April 1851
Deseret News. "Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." April 31, 1851 ed.: pg. 241-242.
Monday, April 7, 10 a. m. Sustaining of the General Authorities and Other Business Two p. m. Elder Jedediah M. Grant Elder Anson Call President Heber C. Kimball Elder Ezra T. Benson President Heber C. Kimball |
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Minutes of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
held at Great Salt Lake City, State of Deseret, April 6, 1851, 10 A. M., President Brigham Young presiding.
Present of the First Presidency—Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards.
Patriarchs—John Smith and Isaac Morley.
Of the Twelve Apostles—Wilford Woodruff and Ezra T. Benson.
Presidency of the Seventies—Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Zera Pulsipher, Henry Herriman, Albert P. Rockwood, Benjamin L. Clapp, and Jedidiah M. Grant.
Presidency of the Stake—Daniel Spencer, David Fullmer, and Willard Snow.
High Priests Quorum—John Young and Reynolds Cahoon.
The High Council of the Stake.
Clerks of Conference—Thomas Bullock and William Clayton.
Conference opened, and adjourned to the 7th, on account of the heavy rains, and the leakage of the roof of the Bowery.
held at Great Salt Lake City, State of Deseret, April 6, 1851, 10 A. M., President Brigham Young presiding.
Present of the First Presidency—Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards.
Patriarchs—John Smith and Isaac Morley.
Of the Twelve Apostles—Wilford Woodruff and Ezra T. Benson.
Presidency of the Seventies—Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock, Zera Pulsipher, Henry Herriman, Albert P. Rockwood, Benjamin L. Clapp, and Jedidiah M. Grant.
Presidency of the Stake—Daniel Spencer, David Fullmer, and Willard Snow.
High Priests Quorum—John Young and Reynolds Cahoon.
The High Council of the Stake.
Clerks of Conference—Thomas Bullock and William Clayton.
Conference opened, and adjourned to the 7th, on account of the heavy rains, and the leakage of the roof of the Bowery.
Monday, April 7, 10 a. m.
Conference being called to order, was opened with singing, prayer by John Young, and singing.--
President Young being detained by sickness,
Conference being called to order, was opened with singing, prayer by John Young, and singing.--
President Young being detained by sickness,
President Kimball
stated the business of the conference, and remarked very pointedly, that it was the duty of the presidents of the different quorums, to furnish a list of their several quorums, at every conference, for the benefit of the historian, and the authorities of the church; and presented Brigham Young as the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, throughout all the world, and also as prophet, seer, and revelator; which was carried by unanimous vote.
Heber C. Kimball was then presented as first counsellor to Pres’t. Young, and Willard Richards as his second counsellor; who were severally sustained in that office.
John Smith was sustained as the presiding patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Willard Richards was sustained as the historian of the church, and general church recorder.
Orson Hyde was sustained as the president; and Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman, Ezra T. Benson, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards were severally sustained as members of the quorum of the twelve apostles.
Daniel Spencer was sustained as president of this stake in G. S. L. Valley, and David Fullmer and Willard Snow his counsellors.
H. G. Sherwood was sustained as president; and Eleazer Miller, John Kempton, Heman Hyde, Lewis Abbott, Wm. W. Major, Levi Jackman, Elisha H. Groves, Ira Eldredge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, and John Parry as members of the high council.
John Young was sustained as president of the high priests quorum, and Reynolds Cahoon and George B. Wallace his counsellors.
Joseph Young was sustained as senior president; and Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, Benjamin L. Clapp, and Jedediah M. Grant, as presidents of the quorums of Seventies.
Pres’t. Kimball nominated Edward Hunter, to occupy the place vacated by the death of Newel K. Whitney, as presiding bishop in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: carried unanimously.
John Nebeker was sustained as president of the elders’ quorum, and James H. Smith and Aaron Sceva his counsellors.
Joseph Harker was sustained as president of the priests’ quorum. (His counsellors have left this stake, and he is not prepared to nominate new counsellors.)
McGee Harris was sustained as president of the teachers’ quorum, and John Vance and Reuben Perkins his counsellors.
The presidency of the deacons’ quorum having been removed into other quorums, no action was taken on their officers.
Some of the bishops having removed to the southern settlements, it was moved that Nathaniel V. Jones be the bishop of the 15th ward: carried.
Abraham Hoagland, bishop of the 14th ward; Reuben Miller, Mill creek ward; Abraham O. Smoot, Big Cottonwood ward; Ezekiel Lee, Holladay’s settlement; Peter McCue, 1st ward; and Joseph C. Kingsbury, 2d ward.
Pres’t. Kimball nominated Brigham Young to be trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; carried unanimously. Bishop Edward Hunter was elected assistant trustee.
The motion to build a Temple to the name of the Lord our God in G. S. L City, was carried by acclamation.
