Conference Minutes

Minutes of a special Conference of the Cincinnati branch of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held on the 8th day of December, 1844.

There were present; one high priest, two seventies, one elder and one teacher.

Elder J. W. Crippin was called to the chair, and Elder Thomas Derby appointed Clerk.

Conference was opened at 11 o'clock A. M. A hymn was sung, and the President addressed the throne of grace. After which a short discourse was delivered by the President on the necessity of union in order to carry forth the work of the Lord in this part of his vineyard. He went on to show the bad effects of disunion and the good effects of union by referring to sacred and profane history, for examples that disunion had been the cause of all divisions which had ever taken place, both in the political and religious world. And that great things had been accomplished by unity of effort: as an example he referred to our forefathers in their struggle for liberty.

The President then stated the object of the Conference which was to ascertain how the saints stood in regard to the expulsion of Elder Rigdon, as some of the members of the branch had manifested a disposition in favor of Elder Rigdon as president of the church, in opposition to the Twelve, thereby causing contention and disunion in the branch.

He stated also, that those who were in favor of the present organization under the Twelve could not fellowship those who opposed them. And also that it was necessary that the minds of the saints should be had, in order to produce a union, establish order, and stop controversy in our prayer meetings.

The President then called on each member present to state his mind concerning this matter, and they were all in favor of the Twelve being the leaders of this last kingdom, until the great God in his infinite wisdom shall see fit to do otherwise.

We now proceed to state the resolutions that was drawn up by a council of elders, Crippin, Derby, Pugh, Merryweather, and a high priest from Nauvoo, on the third of December, 1844; and passed almost unanimously be the branch in conference, on the 8th: viz:

Resolved, that we will not permit any one to preach in this branch, who is not decidedly and unequivocatingly in favor of the present organization, under the Twelve.

Resolved, that we will carry out the measures of our martyred brethren Joseph and Hyrum,

in subjection to the counsel of higher authorities.

Resolved, that all those who absent themselves from our sacrament meetings, we consider weak in the faith.

Conference adjourned until December, 15th.

Conference met pursuant to adjournment, and opened with singing and prayer by Elder Thomas Derby. The President then stated the object of the conference for the benefit of those that were not present at the previous meeting. We then ascertained the minds of the residue of the members, which terminated in favor of the Twelve.

The conference then dropped sister Rebeca Ann Wire, according to her own request as she could not believe in the Twelve.

Conference then adjourned.

J. W. CRIPPEN, Pres't.

Thomas Derby, Clerk.