| October
25 morning: The High Priesthood is the power to seal the Saints
unto eternal life §. Brethren declare their willingness to give all
to God. Greatest blessings for those who support the Prophet's family
while he continues to work on the scriptures. Joseph declines to describe
Book of Mormon translation process. Support missionary families. |
| October
25 evening: Fund-raising missionaries called. Ordinations to the High
Priesthood, ordination of elders and priests. |
| October
26: Sidney rebukes brethren for not taking ordination to the High Priesthood
seriously. Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer instructed regarding the selection
of the Twelve. They are to be ordained and sent forth from Zion. |
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| Date |
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October 25–26,
1831 |
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FWR,
19–26. |
| Location |
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Orange,
Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, home of Sirenes Burnett |
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| Description |
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… a general Conference
… |
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| [Moderator] |
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[Joseph Smith] |
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| Clerk |
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Oliver Cowdery |
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| Present |
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Names of those ordained
to the Highpriesthood |
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| High
Priesthood |
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Joseph Smith Jr.
Oliver Cowdery
John Whitmer
Hyrum Smith
Sidney Rigdon
Samuel H. Smith
Simeon Carter
Reynolds Cahoon
Martin Harris
Joseph Smith Sr.
Wheeler Baldwin
John Smith (license taken) (not of the Prophet's lineage) |
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| Elders |
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David
Whitmer
Peter Whitmer
Sylvester Smith
Luke
S. Johnson
Burr Riggs (cut off)
Sylvester Parker left the Church
Orson Hyde
Daniel Stanton
Joseph Brackenbury (Died)
William E. McLellin
Major N. Ashley (cut off)
Stephen Burnett
Edmund Durfee
Joel Johnson
Levi Jackman
Emer Harris
Frederick G. Williams |
|
Expressions such
as "Died" or "cut off" probably by
Andrew Jenson, |
| Priests |
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Lyman
E. Johnson
Edward Johnson (denied the faith)
Ruggles Eames |
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| Teachers |
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William
Smith
Uziel Stephens
Hiram Griffith |
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| Deacons |
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Titus Billings
Sirenes Burnett
John Busk |
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| First
session |
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Prayer by Simeon Carter
"Glorious thing, were then sung" |
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FWR,
20–24. |
| New
song
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[Sidney:] God
always answers the prayers of the Savior for he makes his children one,
for he by his Holy Spirit binds their hearts from Earth to Heaven, And
in this thing God has taught his children to sing a new song even about
Zion which David Spoke of, &c. |
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"Praise
ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation
of saints. [2] Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children
of Zion be joyful in their King. [3] Let them praise his name in the
dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp." Psalm
149:1–3. Also
Psalm 33:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9. |
| God
testifies when elders gather in faith |
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God always bears
testimony by his presence in counsel to his Elders when they assemble
themselves in perfect faith and humble themselves before the Lord and
their wills being swallowed up in the will of God. |
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Assemble
to do Lord's business
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[Joseph:] … we have
assembled together to do the business of the Lord and it is through
the great mercy of our God that we are spared to assemble together, |
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Defiance
of evil
Lamb's book of life |
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many
of us have went at the command of the Lord in defience of every thing
evil, and obtained blessings unspeakable in consequence of which, our
names are sealed in the Lamb's Book of life, for the Lord has spoken it. |
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"And there shall in
no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh
abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's
book of life." Rev. 21:27 |
| Elders
may speak |
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It is the privilege
of every Elder to Speak of the things of God &c. |
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| Could
rent the veil today |
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And could we all
come together with one heart and one mind in perfect faith the vail might
as well be rent to day as next week or any other time |
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| Cleanse
and covenant |
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and if we will but
cleanse ourselves and covenant before God, to serve him, it is our privilege
to have an assurence that God will protect us at all times |
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| John:
neglect covenant |
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John
Whitmer reads "a certain clause in the Church Covenants" that
he fears is neglected. |
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Articles
and Covenants |
| Frederick:
families of missionaries |
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Frederick
G. Williams
asks if the conference should consider the welfare of absent elders. |
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| Sidney:
God will have a pure people sealed up |
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Br.
Sidney Rigdon said that he supposed that it was, saying, I bear testimony
that God
will have a pure people who will give up all for Christ's sake and when
this is done they will be sealed up unto eternal life. |
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| High Priesthood sealing power |
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Br.
