During the 7 April 1843 afternoon meeting of the ’s special , held from 6 to 9 April 1843 in , Illinois, gave a discourse on the Millennium and the concept of resurrection, which prompted a response and correction from JS later in the meeting. The congregation filled the temporary floor on the main level of the , with some listeners standing on the unfinished temple walls. After the meeting opened at 2:30 p.m. with a hymn followed by a prayer offered by , Pratt discussed the millennial beliefs of Baptist preacher and his followers, arguing that contemporary revelation through a prophet was necessary to comprehend biblical prophecies. The apostle then sought to reconcile scientific ideas about matter perpetually reconstituting itself with religious beliefs about the literal resurrection of the body by suggesting that a core part of the body remained constant throughout life, death, and resurrection. Pratt left open the possibility that some material components of one body might be reconstituted within another body, although he invited JS to correct him if necessary. Apostle followed Pratt at 3:25 p.m. and discussed ways that Latter-day Saint beliefs differed from those of other religious groups.

At 4:45 p.m., JS briefly took the stand to offer a correction to ’s discourse. While praising the topic as “a glorious subject” and indicating that “the principle of Mr Pratt was correct,” JS nevertheless stated that he “care[d] not what the theories of man are.” He explained that “their is no fundamental principle belonging to a human System” that would ever become part of another human body, whether “in this world. or the world to come.” Additionally, JS insisted that “we have the testimony that God will raise us up & he has power to do it.” After JS concluded his comments, the choir sang a hymn, and apostle closed the meeting with a prayer.

Conference clerk captured uneven minutes for the meeting, focusing primarily on ’s discourse and JS’s response. Clayton mentioned ’s sermon only briefly and omitted significant contextual information such as when the meeting opened and closed and the names of those offering prayers. He also neglected to identify JS as the speaker responding to . Part of Pratt’s discourse that treated the identity of the “Ancient of days” mentioned in the biblical book of Daniel was subsequently published in expanded form in the Times and Seasons.