New York Conference

Met pursuant to notice at the corner of Canal and Hudson streets, September 4th, 1844, at 10 o'clock, A, M. Elder William Smith, was called to the chair, and Elder David Rogers, chosen secretary.

The meeting was opened by singing, and prayer by Elder William Smith.

After which President Smith arose and stated that he had not expected to be present and therefore did not know what business they had before them, there are some things, he thought would be beneficial to their branch of the church; he spoke with great effect and at length on the fulness [fullness] of the gospel and the wonderful effects on those who embraced it, and the great benefits to be derived therefrom, that it was, a matter of astonishment to him how they could refrain from putting forth all their energies in this mighty work of the last days, when we all know the work must be accomplished-when the calls are so great from every quarter and the people are so anxious to hear-our labors would be abundantly blessed by every one trying to roll the cause forward-for this must truly be a great and glorious work, when all the Hosts of Heaven are engaged in carrying out these great principles of salvation-you must have an eye single to the glory of God and be united and have no more bickerings about things that do not concern you, and cease finding fault, with those, whom you ought to uphold as the authorities of the church of God. Brethren, it is decidedly wrong in any of you speaking evil of those, who are laboring for you and doing all the good they can for you. We have suffered time and again from such means and it is by such means, our brethren have sealed their testimony with their blood, and by such means you will cause our blood to be shed if you persist in it; it is by false brethren, that all of our worst troubles have come upon us-God has called us and not man, and it grieves us to hear you say, that you will support the authorities of this church in righteousness-it is in reality an insult. I can say that I have done nothing contrary to the spirit of Christ since I have been among you-it is not your place to dictate to us, but some of you would wish to do it, (from your actions I judge,) as much as to say that we could point out a wiser course if you would listen to us-such a spirt [spirit] should be put down, for God has chosen us (the Twelve) as special witnesses, and what could you do, should they be taken from you?-you would be without a head-like the snake who got tired of following its head and thought it would make its tail perform the office of a head-but it soon got into difficulty in consequence of not having a head to lead-the tail got into a crevice of a rock and could not extricate itself without calling upon the head, which would soon be the case with the troubled and fault finding members should they undertake to get along without a head-how shameful it is that individuals should offend and persecute those who have labored and borne the head and burden of the day, by telling lies which are calculated to injure them. They forget the Mormons creed "mind your own business."

A committee was appointed to wait upon Brother Hewett and inform him that charges would be preferred against him in the afternoon, and invite him to be present to answer them; whereupon, Elders Miles and Braidwood were appointed said committee.

After which, Elder G. J. Adams made some very judicious remarks in his usual bold, pointed, and forcible manner.

Adjourned till three o'clock, P. M.

3 o'clock, P. M., met according to adjournment, and the committee was called upon to lay the case of Brother Hewett before the conference. Brother Hewett said many things injurious to those he had slandered, and as he did not appear on notice being given, it was

unanimously resolved that Brother Hewett be excommunicated.

Elder Brannan spoke at length in favor of sustaining the Twelve. Brother Adams said he had been slandered for the same, and made some very pertinent remarks; after which, adjourned until 7 1-2 o'clock, P. M.

Met at half past seven o'clock in the evening. Elder Smith arose and said there was many things which grieved him,-he said it appeared that he was unfortunate in most things since he had been in the city-thought it strange that elders should give credence to such stories-had last winter proved them false by the very individuals who originated the stories against him before the church in conference; he had told openly all the mysteries to-day that he had ever made known to any of them-not one could say aught [ought] against him in this city. he therefore had nothing to repent of Brother Braidwood bore testimony to the christian-like conduct of President Smith at the very places where the stories originated; Brother Adams said it was hard enough for a man in the prime of life to suffer, while he might be engaged at a large salary without being slandered-Adjourned until 10 o'clock, A. M. next day.

Met again, according to adjournment, at 10 1-2 o'clock, A. M., and after singing and prayer, Brother Smith gave a very able discourse on Jer. xvi. he spoke of the many elders who made no effort to get out into the world to publish the fulness [fullness] of the gospel, where they might exercise their talents in the work of God. and be the means of doing much good,-that they could not expect to be blessed with those who had waded through troubles and difficulties to publish to the world the gospel. He dwelt at some length on the hunters and fishers of men that the text spoke of being in the last days-that the young elders should be among them. If the ancients had not gone forward, the scriptures could not have been fulfiled [fulfilled]; we have all got to bear our part in the work, if we expect to be blessed and inherit the glories of the faithful; suppose Peter, John, Paul, and the rest should have made the same excuse that many of you do now, do you think it would have been well for them? I answer no, it would not, they went forward and proved themselves men of God.-He (Elder Smith,) had gone forward when a mere boy, with no advantage of education from house to house, traveling from place to place, and had been obliged to ask for something to eat; hungry and faint, travelling [traveling] with blistered feet-spoke at great length on the privations which the first elders of the church had to endure for their sake; he painted the situation of the church of Christ fourteen years ago, with but six members, and against whom all the combined powers of superstition, bigotry, and tradition, were levelled [leveled], and its steady progress in the face of all opposition. His remarks occupied near two hours, and were consoling to those who are faithful, and stimulating to those who had become luke-warm in the cause of God.