Joseph Smith jr. said that the order of the Highpriesthood is that they
have power given them to seal up the [21] Saints unto eternal life. And
said it was the privilege of every Elder present to be ordained to the
Highpriesthood. |
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"Behold, I give unto
you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be
sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed
in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people." Helaman 10:7 |
| Brethren
covenant all |
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[Emer Harris:] Determined
to be for God & none else & with his assistance to do his will. |
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[Orson
Hyde:] Covenanted to give all to
the Lord and be for his glory and as to all his works his heart responded
a hearty Amen. |
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[Frederick
G. Williams:]
Renewed again the covenant before the Lord to give all to him. |
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[William E. McLellin:] Had the greatest reason to rejoice
of any present and that he also would be subject to the will of God even
unto death. |
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[Sylvester
Smith:] Had
the testimony that it was the will of the Lord to seal his saints, and also
covenanted to give all to the Lord. |
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[Reynolds
Cahoon:] He could not obtain [words] to express his heart but said that
he gave all to God. also reminded the brethren of the constant care of the
Savior for them. |
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[Peter
Whitmer Jr.:]
Ever since I have had an acquaintance with the writing of God I have [blank]
eternity with perfect confidence. |
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[Samuel
Smith:] Ever since he had set out to serve the Lord, not to regard the
favor of man but the favor of heaven. |
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[Martin
Harris:] Anxious
that all should be saved &c. also read two verses in the book of Revelations,
also covenanted to give all for Christ's sake. |
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[John
Smith:] Felt through
grace to do the will of the Lord notwithstanding his extreme old age, also
felt to covenant to give all to the Lord. |
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[Daniel Stanton: He had
a long time since covenanted to do the will of God in all things, and also
said that it was his desire to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. |
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[David
Whitmer:] He had consecrated all that was his to the Lord, and also
was desirous to do all for the glory of God. |
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[Simeon Carter:] He was
thankful that he had been spared & preserved to go to the land of Zion
according to the Commandment of the Lord, for he received it as from his
mouth & also thanked the Lord that his feet had troden upon the consecrated
ground which was the inheritance of the saints. Testified that the book
of Mormon was true. Mourned because of the falling away since he took his
journey to the land of Zion. |
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[Joseph
Brackenbury:]
He blessed the name of the Lord that he could bear testimony of the truth
of the book of Mormon, and also consecrated all to God before he was baptized,
he was also determined to go on to the end of his life. |
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[Levi Jackman:] He gave
all his ability to do the work of the Lord. |
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[Major
N. Ashley:] It
was by the help of the Lord that he had been preserved, yet his greatest
fear was for those who were weak in the faith. |
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[Wheeler
Baldwin:] He rejoiced while he heard those give their testimony who
had been up to the land of Zion, said he had many times been directed by
the Spirit of God, also felt to do the will of the Lord in all things, &c. |
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[Joel Johnson:] He had
professed religion for a number of years, also felt to bear testimony of
the goodness of God, and to consecrate all to the Lord. |
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[Edmund Durfee:] He had
professed religion for a number of years, yet now felt to bear testimony
of the goodness of God, & also to consecrate all to the Lord. |
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[Joseph:] He had
nothing to consecrate to the Lord of the things of the Earth, yet he felt
to consecrate himself and family. Was thankful that God had given him a
place among his saints, felt willing to labor for their good. |
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[Luke
Johnson (h):] He was determined
to be for God and none else come life or death, also remembered his
covenant [23] that he would consecrate all that he had to the Lord. |
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| Hyrum
invites Joseph to relate coming forth of the Book of Mormon |
|
[Hyrum Smith:] He thought
best that the information of the coming forth of the book of Mormon be related
by Joseph himself to the Elders present that all might know for themselves. |
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| Joseph
declines |
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[Joseph:] It was not
intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the
book of Mormon, & also said that it was not expedient for him to relate
these things &c. |
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| Destitute
families |
|
Frederick
G. Williams presents the situation of Sister Marsh's family, which is destitute. Titus
Billings is surprised, because "she and her family were provided for
as well as her brethren around her." |
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| Joseph will do his duty |
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[Joseph:] He
intended to do his duty before the Lord and hoped that the brethren would
be patient as they had a considerable distance. |
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| Blessings
for benefactors |
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also said that the
promises of God was that the greatest blessings which God had to bestow
should be given to those who contributed to the support of his family while
translating the fulness of the Scriptures, |
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Lamb's
book of life
Can't be deceived |
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also said until we have
perfect love we are liable to fall and when we have a testimony that our
names are sealed in the Lamb's Book of life we have perfect love & then
it is impossible for false Christs to deceive us. |
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| Support
missionary families |
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also said the the Lord
held the Church bound to provide for the families of the absent Elders while
proclaiming the gospel. |
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| Heavens
sealed by covetousness |
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further said that the God had often sealed up the heavens because of covetousness in the Church. |
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| Scriptures
must be finished |
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said that the Lord would
cut his work short in righteousness and except the church receive the fulness
of the Scriptures that they would yet fall. |
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| Fund-raising
missionaries |
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Oliver
Cowdery proposes
that elders be appointed this evening to visit the churches to raise funds
for [24] Joseph "& those appointed to assist him in writing & copying
the fulness of the Scriptures, as was concluded upon in a conference
held in Hiram, Oct. 11. 1831." |
|
Minutes
of October 11, 1831 |
| Adjourn |
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Conference adjourns,
prayer by William E. McLellin. |
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| Open
evening session |
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Singing, prayer by Orson
Hyde, singing. |
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| Fund-raising
missionaries |
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On Oliver's motion,
Orson
Hyde, Simeon Carter, Emer Harris, Hyrum Smith are "appointed & ordained"
[25] to visit the churches per the October 11 conference. |
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Receive
High Priesthood
Spirit leaves doubters |
|
Sidney says it is "the
privilege of those Elders present to be ordained to the High Priestood,
telling them that if they then should doubt God would withdraw his Spirit
from them." |
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Years later
McLellin argued there could be only one high priest—Jesus Christ;
also objected because the original
Articles and Covenants did not
mention the office. McLellin journals, 55–56n45. |
| High Priesthood ordinations |
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Oliver ordains:
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David
Whitmer
Peter Whitmer Jr.
