Minutes, 7–8 April 1838
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Source Note
Zion high council, Minutes, , Caldwell Co., MO, 7–8 Apr. 1838. Featured version published as “Conference Minutes,” in Elders’ Journal, July 1838, p. 47. For more complete source information, see the source note for Elders’ Journal, Oct. 1837.
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Historical Introduction
On 7–8 April 1838, JS presided over a conference in , Missouri, and took minutes. This quarterly conference, the first one held that year, had been scheduled by the on 3 March 1838. By that date, the council members knew that JS had departed , Ohio, for Far West, and they probably expected that he would arrive in time for the conference. On 6 April, the day prior to the conference’s start, the church held a meeting in which a pro tempore for the in Zion and a number of other officers were appointed. According to the abbreviated minutes that included in the “Scriptory Book,” the 6 April meeting was “a Conf. of the authorities of the Church of Latter day Saints Assembled at their first quarterly Conference in the City of Far West.” However, the official minutes of both the 6 April meeting and the 7–8 April meeting, which were published in the July issue of the Elders’ Journal, indicate the 6 April meeting was separate from the quarterly conference held 7–8 April. Nevertheless, the appointments made in the 6 April meeting prepared the church administratively for the conference held the next two days.The conference was another step in the reorganization of church leadership in the wake of the disaffection of church leaders in and . The conference was probably held indoors—as was the 6 April meeting—possibly in a or some other public building. According to the minutes, at the beginning of the conference JS, , and the presidency “took the stand,” suggesting there was a rostrum. Then, as was customary in conferences, the officers organized according to their and councils. Next, JS “gave some instruction respecting the order of the day,” after which the conference formally “opened” with singing and prayer. and , the assistants to in the pro tempore presidency of the church in Zion, offered the opening prayers at the sessions—and possibly conducted as well. JS gave instruction during both days of the conference. The leaders of the priesthood quorums and councils reported on their respective organizations, and vacancies in the were filled. The minutes were taken by , who had taken minutes of recent high council meetings and was appointed as the clerk of the church in Zion during the 6 April meeting. The minutes of the conference close by listing JS as “president,” perhaps signifying that he was the head of the church or that he presided over the conference. JS may have signed the original minutes or a fair copy, although it is also possible that Robinson simply added JS’s name as the presiding authority. A fair copy of the minutes was probably used to prepare the version published in the July issue of the Elders’ Journal, the church’s newspaper.
Footnotes
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1
See Minute Book 2, 24 Feb. and 3 Mar. 1838.
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2
Minutes, 6 Apr. 1838, in JS, Journal, Mar.–Sept. 1838, p. 29.
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3
See Historical Introduction to Minutes, 6 Apr. 1838.
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4
In some previous meetings, the officer conducting also gave the opening prayer. (Minutes, 7 Nov. 1837; Letter from Thomas B. Marsh, 15 Feb. 1838; Minutes, 15 Mar. 1838.)
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5
Minute Book 2, 10 and 17 Mar. 1838; Minutes, 15 Mar. 1838; Minutes, 24 Mar. 1838; Minutes, 6 Apr. 1838.
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6
Neither the original minutes nor a fair copy is apparently extant.
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1
Page 47
CONFERENCE MINUTES.
Agreeable to a resolution of the , assembled at , on Saturday the 3rd of March 1838, the general authorities of the church met, to hold the first quarterly conference of the , at on the 7th of April 1838. J. Smith jr, , , , and took the stand; after which the several , the high council, the , the the , the , the , the , and , were organized by their Presidents.
President J. Smith jr. made some remarks, also gave some instruction respecting the order of the day. The conference was then opened by singing, “O God our hope in ages past” and prayer by President .— Also a hymn was sung “how firm a foundation”. After which, President J. Smith, Jr. arose and addressed the congregation at considerable length, on some important items.— continued the subject for a length of time, after which, on motion, the meeting adjourned for the space of twenty minutes.
Pursuant to adjournment the conference convened, and opened by prayer by who also made a few remarks respecting the . He spake of , , , , , and , as being men of God, whom he could reccommend with cheerful confidence. He spake somewhat doubtful of from something which he had heard respecting his faith in the work. He also spake of , , , and as being men whom he could not reccommend to the conference.
President , then represented the high council. The report was favorable. He stated that the seats of , , and was vacant in consequence of their having moved away so far that they could not attend the council.
then nominated to fill the seat of who was received unanimously.
He then nominafed , to fill the seat of , who was received unanimously.
Also , to fill that of , who was received unanimously— The presidency then ordained him to the office of high priest.
On motion the Conference adjourned to the 8th at 9 o’clock A M.
Sunday April the 8th;—— Pursuant to adjournment the Conference convened, and opened by singing and prayer by President .
President Joseph Smith Jr. made a few remarks respecting the — Who was followed by , who gave a short history of his travels to and .
President , who is the president of the high priests in ; represented his quorum; he read the names of those who belonged to his quorum, the principal part of which were in good standing.
The seventies were represented, by presidents , and .
The quorum of Elders were represented by president Harvey Green— Their number was 124, in good standing.
President Joseph Smith Jr, next made a few remarks on the , giving the reason of its coming forth, saying it should be observed. On motion, the Conference adjourned for one hour.
The Conference convened, agreeable to adjournment, and opened by singing and prayer, after which , represented the , and his council,— He gave an account of the incomes and outgoes of Church property which had passed through his hands.
It was then motioned and seconded, and carrried that the first presidency be appointed to sign the of the of the church— After which on motion, the Conference adjourned until the first Friday in July next.
JOSEPH SMITH, Jr.
President.
, Clerk. [p. 47]
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