| 763 when they had "Kirjath Sapher," the city of books.
*** We were surprised to see, in the Prophet an intimation of negligence on our part, in forwarding our papers. Every number of our papers, has been mailed, and if any paper has failed to reach New York, the fault is in the Post Office, not in us. There is no dignity in such insinuations; in fact, as Elder Pratt has taken the charge of matters and affairs in the east, we shall look for a more exalted state of reciprocity, calculated, as every move and idea of a saint should be, to honor those in authority and spread union with the balmy breeze of love and friendship.
Our utmost exertions, are unceasing, not only to give New York, but the world, as far as we have opportunity, the first and best tidings that is worthy to go forth from the mouth of the city of the heritage of God.
BEWARE OF DECEPTION!!
Tidings have just reached us here that certain men in the eastern countries, Ohio and other places, professing to be Latter-day Saints, are very busy in selling Illinois lands, and exchanging them for real estate and other property in the east. I would inform all the saints every where, that this operation is a field for greater and more extensive fraud than any other with which I am acquainted.
You may give some irresponsible, worthless creature a clear title to your homes in the east, with the expectation of finding good land here in exchange with a good title &c. &c. But when you come, you may find your land in a swamp, in the middle of an extensive prairie, ten or fifteen miles from any timber. I will venture to give it as my opinion that those miserable speculators are knaves and villains; professing to be saints, and trying to help the church and build; up the cause, when they have no license from the authorities of the church here.
I say again, beware of those "wolves in sheeps clothing." Whenever any such operation is deemed beneficial to the saints by those who know and understand these things, some competent responsible person will be sent, duly authorised [authorized] with documents from under the hands of the Twelve that reside in this city. Otherwise you may find to your sorrow that you will have to pay for your lands twice over before you get good titles. I therefore warn you, as a watchman of your interests, to hold on upon your homes until you know certainly what you are doing.
ORSON HYDE.
(->) Prophet please copy.
CONFERENCE MINUTES.
Minutes of a Conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, held in Comstock, Kalamazo county, Michigan, December 8th, and 9th, 1844.
Conference convened at 11 o'clock A. M., and was called to order by Elder David Savage; Elder Crandall Dunn was called to the chair, and Elder S. C. Willard was appointed clerk.
Official members present-high priest, C. Dunn; seventies, E. M. Webb, Pardon Webb; elders, Ezekiel Lee, Charles Lee, Lemuel Willard, Edward Willard, Jeremiah Cramer, David Savage, S. C. Willard; teacher, John Tyrrell; deacon James Mathers.
After singing a hymn the conference was opened by prayer by the chairman; another hymn was sung after which the congregation was addressed by the chairman on the principles of the gospel of Christ.
Adjourned for ten minutes.
At 1 o'clock the meeting was called to order by the chairman, after singing Elder E. M. Webb delivered a discourse on the necessity of obeying the word of God given in this last dispensation, wherein he laid before the saints the importance of tithing themselves and sending their donations to Nauvoo at the earliest convenience for the building of the temple.-He was followed by Elder Savage on the same subject.
After which the conference was adjourned by benediction by the chairman until half past six o'clock P. M.
The meeting was then called to order by the chairman, after singing the throne of grace was implored by Elder E. M. Webb. Elder D. Savage addressed the meeting on the subject of baptism and confirmation; he was followed by Elder E. M. Webb on the same subject.
Conference was then adjourned by benediction by the chairman until 11 o'clock, to-morrow morning.
The conference was then called to order by singing, the throne of grace was then implored by Elder D. Savage.
The elders then proceeded to represent the different branches in this conference.
Kalamazoo branch represented by Brother E. Willard, fifty members, eight elders, one teacher and one deacon.
Grand Prairie branch, represented by Brother E. M. Webb, nine members, two elders.
Paw Paw branch, represented by Brother D. Savage, fourteen members, four elders.
Mottville branch, represented by Brother D. Savage, eleven, members two elders.
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