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Source: Church History Vol. 4 Chapter 13 Page: 219 (~1878)

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219 to enjoy a season of extraordinary good feeling and gospel liberty. The business sessions, with one exception, were marked with excellent courtesy, and a kindness of deportment seldom seen in a deliberative assembly before which questions of so vexatious a nature were brought. The one exception referred to, lasted but for a time, and was more the result of anxious care for the good of all, and the maintenance of right as seen from the individual point of observation, and was temporary.

A better understanding between the eldership in much that appertains to usefulness in the field and the council, seems to have been reached; and a better comprehension of the mission and scope of the work was undoubtedly had.

On Sunday, the last day of the session, there was present from first to last an intense feeling of interest, and such a flow of the Spirit, that elders and members, old and young, were filled, and such rejoicing is seldom known.

The sermons preached during the session were the finest efforts ever made at a conference; the elders received the aid of the Spirit in large measure, and left an impression not soon to be effaced. Seven were baptized, and the names of three others were given in at the close; five of those baptized were residents of Plano, one of Sandwich, and one an excellent young man from Michigan. The three who will go forward are of Plano, also.

Uncle William Smith, only surviving brother to Joseph and Hyrum, was present and united with the church. His venerable locks and sonorous voice, as he addressed the Saints on Friday evening on the fulfillment of one of Ezekiel's prophecies respecting the Christ, gave one of the connecting links between the church under the presidency of the Martyr and the Reorganization. Together with this the administration of the children of many of the earlier elders of the church, such as Brn. Lambert, Kelley, Gurley, and Smith, and the presence of some of the grandsons of some of those early laborers, gave force and vitality to the propriety of the Reorganization.

One most gratifying feature of the meeting was the presence of a large number of young elders, who have been and are wonderfully blessed in their ministrations. God has begun to fulfill his word, "I will raise up laborers in mine own time to carry on my work; be ye faithful."

Conference for the Pacific Slope convened at West Oakland, California, April 6, 1878, and adjourned on the 8th; Elder D. S. Mills, presiding; Elders Peter Canavan and John R. Cook secretaries.

April 7, Elder Marcus Shaw, of Detroit, Minnesota, wrote in behalf of Mrs. Lois Cutler, wife of Alpheus Cutler, as follows:

(page 219)

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