
April 7 (Morning): Elder George A. Smith on "Persecution—Missionaries—Emigration," emphasizing the Perpetual Emigration Fund. Elder John Taylor on "Revelation—Former and Latter-Day Dispensations—The Sure Triumph of the Cause of Zion": "Mormonism is an enigma to the world...beyond the reach of human intelligence." Elder Orson Pratt on "The Latter-day Kingdom" (afternoon). ¶
April 8-9 and later sessions: Additional addresses by Erastus Snow, Joseph Young, E. F. Sheets, William C. Staines, John Van Cott, Thomas Taylor, David Candland, Edward Stevenson, George Teasdale, Milo Andrus, and others on topics including divine providence, the kingdom of God, and agency of man. ¶
April 28: President Brigham Young addressed "His Imprisonment" and "The Lord's Supper," speaking directly to the legal persecutions, and discussed tithing and cooperation principles. ¶
George A. Smith: "God has revealed it unto me. Brethren, if you have not this knowledge...seek it." Wilford Woodruff: "The set time has come to favor Zion and...every weapon formed against her shall be broken." ¶