| The Twelve
hold a conference with two branches on Lake Erie and organize the Westfield
Conference. 500 attend. A traveling elder is rebuked for teaching false
doctrine. The brethren preach on eternal points and strict obedience, covenants,
and the corruption of gentile churches. Several are baptized. |
| Date |
|
May 9–11, 1835 |
|
Messenger
and Advocate 1, no. 8 (May 1835): 116. |
| Location |
|
Westfield, Chautauqua county
(northwest New York on Lake Erie, near Pennsylvania) |
|
| Description |
|
Elders of the Westfield and Laona branches …
and the church meet with Thomas B. Marsh (h),
Brigham Young, Orson Hyde (h),
William E. McLellin (h),
David W. Patten (h),
and other unnamed members of the Twelve. |
|
|
| Presiding
elder |
|
Thomas B. Marsh (h) |
|
|
| Clerks |
|
Orson Hyde and William E. McLellin |
|
|
| Membership |
|
75 members in Westfield branch, 20 in Laona branch |
|
|
Difficulties
|
|
The branches are "low in spirits"
due to "some difficulties" that the missionaries settled. |
|
|
False
doctrine re: last days
Jews to be scattered, darkened
Gentiles turn to blood
Beast with horns, etc. |
|
One travelling Elder had been guilty of teaching erroneous doctrine
and perverting the word of God. Such, for instance, as the following.
Christ said, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon turned to blood,
and the stars fall from heaven, &c. He stated that the Jewish church
was the sun, and when it was scattered the sun was darkened. The moon
was the Gentile church, which would be cut off and then it should turn
to blood, &c. &c. besides, something about the Apocalyptic beast
with seven heads and ten horns. |
|
|
| Elder
repents |
|
The elder acknowledges his error, promises to be more careful
in the future. |
|
|
Preach
on eternal points
Not leave a commandment unenforced |
|
We gave the church and Elders much instruction relative to the great
points of our eternal interest, and we endeavored to do our work effectually
and leave not a commandment unenforced.
|
|
|
| Sunday
attendance |
|
500 in attendance on Sunday. |
|
|
| Covenants
sermon |
|
Thomas B. Marsh
(h) delivers
"a very interesting discourse upon the covenants." |
|
|
| Gentile
church corrupt |
|
David W. Patten
(h) speaks on "the corruption of
the Gentile church." |
|
|
|
|
5 are baptized at
the end of the meeting. Confirmed in the evening. |
|
|
|
Westfield Conference |
|
On Monday, May 12,
the church gathers and the Westfield
Conference is organized. (No officers
mentioned, apparently only geographic definition.) |
|
|
| Boundaries |
|
Boundaries: east to Lodi, south and west to Pennsylvania
Line, north to Lake Erie, including "branches at Westfield, Silver
Creek, Perrysburgh,
or Villanovia [Villanova] and Laona."
|
|
I have located all
named villages on the Internet. They are all in Chautauqua County, but
Villanova and Laona are not in MapQuest or Rand McNally road atlas. |
| Adjourn |
|
Conference adjourns
at 2:00. |
|
| Public
preaching, Twelve exhort |
|
At 3:00 Brigham
Young begins the public preaching, followed by "the farewell exhortation
of the twelve." |
|
|
Baptisms,
confirmation, laying on of hands
Meet until midnight |
|
Orson Hyde (h)
baptizes 7, they are confirmed in the evening, "when the Lord blessed
us with his holy spirit, and many that were infirm received the laying on
of hands, and prayer." Meeting continues until nearly midnight. |
|
|
Monday
nine continue on
Orson and William E. stay |
|
Monday
morning 9 of the brethren leave to attend appointments en route to Freedom. "We
tarried to arrange the minutes of our conference and record them, &c." |
|
|
Man requests
baptism
Church called together
Melt |
|
While the nine were taking
their leave one man came to us and said he could not rest nor be satisfied,
until he had obeyed the everlasting Gospel. The church was called together
soon and we prayed unto the Lord our Heavenly Father, in the name of
Christ and Holy Spirit was shed forth upon us, and all were melted into
humility and tears before the Lord. Elder O. Hyde administered baptism
unto him and confirmed him by the water's edge.—Praise the Lord
for his goodness: Praise him for his wonderful works among the children
of men. |
|
|
|
|
At the end of their report, Orson and William E. add this
anecdote: |
|
|
Mormonism
Unvailed 18.75¢
Book of Mormon $2 "selling price" |
|
We were told Messrs. How [Howe], Hulbert [Hurlbut]
& Co's. Mormonism Unveiled sold for eighteen and three quarter cents,
while the Book of Mormon sold for two dollars. It is true that two dollars
is above the selling price of the Book of Mormon, but the anxiety of
the gentleman to purchase it, and the owner having but one, and not
wishing to part with it, is an explanation of this matter. Tell every
body to buy and read "Mormonism Unveiled" if they wish, for
we are convinced of Paul's statement, where he says, "Ye can do
nothing against the truth but for the truth."
|
|
|
| |
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Minutes of August 10, 1835
Minutes of May 2, 1835
Ohio Minutes
|