On this day - August 28 - in 1852 William F Carter attended a Special Conference for all Priesthood holders in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle. The 10 AM session was attended by Brigham Young, Heber C Kimball, Willard Richards, Patriarch John Smith and 7 members of the 12.
President Kimball stated that they wanted those called to get an earlier start as winter was coming.
George A Smith said the Kingdom has been built up by the exertion and energy of those called to bear it off. When men refuse to fulfill their callings they lay the ground work for their own ruin. He described Utah as God's great sieve (where the faithful could be sifted from the weak.) He announced that these missions would not be very long - generally only 3 - 7 years. He then stated, "If any of the Elders refuse to go, they may expect that their wives will not live with them; for there is not a woman who will live with a man a day, who would refuse to go on a mission.
Ezra Taft Benson stated that Brigham Young had one great fear - that the people in their blessings would forget their God.
Brigham Young closed the session stating that our business is to call a few brethren on missions so they can cross the plains before the snows get too deep. Now that Zion is estalished in the mountains it is time to go forth and preach to the nations.
At that point 93 names were read (including William Furlsbury Carter's), the conference was adjourned for one and a half hours. They reconviened in the afternoon and those accepting the call were appointed to their missions. (Note: They were not told in the morning where they were to go - that information was given to them after they accepted the call.)
The above was taken from a report on the Conference found in the Deseret News dated 18 Sep 1852.
