CHAPTER V.
On the 1st of June, 1830, the first conference was held, at which only thirty members were represented, though many others—either believers or such as were anxious to learn—were present. At this time the testimony of Joseph and his brethren did not extend far from his father's residence and the neighbourhood where his wife's family resided. About the beginning of August, the attention of Parley P. Pratt was drawn to the movement, and soon after he was converted and baptized. Parley, who had been a local preacher of some denomination, was fluent of speech and in every way calculated to be a zealous disciple of the cause. Soon after his own conversion, he visited and converted Sidney Rigdon, a very able Campbellite preacher then residing in Ohio, and Sidney immediately assumed the task of converting his flock to the new faith. Orson Pratt was also numbered among the early disciples, and Joseph soon found himself surrounded by those men of talent who gave the Biblical arguments in favour of Mormonism which it has ever since retained.
In common with all who believe themselves to be entrusted with a special mission, Joseph's faith was great and he anticipated wonderful results from his preaching. The conversion of the world was now a very urgent matter, as "the Lord" had informed him that "He was going to cut short His work in righteousness in the last days." Consistently, therefore, with the publication of the Book of Mormon as a historical
