| 409 church as a day of thanksgiving and praise to God, for his kindness and mercy to us as a people, and that the following Sunday, April 2, be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, that God will prosper us as a church and as a people with a more abundant outpouring of his Spirit to guide and direct us; also that we may have a propitious season for our conference; and that he will (if it so be that the wisdom of his divine economy will permit) grant that peace may come to this our country.
"Let it be observed in all the branches of the church and by all the scattered members, that a people's mighty voice may ascend to the throne of grace, for an abiding testimony that we remember the Lord our God.
"Done at Nauvoo, Illinois, this 11th day of February, A. D. 1865.
"JOSEPH SMITH,
"President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."
-True Latter Day Saints' Herald, vol. 7, p. 65.
In accordance with the above the Annual Conference of 1865 convened at Plano, Illinois. The following are the minutes of this conference as published:-
"April 6, at ten a. m.
"Conference convened by calling Pres. Joseph Smith to preside, Pres. William Marks, associated; Isaac Sheen and J. W. Gillen clerks, and Charles Derry reporter.
"Pres. Joseph Smith delivered an address in which he recommended that a library should be established for the benefit of the church, and in reference to the necessity of making our conferences representative bodies.
"Reports of branches: Buffalo, North Star, Fort Des Moines, and String Prairie, Iowa; Allegheny and Hyde Park, Pennsylvania; Valley, Virginia; Abingdon, Amboy, Henderson Grove, Atlas, Canton, Batavia, Fox River, Pittsfield, Plano, Mission, Kizer Creek, Princeville, and Buffalo Prairie, Illinois; Elk Grove, Geneva, Willow, Union, and Freedom, Wisconsin; Swan Creek, Lake, and Galien, Michigan; Hannibal, Missouri; Lindsley, Buckhorn, and Trafalgar, Canada West.
"Official members present: of the Quorum of the Twelve,
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