Adjourned till three o'clock P. M.

Met at three o'clock, P. M. The President called upon the elders for a representation of their different branches, which were as follows;

New York, G. T. Leach, Presiding Elder, two high priests, six elders, seven priests, one deacon, two teachers, and one hundred and ninety four members.

Granville, Monmouth county, N. J., seventeen members; three elders, all in good standing, excepting two. Warren Wallace, P. E.

Whynoque, N. J., baptised [baptized] by Elder John Leach, sixteen members, one priest, and one teacher.

Hempstead, L. I., forty-four members, one elder, one priest, two teachers. All in good standing since the last conference. Two cut off, three added by certificate, one by baptism. S. J. Raymond, P. E.

Brooklyn, L. I., twenty-eight members, one high priest, three elders, one priest, one teacher, one deacon, one cut off, and seven baptized since last conference. All in good standing; best of prospects given by Brother Miles, P. E. Brother Miles feels in high spirits in anticipation of the future.

Sataucket, L. I., branch, seventeen members, two elders, one priest, two teachers, one deacon, all in good standing, Lewis Hulse, P. Elder.

Newark, fourteen members. Elder Ross wants an elder to be sent there.

White House, Mechanicsville, not organised [organized], wants some one to go there, &c. N. Germantown, N. J, Few members in both places.

On motion of Elder Wright, it was resolved, that all the elders use their influence to collect monies [moneys], to assist in the building of the Temple of the Lord; and that wherever they go, they will impress upon the saints the necessity of tithing themselves according to the commandments.

On motion of Elder Braidwood, resolved, that we approve of the course pursued by the publishers of the "Prophet," and that we will use every means in our power to increase its circulation.

Resolved, that we sustain all the authorities of the church of God.

Resolved, that this church do not consider any elder, priest, teacher, or member in good standing, who abstain from the communion table. Adjourned till evening, at half past seven o'clock in the evening, Elders Adams gave a very masterly discourse on Infidelity. John iii. 16.

Ordained three elders. Present at this conference, nineteen elders, five priests, and three teachers.

Resolved, that the minutes of this conference be published in the New York Prophet.

Adjourned till the first Wednesday, in April, 1845.

WM. SMITH, Pres't.

D. ROGERS, Clerk.

Minutes of a Conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, held in the Court House, in Toulon, Start county, Ill.; on the 7th and 8th days of September, 1844; pursuant to previous appointment.

The conference was organized by appointing Elder J. K. McClenahan President, and Silas Richards Clerk, a hymn was sung by the congregation, and prayer by Elder Robert McClenahan, who afterwards delivered a discourse, followed by the president, after which the conference adjourned until to-morrow morning at ten o'clock A. M.

Sunday morning Sept. 8th, Conference met pursuant to adjournment; a hymn was sung, and prayer by Elder Hitchcock, after which Elder P. Brunson preached on the parable of the "ten virgins," followed by Elder Sanders, on the knowledge of the living and true God and Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost.

After which the president made some very appropriate remarks relative to the principles of eternal truth, as contained in the scriptures Adjourned till half past one o'clock P. M.

Met pursuant to adjournment. The different branches represented at this conference are as follows:

The Toulon branch represented by Brother Miller consists of twenty eight members including five elders, three priests, one teacher, one deacon.

Prince's Grove branch represented by Elder Hitchcock, contains thirteen members, including three elders.

The branch at Walnut Grove, represented by Elder Sanders, contains twenty five members, including six elders.

During the remaining part of the day, several brethren addressed the congregation.

A committee of three persons were appointed to receive and forward donations for the temple.

At five o'clock the conference adjourned to meet at Prince's Grove on the third Saturday in May next at ten o'clock, A. M.

Voted, that the proceedings of this conference be transmitted to Nauvoo, to be published in the Times and Seasons.

J. K. McCLENAHAN, Pres't.

SILAS RICHARDS, Clerk.