June 1830
On the ninth day of June, 1830, we held our
first conference as an organized Church. Our
numbers were about thirty, besides whom believers
or anxious to learn. Having opened by singing
and prayer, we partook together of the emblems
of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We then proceeded to confirm several who had
lately been baptized, after which we called
out and ordained several to the various offices
of the Priesthood. Much exhortation and instruction
was given, and the Holy Ghost was poured out
upon us in a miraculous manner—many of our
number prophesied, whilst others had the heavens
opened to their view, and were so overcome
that we had to lay them on beds or other convenient
places; among the rest was Brother Newel Knight,
who had to be placed on a bed, being unable
to help himself. By his own account of the
transaction, he could not understand why we
should lay him on the bed, as he felt no sense
of weakness. He felt his heart filled with
love, with glory, and pleasure unspeakable,
and could discern all that was going on in
the room; when all of a sudden a vision of
the future burst upon him. He saw there represented
the great work which through my instrumentality
was yet to be accomplished. He saw heaven
opened, and beheld the Lord Jesus Christ,
seated at the right hand of the majesty on
high, and had it made plain to his understanding
that the time would come when he would be
admitted into His presence to enjoy His society
for ever and ever. When their bodily strength
was restored to these brethren, they shouted
hosannas to God and the Lamb, and rehearsed
the glorious things which they had seen and
felt, whilst they were yet in the spirit.
Such scenes as these were calculated to inspire
our hearts with joy unspeakable, and fill
us with awe and reverence for that Almighty
Being, by whose grace we had been called to
be instrumental in bringing about, for the
children of men, the enjoyment of such glorious
blessings as were now at this time poured
out upon us. To find ourselves engaged in
the very same order of things as observed
by the holy Apostles of old; to realize the
importance and solemnity of such proceedings;
and to witness and feel with our own natural
senses, the like glorious manifestations of
the powers of the priesthood, the gifts and
blessings of the Holy Ghost, and the goodness
and condescension of a merciful God unto such
as obey the everlasting Gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ, combined to create within us
sensations of rapturous gratitude, and inspire
us with fresh zeal and energy in the cause
of truth.
