​August 1834
Conference Minutes
​Of the Elders of the Church of the Latter-Day
Saints, assembled in Kirtland, August 23,
1834. After the usual form the conference
came to order, and was opened by prayer, when
the following preamble and resolutions were
read, and ordered to be printed in The Evening
and the Morning Star, and sent as a circular
to the churches abroad.
Whereas a report having come to the knowledge
of the Church in this place censuring the
conduct of brother Joseph Smith, Jr. relative
to his proceedings during his late journey
to and from Missouri: and whereas said report
was calculated to created unfavorable influence
as regards the moral character and honesty
of our brother, it becomes necessary for us
to investigate the matter and report the same
to our brethren abroad:--Therefore,
Resolved, that after hearing from the mouths
of some, that a suspicion rested upon their
minds relative to the conduct of our brother,
as regards his honesty and godly walk, we
have investigated his whole proceedings by
calling upon those who accompanied him to
and from Missouri, and are happy to have it
in our power to say to our brethren abroad,
one and all, that we are satisfied with his
conduct, having learned from the clearest
evidence, that he has acted in every respect
worthy his high and responsible station in
this Church, and has prudently and cautiously
preserved the good of this society at large,
and is still worthy our esteem and fellowship:
and that those reports could have originated
in the minds of none except such as, either
from a misunderstanding or natural jealousy,
are easily led to conceive of evils where
none exist.
Resolved, that we say to our brethren, that
while we are surrounded by thousands, eager
to grasp at a shadow, if they have a hope
of turning it into the semblance of a falsehood
for the injury of the gospel, we exhort them
to be steadfast and immovable in the truth,
resting assured, that while they continue
to walk in the holy covenant they have professed
to embrace, that nothing can, in the end,
operate against their good; and that while
wickedness abounds, as in days of old, the
characters of those seeking the greatest good
for their fellow men will be shamefully traduced,
and every act of their lives misrepresented,
and a false shade thrown over their worthy
deeds, calculated to create an evil prejudice
in the minds of community, to prevent, if
possible, the increase of light, the better
to effect their own purposes and keep men
in error. We say, dear brethren, may peace
and the blessings of our Lord Jesus be multiplied
unto you through the knowledge of the truth
forever.
Resolved, that these minutes be signed by
the Moderator and Clerk, and published to
the churches in The Evening and the Morning
Star.
Reynolds Cahoon, Moderator.
​Oliver Cowdery, Clerk.
We, the undersigned, members of the above-named
conference, for the satisfaction of our brethren
abroad, feel it to be our duty to say to those
with whom we have a personal acquaintance,
that we were present during the foregoing
investigation and cheerfully concur in the
spirit of the above minutes, and join in saying,
that we are perfectly satisfied that, whatever
impressions may have gone abroad, or whatever
may yet remain with any in this vicinity relative
to the conduct of our brother Joseph Smith,
Jr. we are certain, (from evidence,) that
he conducted himself in all respects as set
forth in the Resolutions of this conference.
We are induced to make these statements that
the innocent may not suffer wrongfully, and
that the minds of our brethren may be satisfied
that every appearance of evil is, in this
place, searched out, and that nothing unbecoming
a society of people professing godliness,
suffered to exist among them.
J. B. Bozworth, from Norton, Ohio.
John Smith, Pottsdam, N.Y.
Orson Johnson, Bath, N.H.
Roswell Evans, Waterford, Vt.
William Burgess, Bolton, N.Y.
Alman Sherman, Pomfret, N.Y.
Jonas Putnam, Bolton, N.Y.
Ira Ames, Benson, Vt.
Asa Lyman, Parishville, N.Y.
John Rudd, Springfield, Pa.
Isaac Story, Warsaw, N.Y.
Oliver Higley, Jamestown, N.Y.
Jacob Bump, Silver Creek, N.Y.
Isaac Hill, East Liverpool, Ohio.
Lorenzo Young, East Liverpool, Ohio.
We, the undersigned, members of this conference,
being personally acquainted with Brother J.
Smith, Jr. and having accompanied him to Missouri,
certify that the forgoing is correct.
Heber C. Kimball
​Lyman Johnson.
