| 421 Joseph Smith, presented the following Rules of Representation, revised and enlarged.
Your committee on revising and enlarging Rule of Representation appointed at your fall session for 1882, beg leave and report that they have consulted and agreed upon the following; which though not perfect, will, we trust, form a sufficient basis for your action.
Sec. l. That the general officers of the church, known as the Presidency the Twelve, the High Council, the Seventy, and the Bishopric (proper), are ex officio members of conference, and entitled to voice and vote as representatives of the spiritual authorities of the church at large.
Sec. 2. That all high priests and elders are entitled to voice and vote in General Conference, when present.
Sec. 3. That organized districts be authorized to appoint at their last quarterly session of district conference, next preceding the session of General Conference, delegates to said session of General Conference, who shall be entitled to represent said districts; which delegates so appointed shall be declared members of said General Conference, entitled to voice and vote.
Provided, first. That the choice and appointment by said districts shall be made by a majority of those present and voting in regular or called session of district conference, of the holding of which due notice shall have been given as to time and place within the district, together with a statement of any important business or action that is to be presented to, or likely to be had by said general session, affecting said district, and to which their approval or disapproval is desired; that instructions to said delegates may be given as to their action.
Provided, second. That the only qualification to eligibility to the office of delegate from district to General Conference shall be membership and good standing in the church.
Provided, third. That each district shall be entitled to one delegate for every twenty-five members of said district, and one vote in conference for each delegate to which they may be entitled. The delegates present at conference from any one district shall be entitled to cast the full vote of the district of which they are delegates, unless otherwise instructed by their district conference; provided, that in case of a disagreement of views among the members of said delegation, the full delegation not being present they shall be entitled to cast only their individual votes as said delegates.
Provided, fourth. That no one delegate shall represent in the same conference more than one district.
Sec. 4. That each regularly organized branch of the church not included in an organized district, shall be entitled to one delegate, who shall have the same privileges as delegates of districts.
Provided, first. That due general notice to the members of branch of the time and place of meeting for the choosing of said delegate be properly given as in cases of districts.
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