Try the Spirits

Mormon History 1830-1844

Joseph

Bios

Try the Spirits

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	Times and Seasons, vol. 3 no. 11 (April 1, 1842), 743-748. Author is identified as the editor (Joseph Smith).
False spirits in troduced by converts	¶	… [747] … The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have also had their false spirits; and as it is made up of all those different sects professing every variety of opinion, and having been under the influence of so many kinds of spirits, it is not to be wondered at if there should be found amongst us false spirits.
False spirits in early Kirtland Strange visions, enthusiastic notions	¶	Soon after the gospel was established in Kirtland, and during the absence of the authorities of the church, many false spirits were introduced, many strange visions were seen, and wild enthusiastic notions were entertained;
Run outside and shout on tree stumps		men run out of doors under the influence of this spirit, and some of them got upon the stumps of trees and shouted, and all kinds of extravagances were entered into by them:
Chase imaginary ball over cliff		one man pursued a ball that he said he saw flying in the air, until he came to a precipice when he jumped into the top of a tree which saved his life,
Intended to destroy the church		and many ridiculous things were entered into, calculated to bring disgrace upon the church of God; to cause, the spirit of God to be withdrawn; and to uproot and destroy those glorious principles which had been developed for the salvation of the human family.
Authorities cut them off		But when the authorities returned the spirit was made manifest, those members that were exercised with it were tried for their fellowship; and those that would not repent and forsake it were cut off.
Later, Shaker spirit, falling-down		At a subsequent period a Shaker spirit was on the point of being introduced, and at another time the Methodist and Presbyterian falling-down power;
Members disfellowshipped		but the spirit was rebuked, and put down, and those who would not submit to rule and good order, were disfellowshipped.
False gift of tongues Nothing unnatural in spirit of God		We have also had bretheren and sisters who have had the gift of tongues falsely: they would speak in a muttering, unnatural voice and their bodies be distorted like the Irvingites before alluded to; whereas there is nothing unnatural in the spirit of God.
Upper Canada		A circumstance of this kind took place in Upper Canada, but was rebuked by the presiding elder—
Sister accuses another falsely Evidence must be provided		another, a woman near the same place professed to have the discerning of spirits, and begun to accuse another sister of things that she was not guilty of, which she said she knew was so by the spirit,—but was afterwards proven to be false—she placed herself in the capacity of the 'accuser of the brethren'—and no person through the discerning of spirits can bring a charge against another, they must be proven guilty by positive evidence, or they stand clear.
Satan as angel of light	¶	There have also been ministering angels in the church which were of satan appearing as an angel of light:—
New York vision in woods		A sister in the State of New York had a vision who said it was told her that if she would go to a certain place in the woods an angel would appear to her,—
Angel descends, sandy hair Husband will not return if 100 miles from home		she went at the appointed time and saw a glorious personage descending arrayed in white, with sandy coloured hair; he commenced and told her to fear God and said that her husband was called to do great things, but that he must not go more than one hundred miles from home or he would not return;
Husband went, returned		whereas God had called him to go to the ends of the earth; and he has since been more than one thousand miles from home, and is yet alive. Many true things were spoken by this personage and many things that were false.—
Angels don't have sandy hair		How it may be asked was this known to be a bad angel? by the color of his hair; that is one of the signs that he can be known by, and by his contradicting a former revelation.
False revelations		We have also had brethren and sisters that have had written revelations, and have started forward to lead this church.
Kirtland boy, Isaac Russell, Gladden Bishop		Such was a young boy in Kirtland—Isaac Russell of Mo. and Gladdon Bishop, and Oliver Olney of Nauvoo.
Boy submitted		The boy is now living with his parents, who have submitted to the laws of the church.
Isaac stayed in Far West waiting for the Three Nephites		Mr. Russell stayed in Far West, from whence he was to go to the Rocky mountains, led by three Nephites, but the Nephites never came and his friends forsook him all but some of his blood relations, who have since been nearly destroyed by the mob.	On Isaac Russell and his family, see Minutes of April 26, 1839.
Gladden cut off, begged for forgiveness		Mr. Bishop was tried by the high council his papers examined, condemned, and burned, and he cut off from the church; he acknowledged the justice of the decision and said "that he now saw his error; for if he had have been governed by the revelations given before he might have known that no man was to write revelations for the church but Joseph Smith," and begged to be prayed for and forgiven by the brethren.
Oliver Olny disfellowshipped		Mr. Olney has also been tried by the high council, and disfellowshiped because he would not have his writings tested by the word of God; evidently proving that he loves darkness rather than light because his deeds are evil. Ed.
		False Spirits Ohio Opposition