John Smith
Luke Johnson
Burr Riggs
Orson Hyde
Daniel Stanton
Joseph Brackenbury |
William E. McLellin
Major N. Ashley
Stephen Burnett
Edmund Durfee
Levi Jackman
Emer Harris
Frederick G. Williams |
|
Orson
Hyde remembers that he was ordained to the High Priesthood by Joseph
Smith. ¶ Orson Hyde (h)
William
E. McLellin's diary entry for October 25: "Here I first saw brother
Joseph the Seer, also brothers Oliver, John & Sidney and a great
many other Elders &c. This conference was attended by me with
much spiritual edification & comfort to my heart. And Tuesday
night in conference a number of Elders were ordained to the High-Priesthood
of the Holy order of God among whom though I felt unworthy I was
ordained and took upon me the high responsibility of that office—A
number of others present were ordained to the lesser Priest-Hood." McLellin journals,
44–45. |
| Joseph
examines those who want to preach |
|
Oliver calls for brethren
who want to preach the gospel. Joseph "was appointed to examine these
brethren, presenting themselves for ordination." |
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Prayer. |
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| Don't
ignore talents |
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Joseph: "He had
a testimony that each had one tallent and if after being ordained they
should hide it God would take it from them." Urges continual prayer
in meekness. |
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| Advance
priests, teachers, deacons |
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Said that those who had
been previously ordained Priests would be ordained Elders, & the others
would be ordained Priests. |
| |
| Ordination
of elder |
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Oliver
ordains Lyman E. Johnson an elder and
the following brethren priests: |
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| Ordination
of priests |
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Calvin Stoddard
Ezekiel Rider
William Scobey
Uziel Stephens
William Smith
William Cahoon
|
Stephen Strong
Luman Gibbs
Eleazer Willis
Michael B. Welton
Gideon Carter |
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On
December 29, 1832, Calvin Stoddard, Joseph's brother-in-law, surrenders
his license, confessing has not "magnified his office, but had transgressed
and been out of the way." ¶ 1832 Chronology.
In 1835 he sues Joseph and calls him a "damned false prophet,"
Later he withdraws the suit. ¶ 1835 Chronology |
| Adjourn |
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Conference adjourns to
8 a.m., October 26, 1831. |
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| October
26, 1831 |
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| Open |
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Sing "Go on ye
pilgrims," prayer by David Whitmer. |
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FWR,
25–26. |
Privileges
of the Saints
Indifference to High Priesthood
Power of the office |
¶ |
[26] Br.
Sidney Rigdon then made certain remarks on the privileges of the Saints
in these last days. Remarks on those who were ordained to the Highpriesthood
last evening saying that the Lord was not well pleased with some of
them because of their indifference to be ordained to that office, exhortation
to faith and obedience setting forth the power of that office. |
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This
"indifference" may have been due, at least in part, to the possessions
that attended the first ordinations in June. Lyman's
Vision and the Man of Sin |
|
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Br. Orson
Hyde said
that he received the rebuke in meekeness. The same by brothers. Stephen
Burnett, Joseph Brackenberry, Levi Jackman & Frederick
G. Williams. |
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| Twelve
Apostles |
|
The
Clerk [Oliver Cowdery]
said that the directions which himself & his br. David
Whitmer received
this morning respecting the choice of the twelve was that they would be
ordained & sent
forth from the Land of Zion. |
|
Apostles
The
Twelve are selected in 1835. Minutes
of February 14, 1835 |
| Next
conference |
|
Vote to hold next general
conference in Amherst, January 25, 1832. |
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| Today's
speakers |
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Vote to have Sidney,
Oliver, Hyrum, and Orson Hyde speak. |
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| Close |
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Prayer by Sidney Rigdon. |
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Minutes of November 1–2, 1831
Minutes of October 21, 1831
Ohio Minutes
|