A committee of one, viz. Daniel H. Wells, was appointed to superintend the building of the Temple, and the public works.
stated the business of the conference, and remarked very pointedly, that it was the duty of the presidents of the different quorums, to furnish a list of their several quorums, at every conference, for the benefit of the historian, and the authorities of the church; and presented Brigham Young as the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, throughout all the world, and also as prophet, seer, and revelator; which was carried by unanimous vote.
Heber C. Kimball was then presented as first counsellor to Pres’t. Young, and Willard Richards as his second counsellor; who were severally sustained in that office.
John Smith was sustained as the presiding patriarch to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Willard Richards was sustained as the historian of the church, and general church recorder.
Orson Hyde was sustained as the president; and Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman, Ezra T. Benson, Charles C. Rich, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, and Franklin D. Richards were severally sustained as members of the quorum of the twelve apostles.
Daniel Spencer was sustained as president of this stake in G. S. L. Valley, and David Fullmer and Willard Snow his counsellors.
H. G. Sherwood was sustained as president; and Eleazer Miller, John Kempton, Heman Hyde, Lewis Abbott, Wm. W. Major, Levi Jackman, Elisha H. Groves, Ira Eldredge, John Vance, Edwin D. Woolley, and John Parry as members of the high council.
John Young was sustained as president of the high priests quorum, and Reynolds Cahoon and George B. Wallace his counsellors.
Joseph Young was sustained as senior president; and Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Albert P. Rockwood, Benjamin L. Clapp, and Jedediah M. Grant, as presidents of the quorums of Seventies.
Pres’t. Kimball nominated Edward Hunter, to occupy the place vacated by the death of Newel K. Whitney, as presiding bishop in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: carried unanimously.
John Nebeker was sustained as president of the elders’ quorum, and James H. Smith and Aaron Sceva his counsellors.
Joseph Harker was sustained as president of the priests’ quorum. (His counsellors have left this stake, and he is not prepared to nominate new counsellors.)
McGee Harris was sustained as president of the teachers’ quorum, and John Vance and Reuben Perkins his counsellors.
The presidency of the deacons’ quorum having been removed into other quorums, no action was taken on their officers.
Some of the bishops having removed to the southern settlements, it was moved that Nathaniel V. Jones be the bishop of the 15th ward: carried.
Abraham Hoagland, bishop of the 14th ward; Reuben Miller, Mill creek ward; Abraham O. Smoot, Big Cottonwood ward; Ezekiel Lee, Holladay’s settlement; Peter McCue, 1st ward; and Joseph C. Kingsbury, 2d ward.
Pres’t. Kimball nominated Brigham Young to be trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; carried unanimously. Bishop Edward Hunter was elected assistant trustee.
The motion to build a Temple to the name of the Lord our God in G. S. L City, was carried by acclamation.
A committee of one, viz. Daniel H. Wells, was appointed to superintend the building of the Temple, and the public works.
The following new song entitled “The Sixth of April,” composed by W. W. Phelps, was sung by the choir.
Say! say!
The church is twenty-one to-day,--
Let all the people sing and pray;
Though justice mourns o’er Joseph’s tomb,
Still wisdom cries, “rejoice my friends!
“Thy kingdom grows, and never ends.”
See! see!
The Saints of latter days are free,--
Destin’d, on all the earth to be
The only precious seed, with faith,
To live by light, and truth, and grace,
And gather Adam’s fallen race.
Oh! oh!
The Jews, some thousand years ago,
With Aaron’s priesthood hoodwink’d so,
Exclaimed:--“His blood may be on us,
“We hold the line of king and queen,--
“So crucify that Nazarene!”
Done! done!
The boasting sons of Washington,
Throughout the realm, yes, every one,
In secret said:--“Kill Joseph Smith,--
“No prophets more need we expect;
“We are the Christian, Lord’s elect.”
Still! still!
The nat’ral man is prone to kill,
Till every plain, and every hill,
Is crimson’d o’er with prophets’ blood!
And now the judgment day is set,
To call the world to pay the debt.
Rise! rise!
For now the Holy Priesthood cries,--
The Lord requires a sacrifice,
Before the day of vengeance comes,
To end the wickedness of men,
And clothe the earth with bliss again.
Now! now!
The faithful elders all know how,
When revelation comes, to bow,
And go and do the will of God:
Not asking what’s the consequence?
Or when they’ll get a recompense?
Then! then!
Ye saints who suffer much from men,
Up, up and get four fold again,
(When earth is fill’d with peace and love,)
In houses, lands, and friends, and wives,
And children—with eternal lives.
Benediction by J. M. Grant; adjourned for one hour.
Say! say!
The church is twenty-one to-day,--
Let all the people sing and pray;
Though justice mourns o’er Joseph’s tomb,
Still wisdom cries, “rejoice my friends!
