Conference Minutes

Minutes of Conference held at P. W. Cownover's, Hancock Connty [County] Illinois, September the 4th, 1842.

Pursuant to previous appointment, a Conference met, as above, to organize a branch of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: at Goldens Point.

Present, 8 elders, 2 priest, and one teacher.

At 10 o'clock A. M. the meeting was called to order by elder Alexander Williams; whereupon elder L. W. Brandon was unanimously chosen President, and Brother A. H. Golden Clerk.

After which the following officers were proposed and unanimously chosen.

Br. T. Parsons, to be ordained a teacher, Joseph Hammond Teacher, Jonathan L. Harvey teacher.

The officers chosen, as above, were then ordained by the laying on of hands; by G. W. Brandon, A. Williams, and M. B. Welton.

After which it was resolved that the minutes of this Conference be sent with a request to have them published in the Times and Seasons.

Closed with prayer by elder M. B. Welton.

A. H. Golden, Clerk.

Lapeer, Michigan, Jan. 20, 1843.

The Lapeer County Seat Conference, met according to appointment, in the Court-House in presence of 12 elders. M. Sirrine called to the chair, and Increase Van Deusen appointed clerk.

Conference opened with singing and prayer by the President; after which he stated the object of the meeting, which was to do the church business, and to get more charity. He then gave a short, but comprehensive explanation of true charity. The several branches were then represented, and are as follows:

Atica branch, represented by elder Jerman Elsworth, 2 elders, 1, priest, 17 members. Lapeer branch, represented by elder Newton Goodale, 2 elders 1 priest, 1 teacher 1 deacon, 16 members. Redford branch, represented by elder Hulbert, 1 elder, 1 priest, 1 teacher, 1 deacon, 23 members. Levona branch, represented by E. D. Wood, 1 elder, 1 priest, 1 teacher, 1 deacon, 24 members. Brownston branch, represented by elder M. Sirrine, 1 priest, 20 members. Superior branch represented by elder Jefferts, 1 elder, 18 members. Royaloak branch, represented by deacon Hoagerlin, 1 teacher 1 deacon, 18 members: 50 scattered members not represented in the above branches. The branch represented all in peace and good standing.

The president then made some remarks on his early labors in Michigan, which was followed by the church in general, with considerable liberty and interest. An old gentleman, not a member, then sprung up and said that he had been forced upon his feet for the first time in a meeting, being about 60 years old. He made several interesting remarks, and said that he believed the mormon religion to be true, and said he meant to obey the gospel the first opportunity.

Conference adjourned to 10 o'clock next day.

Met according to adjournment, opened with prayer by the president, which was followed with a sermon by Elder Jefforts [Jefferts], then followed with a short, but interesting application by elder M. Sirrine; and several other elders. Conference adjourned until 2 o'clock.

Met according to adjournment, opened with prayer by elder Jefferts; a discourse by elder Gribble, and followed by elder M. Sirrine on the same subject. Conference adjouured [adjourned] until 8 o'clock, next morning.

Met according to adjournment, opened with prayer by elder Jefferts, several prayers with intervals of singing. Order of the meeting changed to speaking. The exercise then closed

with some satisfactory remarks by the president, on the false reportsoncerning [reports concerning] Joseph the Prophet. Conference adjourned until 1 o'clock. During intermission, a discourse was given by a little champiou [champion] of the M. Episcopal order, who exposed himself very much, strained over back a part of the time with his arms folded, speaking not great, but small swelling words of vanity. He spake of Mahomet's system of religion, and the Roman Catholicks [Catholic], and believed them both to be false. He then spake of the Mormon system, and from what he had heard, condemned them also-warned his brethren against the delusion-said they where like the Locusts coming in swarms, or droves, devouring every green thing. After the performance the president asked the privilege of correcting his mistakes, when the gentleman asked, "What is your name sir?" "My same is Sirrine sir." He then answered, "No you can't have the privilege. I have heard of you sir, and I want nothing to do with you." After he dismissed his congregation, they were requested by the president to stop a few minutes; which they did, and heard the mistakes corrected with apparent satisfaction. The president then proceeded moderately to knock off some of the scales, as he expressed it, of the Methodist disipline [discipline], and adjourned for half an hour.

The sacrament was administered; 1 elder, and 1 priest ordained; 2 confirmed, which had been baptized during intermission. On the whole we had a very interesting and profitable Conference.

Motioned and carried that the conference be adjourned uhtil [until] the last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, in April next, at Franklin, 10 miles south of Pontiac O. County, Mich.

Motioned and carried that the minutes of the conference be sent to the Editor of the "Times and seasons" for publication.

M. Sirrine Pres't.

I. Van Deusem, Clerk.