--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1844 to 1845. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 5 number: 1 published: 1844-01-01 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“Minutes of the general conference, held December 2d 1843,” *Times and Seasons* 5, no. 1 (January 1, 1844): 396–397." printed_title: Minutes of the general conference, held December 2d 1843 source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1844-01-01_5_1 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v5n01.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1844-01-01_5_1 start_page: 396 end_page: 397 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1844 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1844-01-01_5_1 publication_year: 1844 --- # Minutes of the general conference, held December 2d 1843 The elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, composing the Gennessee conference, in the state of New York, met at the house of elder George Thompson, in the town of Alexander, in the county of Gennessee; on the second day of December, 1843. High priests present, 2; Seventies, 1; Elders, 21; Deacons, 1. The house was called to order by elder Noah Packard, and was organized by calling Noah Packard to the chair, and Wm. Brown was appointed clerk. The conference was opened by singing a hymn and a prayer by Elder Almon Babbit. The chair then stated the object of the conference, and presented brother Hartman to be ordained to the office of an elder, which was carried. The representation of the different branches was then called for, composing the Gennessee conference, which were represented as follows: The Alexander branch, represented by Anson Sheffield, composed of 32 members, 12 elders: four members were cut off since the last conference. The Acron branch, represented by Elder Heat; 10 members, five elders. The Utica branch, represented by Elder Shadbolt; 17 members, including three elders. The Brant branch, represented by elder Beebe, 15 members, including elders and teachers. The Buffaloe [Buffalo] branch represented by elder Gunniue; 10 members, two elders. The Cambro branch, represented by Elder Gleason; 25 members, six elders. The Bennington branch, not represented. The Hartland branch, represented by Elder Brown; 15 members, two elders. The Charlotte and Salem branches, not represented. The Newfane branch, represented by Elder Gleason; 10 members, two elders. The Centerville branch, represented by Elder Hasking; 20 members, two elders. The Nethersfield branch, represented by elder Craborth; five members; Grand Island, eight members, Yates, six; Rochester and Otto, fourteen members The Batavia Branch, represented by Elder Tylor; 22 members, eight elders. After the representation of the several branches, Joseph Shamp presented a petition to the conference, setting forth his grievances concerning the manner that he was dealt with in the Buffaloe [Buffalo] Conference. He stated that he was not labored with according to the requisition of the gospel; and that he was not notified to appear at the conference, so that he might be prepared to make his defence [defense]. The conference after hearing the whole matter, decided that the proceedings in the Buffaloe [Buffalo] conference were illegal. The conference then adjourned for two hours. After the recess, they proceeded to hear all charges against Joseph Shamp, who, after a thorough investigation, was restored to fellowship. The conference then went into the business of Elder Tylor's case. The charges were sustained against him for unchristianlike conduct. Brother Tylor then made a confession to the conference, and it was voted that he be restored to the office of an elder. The conference then investigated the case of Elder Young; but as the charges were not sustained against him, it was voted that he retain his office. The conference then adjourned until Sunday morning at ten o'clock. Sunday, met according to adjournment. Elder Babbit addressed the conference upon the subject of the gospel, with his usual zeal and eloquence, illustrating many principles of the gospel. At 2 o'clock Elder Babbit again addressed the congregation, on the subject of the second coming of Christ, and the gathering of the house of Israel, in contradistinction to Millerism; showing from the scriptures that the house of Israel must be gathered before Christ could come; and that this 'gospel of the kingdom must be preached as a witness unto all nations' and that the church of Christ must be organized on the earth, with all its offices, gifts, and authorities. At 6 in the evening, Elder Babbit preached upon the subject of the mammon of unrighteousness, arguing the necessity of the saints overcoming the principle of covetousness; that they be given to hospitality, and that they assist with their means as just stewards, in rolling forth the kingdom of God, and the building up of the same. After some remarks from several others of the elders, on different subjects, for the furtherance and prosperity of the Gennessee conference, it was Moved, that the conference be adjourned until the first Saturday and Sunday in March, 1844. Noah Packard, priest. Wm. Brown, Cl'k.