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Minutes of the Quarterly Conference Held at Farmington, Davis county, Oct. 20, 1855
Saturday, 20th, Morning—The people assembled at the Bowery—present of the Twelve, P.P. Pratt, O. Pratt, and W. Woodruff; also L.D. Young, Gilbert Clements, John Cook and T.D. Brown of the Missionaries.
The Conference opened by singing—prayer by O. Pratt. All the missionaries present had severe colds and sore throats, and were very hoarse, as was the case with many others, a disease which made its appearance during the last 24 hours; there had been no apparent change in the weather, or in the elements to cause the effect.
Elder P.P. Pratt addressed the people for two hours and a half. He said he felt quite unwell, and had got either to preach or go to bed. He had not intended to preach today, but he should have to in order to drive off his cold. He spoke in a very interesting manner upon the birth, life, persecution and death of Jesus Christ. He took for his text, the 10 and 11th verses of the 2nd chapter of St. Luke: “And the Angel said unto them, fear not, for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people; for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” He said one cause why he took that text was that in a school of small scholars, in Salt Lake City, the teacher asked the question, where was Christ born? and there was not one of the scholars that could tell; and said, there is a neglect among us as a people, in not teaching our children as we should, the Old and New Testaments; the History of the Bible; the prophets and apostles, and of Jesus Christ, as taught in the New Testament. And that it was time the people were taught the simple things of the word of God; and that message of good news is as necessary for that assembly as it was for the people of Judea. He said that we and our children should read the Bible more than we do; our children should read the Bible, until they can learn where Jesus Christ was born, and understand his history. I wish to come down to the capacity of children, and if they can understand me, their parents can. Perhaps almost every child in these valleys eight years old knows that it is necessary to be baptized at that age, because they have been taught it by their parents or others, but many of them do not know what they are baptized for, but if it was not for the name of Jesus Christ, all our ordinances and administrations, would be in vain, and of no effect, for if we did not baptize in the name of Jesus Christ, our sins would not be remitted, and if we did not lay on hands in the name of Jesus Christ for the gift of the Holy Ghost, or the healing of the sick, the Holy Ghost would not be given, nor the sick be healed; for there is no other name given under heaven, whereby men can be saved. We have no promise of any blessing from God, except thro’ and in his name. Then it is very important that we and our children should understand his life and history; some do not know whether he was born in Asia or America.
He spoke of Christ’s visit to America—choosing twelve Apostles—his teachings to the people and prophesyings of the last days, all written in the Book of Mormon; the people should hear it; people must learn and perceive the gospel in order to be candidates for salvation or damnation; all should get their endowments but if they sin afterwards they will have to pay for it….
P.M.
Elder O. Pratt addressed the people, clothed with the spirit of the Lord; his teachings were very interesting to all who heard them. He referred to the discourse of P.P. Pratt, upon the life, death, and persecution of the Savior; had formerly wished that he had lived in that day, but now had much rather live in this dispensation, as there were greater works to be performed. He then took up the Book of Mormon and linked all the prophecies together, which are to take place until the coming of Christ, the redemption of the Lamanites; the preaching the gospel unto all nations; the building the New Jerusalem and Temple in Jackson county; the cloud and pillar of fire over the dwelling plains; blowing of the trumps; the persecution of the saints; and the ascension of the New Jersualem…with its inhabitants, there to remain until the wicked were destroyed, then to descend and reign a thousand years. He portrayed the joy, grandeur and glory of the saints, during these events, and the consternation, sorrow and misery of the wicked….
The conference was then adjourned for three months.
W. Woodruff, Reporter
[Deseret News, 5:336]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 20, 1855, 4]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]
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Quarterly Conferences
At a council of elders, convened at Farmington, Davis county, Utah, on the 23rd of October, 1855, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, that a second quarterly conference be held in Bishop Stoker’s settlement, in Davis county, commencing at 10 o’clock on Saturday the 17th day of November.
Resolved, that a third quarterly conference be held at Bishop Kay’s settlement, in Davis county, commencing at 10 o’clock on Saturday the 15th day of December.
Resolved, that a fourth quarterly conference be held at Farmington, in Davis county, commencing at 10 o’clock on Saturday, the 19th day of January, 1856.
Resolved, that Joseph Young, E. Pulsipher, Henry Herriman, H.S. Eldredge, Lorenzo D. Young, and Gilbert Clements, fill up the intervals of time between the quarterly conferences, by individual preaching in different settlements of the Fourth Missionary district.
P.P. Pratt
Orson Pratt, sen.
Wilford Woodruff
[Deseret News, 5:272]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 21, 1855, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]
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A quarterly conference was attended in Provo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday last, by Elders Parley P. and Orson Pratt.
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oct. 31, 1855, 3]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, July 2006]