Conference Minutes

Minutes of a conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held at the city of Halifax, Halifax county. Providence Nova Scotia. November 18th. 1843.

Conference convened pursuant to a previous appointment at, 11 o'clock. A. M., and after singing and prayer, by elder Dickson; the meeting was addressed by elder Cooke, from John's first epistle, 4th c. l9-21 v.

On motion. Resolved, That we adjourn till 1 o'clock, P. M.

At 1 o'clock P. M., conference re-assembled, and elder Dickson presented before the meeting the object of the conference. The solemnities of the occasion were then opened by singing and prayer by elder Cooke.

The conference was organized by unanimously electing elder Rober [Robert] Dickson, president, and elder Edward Cooke, secretary.

Resolved; That this branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, be called the Halifax branch.

Resolved, That elder R. Dickson be chosen to preside over this branch of the church.

Resolved, That brother John Skerry be ordained to the office of elder, to preside over this branch, in the absence of elder Dickson.

Resolved, That brother William Gumb be ordained to the office of Deacon of this branch of the church.

Resolved, That conference adjourn till 7 o'clock.

Conference reassembled at 7 o'clock P. M., and after singing and prayer by R. Dickson, the above brethren were ordained to their respective offices, under the hands of Elders Dickson and Cooke.

Representation of branches- The Halifax branch, represented by Robert Dickson, consists of l3 members, one elder, and one deacon.

In Onslow, Colchester county, Nova Scotia there are 4 members, represented by R. Dickson.

The Preston branch, represented by Edward Cooke, consisting of 17 members, one elder, one teacher and one deacon.

The official members present, spoke, and bore testimony of the truth of the great work of the Lord in these last days. Official members present, two elders and one teacher.

Resolved, That the saints uphold the first presidency by their prayers.

Resolved, that a copy of the minutes of this conference be transmitted to Nauvoo, for publication in the Times and Seasons.

Conference then adjourned to meet again in Halifax, on the 18th day of February, 1844

ROBERT DICKSON, Prest.

Edward Cooke, Clerk.

Minutes of a conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, held at Preston, Halifax county, Providence Nova Scotia, Dec. 19th, 1343 [1843]

Conference convened pursuant to previous appointment, on Tuesday, at 11 o'clock A. M.

The meeting being called to order, and after singing and prayer by elder Cooke, elder Dickson briefly stated the object of convening.

The conference was organized unanimously; electing elder Robert Dickson, president; and Edward Cooke, secretary.

Representation of branches-Preston branch represented by elder Cooke, consists of 15 members, one elder, one teacher, and one deacon; ten having been added since last conference, by the labors and administration of elder Dickson; two having moved to Halifax since last conference.

The Halifax branch, represented by elder Dickson, consists of 18 members, two elders, and one deacon; 17 having been added by baptism since last conference in this place.

There are four members at Onslow, Colchester county, N. S, represented by elder Dickson.

Resolved, That brother John Whiston be ordained to the office of priest of this branch.

Official members present-three elders, one teacher, and one deacon.

Resolved, That the saints uphold the first presidency by their prayers.

Resolved, That a copy of the minutes of this conference be transmitted to Nauvoo for publication in the Times and Seasons.

Resolved, That elder Dickson read before the conference, from the book of Doctrine and Covenants, the revelation on the word of wisdom.

The conference adjourned at 4 o'clock, P. M., to meet at the house of T. Miller, on the 10th day of March, 1844.

Robert Dickson, Prest.

Edward Cooke, Sec.

Minutes of a conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, held in Brownstown, Main county, Michigan, on the 12th of January 1844.

Conference convened pursuant to previous appointment. Present, seven elders, two teachers.

M. Seirine [Serrine?] was chosen to preside, and G. Savage appointed clerk.

The conference was opened by singing and prayer. The president then made some remarks on the object of the meeting; after which elder Savage delivered a discourse from the 7th chapter of Rev. Conference then adjourned till 11 o'clock next day.

Met according to appointment, opened by singing and prayer.

Elder O. Jefferies preached from the 2d chapter of Daniel, 44th verse; wherein he proved that the kingdom spoken of by Daniel could not mean the kingdom set up in the days of Jesus Christ, that kingdom having been taken from the Jews and given to the Gentiles; and in place of its having rolled forth and broken in pieces all other kingdoms, the kingdoms of this world brake that in pieces, and the man of sin was revealed, the son of perdition, spoken of by Paul in 2d Thess., 26th chap. The president afterwards made a few remarks upon the same subject. Conference adjourned two hours.

Met according to appointment; opened by singing and prayer; some remarks were made by the president to the conference by way of instruction.

The different branches were then represented as follows:

Franklin branch, represented by elder M. Serrine; two elders, one priest, one teacher, 17 members.

Pleasant Valley branch, represented by elder O. Jefferies; one elder, one priest, one teacher, 22 members.

The Rose branch, represented by elder O. Jefferies; one teacher, 10 members.

The Lapeer branch; represented by elder Slater; one elder, three priests, one teacher, 16 members.

Brownstown branch; represented by president Bunel, one priest, one teacher, 19 members.

The Livonia branch; represented by elder Wood, one elder, one priest, one teacher, one deacon, 15 members.

The Serrine branch; represenied [represented] by elder M. Serrine, one priest, one teacher, 14 members.

The Bedford branch; represented by brother Wright, one elder, 16 members.

The Willsdale branch; represented by elder M. Serrine one priest, seven members; besides there was about 45 scattered members, not represented in the above branches.

Since our conference in July, upwards of one hundred members have left this state for Nauvoo. Conference adjourned till evening.

Met according to appointment, opened with singing and prayer. Elder J. Savage delivered a discourse from the 12th chap. of Rev., in which he described the fall of the church, and ite [its] reorganization in the year 1830, according to the predictions of the apostles and prophets. Adjourned till 11 o'clock, next day.

Met according to appointment, opened by singing and prayer. G. Savage spoke from 2d Peter, 1st chap., 21st and 22d verses; from which he proved that the Bible was its own expositor, and that all those prophecies had had, and would receive a literal fulfilment [fulfillment].-He was followed by elder Serrine, Conference adjourned two hours. During the intermission elder Serrine baptized one individual.

Met according to appointment, opened by singing and prayer. The president then administered the sacrament, and confirmed the person who had been baptized; blessed four children. Adjourned till evening.

Met again according to appointment, opened by singing and prayer. Elder Serrine preached from 1st Co., 15th cap.; he set forth the first and second resurrection, and the reign of the saints of God on the earth, when purified. Several members then bore testimony of the truth of the gospel, and as they spoke the spirit of God seemed to rest upon the congregation. The power of God was manifested; the gifts were received in the church, and a lively impression seemed to have been made upon the minds of the congregation. The parting hymn was sung, and conference adjourned until the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in May, to be held in the town of Waterford, Oakland county, Michigan, six miles west of Pontiack [Pontiac].

Moved and carried, that the minutes of this conference be sent to the editor of the Times and Season for publication. We should be glad if the elders which are travelling [traveling] through this place could meet with us at the next conference.

M. Serrine, Pres.

G. Savage, Clerk.