Conference Minutes

The Gennessee Conference met at the court house in the village of Batavia, in the county of Gennessee, agreeable to previous appointment, on Saturday the 25th day of December, A. D. 1841. at 10 o'clock, A. M., and proceeded to business. Elder Charles Thompson was chosen president and John L. Bartholf clerk in said conference.

Voted, that brother Coltrin, brother Moses Martin, and Ralph L. Young, take a seat with us in conference.

Voted, that a committee be appointed to examine candidates for ordination.

Elder Moses Martin, elder McWithee, and elder Hiram Thompson, were appointed that committee.

Voted, that a committee for the trial of appeals be appointed. Elder Moses Martin, Elder Joel McWithee, and elder Hiram Thompson, R. D. Sprague, P. H. Winegar, Ralph L. Young, Josiah Tyler, elders, were appointed that committee.

Conference opened by prayer, by elder Moses Martin.

The branch in Batavia, Alexander, Elbee, and Bethany, were represented by John L. Bartholf, numbering 3 elders, 2 priests, 2 teachers, and 1 deacon, in all 41 members, in good standing.

The branch in Bennington was represented

by elder Joel McWithee, numbering 3 elders, 1 deacon, and 22 members, generally in good standing.

The Attica branch was represented by Alvirus Webster, numbering 1 priest, 1 teacher, and 15 members, generally in good standing.

The Alabama branch was represented by P. H. Winegar, numbering 1 elder, 1 teacher, and 11 members, in good standing.

The branch at Akron was represented by L. Harrington, numbering 2 elders, 1 priest, 2 teachers, 1 deacon, and 36 members. (17 members removed to the west since last conference.)

The Castile branch was represented by R. D. Sprague, numbering 2 elders, and 13 members,-3 added since last conference.

The Bath branch was represented by elder Young, numbering 1 teacher, and 11 members.

The Sparta branch was represented by Ralph L. Young, numbering 2 elders, 1 priest, 1 deacon, and 17 members.

The Portage branch was represented by elder Young, numbering 1 deacon, and 8 members.

The Loon Lake branch was represented by R. L. Young, numbering 1 elder, and 6 members.

Tower of Yates, numbers 4 members.

Scattering members 9 members.

Whole number in conference represented, 232.

Voted, that we take into consideration the subject of assisting elder C. Thompson to defray the expenses of publishing his books in proof of the Book of Mormon.

Voted, that a committee be appointed on the above subject to report to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock.

John L. Bartholf, Tho's. Moore, elder Joel McWithee, elder Young, and Alvirus Webster, were appointed that committee.

Conference adjourned until this evening at 6 o'clock to meet in the court-house.

Conference met at 6 o'clock agreeable to adjournment opened meeting by singing and prayer by elder Charles Thompson.

Sermon preached by elder Young on the faith once delivered to the saints.

Elder Charles Thompson president, addressed the conference on the duties of the several officers in the several branches.

Conference adjourned to meet at the court-house to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock A.M.

Conference met at 9 o'clock, opened by singing and prayer.

Heard the report of the committee on the subject of assisting elder Thompson to defray the expense of publishing his book on the evidences of the Book of Mormon. Postponed that subject for public preaching.

Sermon preached by elder Martin on the subject of the gospel.

Adjourned for 1 hour, met accordingly, proceeded to business relating to the assistance of elder Thompson in publishing the book.

Voted, that a committee of 10 be appointed to assist in selling and giving circulation to the book.

Joel McWithee, P. H. Winegar John Sharo, Benjamin Waldron, John L. Bartholf, Hiram Thompson, Daniel Rnssel [Russel], Thomas Moore, Joseph Shadbolt, and S. W. Disbrow, were appointed that committee.

Voted, that elder Stratten be disfellowshiped until he make satisfaction, and that he be cited to appear for trial at the next conference in Castile.

Voted, that the presiding elders of each branch present a list of all the members in each branch, and their standing in the same, at the next conference.

Voted, that this conference adjourn to meet at Castile Centre [Center],Wyoming county, on the first Saturday and Sabbath in June next A. D. 1842.

CHARLES THOMPSON, Pres't.

John L. Bartholf, Clerk.

Batavia, Dec. 26, 1841.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in the county of Waldo, met according to appointment, in a quarterly conference in hope; on the 25th day of Dec. 1841, at 10 o'clock A.M.

Meeting was called to order, when elder Otis Shaw was chosen to preside, and C. C. Pendleton was chosen clerk. After a few feeling remarks by the president of the conference, he then read Acts 2nd chapter from the 12th verse, to the end of the chapter. The president then lead in prayer, after which elder Willard Mullin

addressed the assembly upon the first principles of the gospel. Elder Zechariah Hardy then arose, and continued the subject; urging upon the congregation, the necessity of obeying the gospel while time and opportunity was granted: others also, followed, and bore testimony to the truth, and the work of the Last Days.

Conference then adjourned for one hour. At one o'clock P. M., conference met pursuant to adjournment and came to order, when the 21st chapter of St. Luke was read, and prayer offered by elder A. Dixon and after the singing of a hymn by the choir, conference was addressed by elder Dixon, from the 27th verse of the above named chapter. The discourse was interesting and instructive. Further remarks were made by elder O. Brown singing by the choir-after which prayer by the president.

Conference then adjourned till evening at early candle-lighting.

Evening conference met pursuant to adjournment, and was called to order by the president.

Meeting was opened with prayer by C. C. Pendleton. An hymn was then sung by the choir, after which the congregation was addressed upon the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and the glorious designs of the Almighty in the same; by C. C. Pendleton,-was followed in his remarks by others,-singing by the choir, and concluding prayer by elder A. Dixon.

Conference then adjourned until tomorrow at 10 A.M.

Sunday 10 o'clock A. M., conference met pursuant to adjournment, was called to order, when the services of the day commenced by singing from the choir; and prayer by elder A. Dixon who afterwards proceeded, and addressed the conference, from Acts, iii: 19, 20, 21. The discourse was truly edifying. Additional remarks were made by others.

The branch of the church of Jesus Christ, on the Fox islands, was then represented by elder Otis Shaw, consisting of 109 members, including 5 elders, 1 priest, 2 teachers, and 1 deacon.

The branch of the church on the Main land, was then represented by elder Levi Gray, consisting of 79 members including 6 elders, 2 priests, and 3 teachers, with intelligence also, of the expulsion of two members since the September conference; viz: Totham S. Clark and David Robbins.

Conference then adjourned for one hour.

Afternoon, conference met pursuant to adjournment-meeting opened by singing as usual, and the reading of the latter part of the 8th chapter of Acts and prayer, by president Shaw; after which most of the elders present (the full number being nine) made some appropriate remarks, and bore testimony to the truth of the Latter-Day Work.

A vote of thanks was then rendered to the Universalist society for their kindness in granting the use of the house of worship in this place, and to the citizens generally; (more especially to the above mentioned society) for the kind and hospitable treatment received by us at their hands.

After singing, the Lord's supper was commemorated, and conference adjourned, to meet on the 6th day of April 1842 on the South Fox Island.

OTIS SHAW, President.

Calvin C. Pendleton, Clerk.