False Spirits

Mormon History 1830-1844

Joseph

Bios

False Spirits

1830—	At the time of the restoration
George A. Smith	In many parts of the country there were "strange manifestations" at Protestant camp meetings. The spirit "deprived men of their strength; they would faint away, or, they would manifest a variety of contortions of countenance … a phenomenon called the jerks [in which] persons … would jerk seemingly enough to tear them to pieces."	Satan Came Also (1864 discourse) Also see Doings and Sayings for similar George A. Smith recollections.
	Hiram Page received revelations through black stone.
	A false spirit enters members living on Isaac Morley's farm. "A negro known generally as Black Pete," became "a revelator." John Noah claimed to be a prophet, as did a man named Hoton. Others reported seeing angels, and letters falling from heaven.
	When Joseph corrected them, some left the church and organized the "Pure Church of Christ," a short-lived splinter group.

1830–1831	Kirtland before Joseph
Eber D. Howe	Immediately after Mr. R. and the four pretended prophets left Kirtland, a scene of the wildest enthusiasm was exhibited, chiefly, however, among the young people; they would fall, as without strength, roll upon the floor, and, so mad were they that even the females were seen on a cold winter day, lying under the bare canopy of heaven, with no couch or pillow but the fleecy snow. At other times they exhibited all the apish actions imaginable, making grimaces both horrid and ridiculous, creeping upon their hands and feet, &c. Sometimes, in these exercises the young men would rise and play before the people, going through all the Indian maneuvers of knocking down, scalping, ripping open, and taking out the bowels. At other times, they would start and run several furlongs, then get upon stumps and preach to imagined congregations, baptize ghosts, &c. At other times, they are taken with a fit of jabbering after which they neither understood themselves nor anybody else, and this they call speaking foreign languages by divine inspiration. Again the young men are seen running over the hills in pursuit, they say, of balls of fire which they see flying through the air.	Painesville Telegraph, February 15, 1831 The pretended prophets, Oliver, Parley, Ziba, and Peter Jr., left the area for Missouri about November 23. Sidney and Edward reached Waterloo December 10, so they probably did not leave Kirtland until early December.

John Whitmer	But the enemy of all righteous had got hold of Some of those who profesed to <be> his followers, because they had not sufficient knowledge to detect him in all his devices. He took anotion to blind the minds of some of the weaker ones, and made them think that an angel of God appeard to them, and showed them [14] writings on{d} the outside cover of the Bible, and on parchment, which flew through the air, and on the back of their hands, and many such foolish and vain things. Others lost their strength and some {scooted} <slid> on{d} the floor, and such like maneuver, which proved greatly to the injury of the cause.	J. Whitmer, 13–14. John arrived in the second week of January 1831. This may have been written a year or two later.

Josiah Jones account	Detailed account by an early dissenter of attempts to heal, speaking in tongues, visions, imitation of Indian behavior, prophecies.	History of the Mormonites (1831)

Philo Dibble	There was a branch of the Church raised up in Kirtland before the Prophet came there, and at the time he arrived a variety of false spirits were manifested, such as caused jumping, shouting, falling down, etc. Joseph said, as soon as he came, "God has sent me here, and the devil must leave here, or I will." Those delusive spirits were not seen nor heard any more at that time.	¶ Joseph Remembered: Philo (1893)

	Joseph's recollections
Joseph	Joseph recalls false spirits in the early days of the church in Kirtland—all sorts of visions, enthusiastic notions, fallings-down, false speaking in tongues, false discernment of spirits without evidence, etc (authorities were absent). Members exhibiting such spirts were tried and disfellowshipped or excommunicated.	Try the Spirits (written 1842)

	Sister Hubble
John Whitmer	About these days there was a woman by the name of Hubble who professed to be a prophetess of the Lord and professed to have many revelations, and knew {that} the Book of Mormon was true; and that she should become a teacher in the Church of Christ. She appear very sanctimonious and deceived some, who were not able to detect her in her hypocracy.	J. Whitmer, 37 (this part written 1833–1836) ¶ Ezra Booth Letter 8 Possibly a thirteen-year-old girl? ¶ History of the Mormonites

1831	Fuller, Basset, and Riggs
Mission call	[December 1830] Heman Basset receives an "aerial commission" calling him, Edson Fuller, and Burr Riggs to preach the gospel.	Arial Commissions
Missionaries	January 1831, Elders Edson Fuller, Heman Basset and Burr Riggs call at the home of James Baldwin near Rome, Ashtabula county, Ohio. Baldwin’s friend, Levi Hancock, also an elder, happens to be staying him. They begin holding meetings and baptizing:	¶ Levi Hancock
Angels, jumping, unconscious, frothing Burr Riggs worst	The elders ran into all manner of doings, Receiving revelations seeing angels falling down frothing at the mouth. One of them who acted the worst was Burr Riggs I have seen him jump up from the floor strike his head against the joist in Mr. Baldwins new house and swing some minutes then fall like he was dead after an hour or two he would come to then prophesy and tell what he had seen at other times he appeared to be so honest I was led to believe all said but concluded that all could not be blest and perhaps I was not as pure as those young men and what I had received was enough for me.	¶ Levi Hancock
Edson's face turns black Basset behaves like baboon	Edson would fall and turn black in the face. Heman Basset would behave like a baboon he had a revelation he had received in Kirtland from the hands of a angel. He would read it show the picture of a course of Angels declared to be gods then would bare testimony of the truth of the work and I believed it all like a fool.
Levi afraid to speak out	I dare not come out against anything that an elder should say for fear I should speak against the Holy Ghost. I let them go on in this manner until the people got mad at them and tried to convince me that I was led astray. They said I was honest and the dream I had they did not doubt but the doctrine was false.

	No other prophets
February [6–23], 1831	Revelation: accept no substitutes. Joseph is the only prophet.	D&C 43:1–7

March [3–4], 1831	Joseph performs exorcism
Satan at work, exorcism, lying in wait (?)	Joseph is "regulating the Churches here as … the devil has made many att[e]mpts to over throw them it has been a serious Job". Called out late at night to perform an exorcism. Urges Hyrum to come soon but warns not to come through Buffalo "for th[e]y [no antecedent] will lie in wait for you."	¶ Joseph to Hyrum, March 3–4, 1831 ¶ Joseph to Hyrum, March 3–4, 1831

May 9, 1831	Satan's false spirits deceive
Satan at work	Revelation: Satan uses false spirits to deceive.	D&C 50

	Man of sin
Joseph	Joseph prophesies the man of sin will be revealed at the first conference in Kirtland. More than one of the brethren are possessed during the conference.	¶ Minutes of June 3–6, 1831 ¶ Minutes of June 3–6, 1831
	Ohio Opposition