Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 9/New Portage conference

NEW PORTAGE CONFERENCE.

This meeting of the elders and brethren was a joyous one—the number of elders I do not recollect, but there were some eighteen or twenty, representing several little branches of the church.

The brethren from a distance were in good spirits, and manifested an unshaken confidence in the gospel which they had embraced. The church at New Portage numbers one hundred and more, many, or the most of whom, were present at the meeting on the Sabbath. The history of this church has previously been given, and it is not necessary to go into a lengthy detail on that subject here, but it is sufficient to say, that the glorious work of our Lord has been carried on by his own merciful hand, until its influence has served to allay the blind and evil prejudice of many, who have heretofore believed it to be a phantom and a folly.

On Saturday the 6th, the elders assembled in conference, in a large and convenient room, furnished by elder A. Palmer, the presiding elder of that church. Elder O. COWDERY was unanimously called to preside, and elder W. A. COWDERY, from Freedom, N. Y. chosen Secretary. After a solemn concert of prayer by all present, the chair called for the business before the conference. Several matters of difficulty were presented by elder Palmer, and discussed. The conference continued its sitting until twelve at night, when a motion was made to adjourn, which was carried.

At an early hour on Sunday the congregation commenced assembling, and by the usual hour for the commencement of public service, the house was filled to over flowing. Though the room was very commodious yet many were unable to obtain seats; and it was said, that there were as many who could not hear as there were who could. It was thought that the congregation numbered from six hundred to one thousand persons, and from close observation, I am inclined to think that this was not exaggeration.

The meeting was an interesting one, and those present listened with marked attention to the dispensation of the word of life. The brethren regretted that they had not made preparations in some grove, when they saw the great anxiety of some hundreds who could not be convened: had this been the case, undoubtedly more apparent good would have been the result of the interview.

After an able and fervent address to the throne of grace, elder O. Cowdery delivered an interesting discourse upon the plan and order of heaven in the salvation of the human family, followed by elders P. H. Young, Z. Coltrin, & A. J. Squiers; after which Elder Palmer gave an invitation to those who desired, to be baptized, when three came forward and were buried in the liquid grave. This was an interesting season, and many of the bystanders were, apparently, touched with a sense of the importance of that moment when an individual steps forward, in the presence of this world and the heavenly hosts, and covenants to follow the Lamb of God who takes away his sins.

Elder John Whitmer took the lead in the services of the afternoon, and gave a short relation of the facts connected with the translation of the book of Mormon. On reflecting how many foolish reports are in circulation on this subject, and how many there are who are vain enough to believe them, I could not but wish that such were present, while Elder Whitmer was delivering his address. A thousand things may be conjectured, but when a man declares openly, candidly, and seriously, of what he has seen, hefted and handled with his own hands, and that in the presence of a God who sees and knows the secrets of the heart, no man possessed of common reason and common sense, can doubt, or will be so vain as to dispute. Such is the fact that a record of that description does exist, for it has been seen, and such is the fact, that the Lord himself bears witness of it, for thousands testify of the same—there is neither lack of human or divine testimony: Then who so blind as not to see? And who so deaf as not to hear?

Elder Whitmer was followed by several elders, and the meeting closed with a few remarks from elder O. Cowdery upon the further truth of the book of Mormon. The meeting was continued till quite late, after which one more came forward and was baptized.

After evening the elders were called together again in conference, and finished the business before them. This was a solemn time, and the hearts of the servants of the Lord were filled with a joy and consolation, to which those who are unacquainted with the influence of the Holy Spirit, are strangers.

Thus closed one of the most interesting conferences and meetings I have lately attended, and I am inclined to think, that the good results will long be experienced by many hundreds. I am satisfied, that the church received additional strength, (though they were by no means weak in the faith before,) and many others received a degree of testimony of the great work of the Lord in the last days, that will be as good seed sown upon good ground. May it be even so, till the knowledge of the glory of our Redeemer shall fill the earth, and all his chosen ones, shout HOSANNAH! Amen. C.