--- 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: 16 published: 1844-09-01 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“Minutes of a conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in Southfield centre, Oakland county, Michigan, on the 9th 10th and 11th of Aug. 1844,” *Times and Seasons* 5, no. 16 (September 1, 1844): 628–629." printed_title: Minutes of a conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in Southfield centre, Oakland county, Michigan, on the 9th 10th and 11th of Aug. 1844. source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1844-09-01_5_16 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v5n16.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_1844-09-01_5_16 start_page: 628 end_page: 629 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_1844-09-01_5_16 publication_year: 1844 --- # Minutes of a conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held in Southfield centre, Oakland county, Michigan, on the 9th 10th and 11th of Aug. 1844 Pursuant to previous appointment, conference met at 4 o'clock P. M. called to order by elder G. Savage; and elder William Burton chosen president pro tem-elder M. Serrine being absent-and elder Wm. Van Avery clerk. Conference was opened by singing and prayer, by the president, after which he made some remarks respecting the business of the conference, and gave liberty for others. Elder G. Savage made some very appropriate remarks on the death of the prophet and patriarch, and was followed by other elders. After the usual solemnities Conference adjourned until tomorrow, at 11 o'clock. Conference met pursuant to adjournment; elder Serrine being present, took the chair.-Singing and prayer by elder G. Savage. Elder Merely delivered a discourse from Matthew, 28th chapter, 19 and 20th verses from which he set forth the first principles of the gospel in a very able manner, showing the necessity of obeying all the ordinances of God's house. Conference adjourned for one hour and a half. Conference convened; singing and prayer, by elder D. Hickey. The number of different quorums were then called for. High Priests-M. Serrine and -- Stoddard. Seventies-G. Savage, Wm. Burton, L. Malloray and --Merely. Fourteen elders, two priests and one deacon. The different branches were then represented. Franklin branch by elder J. M. Wait, 34 members, one high priest, five elders, one priest, one teacher and one deacon. Livonia branch by elder David Wood, 16 members, one elder, one priest, one teacher and one deacon Superior branch by elder M. Serrine, 16 members and one teacher. Brownstown branch by elder G. Savage, 19 members, one elder and one teacher. Redford branch by Levi M. Randall, 14 members, two elders, one priest and one deacon. Southfield branch by R. Hogle, eight members, one elder and one priest. Avon branch by elder D. Hickey, 14 members, 2 elders, 1 priest. Pleasant Valley branch by elder B. Searls, 28 members, three elders and one priest. Lapier branch by brother Lathrop, 11 members. Cedar branch by M. Serrine, 13 members, one priest and one teacher. Waterford branch by M. Serrine, 12 members, one elder and one teacher. Pine Run branch by elder S. Malloray, nine members, one elder and one teacher. Rose branch by B. Searls, nine members, one priest and one teacher. Hillsdale branch by M. Serrine, six members, one elder and one priest. About 40 members in the above branches not represented. Elders Peter Van Avery, jr. and Martin Sprague were called to labor in the county of St. Clair, J. M. Waite in Siwassee, G. Savage in Oakland and Macomb counties. The following brethren were then nominated for ordination: Brother Lathrop and Wm. Walworth to the office of elders. Aurora Burnes and Wm. Surviss to the office of priests. It was then motioned and seconded, that elder Wm. Burton preach Joseph's and Hyrum's funeral sermon, on the Sabbath at 11 o'clock. Conference adjourned until to-morrow, at half past ten o'clock, A. M. Conference met according to appointment and after the usual solemnities, elder Burton delivered a lengthy discourse from Revelations 14th chapter, 12th and 13th verses, giving a brief sketch of the rise and progress of the church from the time it was organized; also the life and sufferings of the prophet and patriarch, from the time they were called to the ministry, until they were assassinated and suffered Martyrdom for the cause of truth. A deep solemnity rested upon the congregation. Conference adjourned for one hour During intermission, two were add;d to the church by baptism. Conference convened; after the throne of grace was addressed, a discourse was delivered by elder Savage on the subject of faith; after which the confirmation of those that were baptized, blessing of children and sacrament was administered. A minister of the christian order then arose, desiring the privilege of addressing the congregation a few moments; he then stated he came there for the purpose of hearing for himself concerning our principles, and he said he must confess he had heard the truth, and inasmuch as he had embraced error, he was willing to exchange it for truth any time, and as an honest man before God, he exhorted the congregation to obey the gospel if they wished to be saved in the kingdom of God. It was then motioned and seconded that the minutes of this conference be sent to the Times and Seasons for publication. Conference then adjourned until the first Friday in November next, at Oakland Town, Oakland county, four miles north of Rochester. WM. BURTON,} M. SERRINE,} Prest's Wm. Van Avery, Clerk.