“Thy kingdom grows, and never ends.”
See! see!
The Saints of latter days are free,--
Destin’d, on all the earth to be
The only precious seed, with faith,
To live by light, and truth, and grace,
And gather Adam’s fallen race.
Oh! oh!
The Jews, some thousand years ago,
With Aaron’s priesthood hoodwink’d so,
Exclaimed:--“His blood may be on us,
“We hold the line of king and queen,--
“So crucify that Nazarene!”
Done! done!
The boasting sons of Washington,
Throughout the realm, yes, every one,
In secret said:--“Kill Joseph Smith,--
“No prophets more need we expect;
“We are the Christian, Lord’s elect.”
Still! still!
The nat’ral man is prone to kill,
Till every plain, and every hill,
Is crimson’d o’er with prophets’ blood!
And now the judgment day is set,
To call the world to pay the debt.
Rise! rise!
For now the Holy Priesthood cries,--
The Lord requires a sacrifice,
Before the day of vengeance comes,
To end the wickedness of men,
And clothe the earth with bliss again.
Now! now!
The faithful elders all know how,
When revelation comes, to bow,
And go and do the will of God:
Not asking what’s the consequence?
Or when they’ll get a recompense?
Then! then!
Ye saints who suffer much from men,
Up, up and get four fold again,
(When earth is fill’d with peace and love,)
In houses, lands, and friends, and wives,
And children—with eternal lives.
Benediction by J. M. Grant; adjourned for one hour.
Two p. m.
Conference opened according to adjournment, in the yard south of the Bowery.
Singing, prayer by E. T. Benson, singing; Pres’t. Kimball presiding.
Conference opened according to adjournment, in the yard south of the Bowery.
Singing, prayer by E. T. Benson, singing; Pres’t. Kimball presiding.
Brigham Young was sustained as the president of the perpetual emigrating company to gather the poor, and H. C. Kimball, W. Richards, W. Woodruff, O. Hyde, G. A. Smith, E. T. Benson, J. M. Grant, D. H. Wells, W. Snow, E. Hunter D. Spencer, T. Bullock, J. Brown, W. Crosby, A. Lyman, C. C. Rich, L. Young, P. P. Pratt, O. Pratt, and F. D. Richards were sustained as his assistants.
J. M. Grant
then made a call for volunteers to go to Iron county, and requested those persons who were appointed last fall, to go and fulfil that appointment.
then made a call for volunteers to go to Iron county, and requested those persons who were appointed last fall, to go and fulfil that appointment.
Anson Call
gave a short review of what had been done towards settling that country.
gave a short review of what had been done towards settling that country.
Pres’t. Kimball
then called several by name, when 37 person agreed to go.
then called several by name, when 37 person agreed to go.
E. T. Benson
said,--this morning you all voted to build a Temple; you appointed a committee to superintend the public works; you are aware that they cannot progress without your assistance; you are aware we are the Latter-day Saints, and are the bone and sinew to roll forth the work; it is required of the presidents and quorum in this church that they pay their tithing, and you know this has not been lived up to; I consider it a command on this people; that there are some men and women who have done and will do all they can. This church will not become of age until we all pay our tithing, and we live up to all the commandments binding on them; then they will be free indeed, for the gospel is the gospel of freedom. Many persons inquire, when shall we get any more revelations? I tell you we shall not get many more until we as a people observe those revelations which are already given; when we do that, we shall get more.
said,--this morning you all voted to build a Temple; you appointed a committee to superintend the public works; you are aware that they cannot progress without your assistance; you are aware we are the Latter-day Saints, and are the bone and sinew to roll forth the work; it is required of the presidents and quorum in this church that they pay their tithing, and you know this has not been lived up to; I consider it a command on this people; that there are some men and women who have done and will do all they can. This church will not become of age until we all pay our tithing, and we live up to all the commandments binding on them; then they will be free indeed, for the gospel is the gospel of freedom. Many persons inquire, when shall we get any more revelations? I tell you we shall not get many more until we as a people observe those revelations which are already given; when we do that, we shall get more.
H. C. Kimball
remarked,--we should be glad to continue this conference three or four days; but we cannot. He called on all men to attend to their duty, and then the power of God will be with us; there will be no fear with those who do right, &c.
On motion, conference adjourned to the first Sunday (7th) in September, 1851.
Dismissed with benediction by Willard Richards.
THOMAS BULLOCK, Clerk.
remarked,--we should be glad to continue this conference three or four days; but we cannot. He called on all men to attend to their duty, and then the power of God will be with us; there will be no fear with those who do right, &c.
On motion, conference adjourned to the first Sunday (7th) in September, 1851.
Dismissed with benediction by Willard Richards.
THOMAS BULLOCK, Clerk.