A Revelation on Discerning Spiritual Phenomena
Historical Background and Reflections on Doctrine and Covenants 50
On April 7, 1831 Marin Harris finally sold his 151 acres for $3,000 to cover the debt for publishing the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith continued to translate the Bible. His wife Emma bore a twin son and daughter named Thaddeus and Louisa, but sadly they both died within three hours. John Murdock’s wife bore twins on the same day, but sadly she died in childbirth. Because Brother Murdock had five other children, the Murdock twins were given to Emma to care for, nine days after which Emma adopted them and named them Joseph and Julia.
In May of 1831, Parley P. Pratt returned from his mission to the Shakers. As he visited the branches of the Church, he discovered strange spiritual manifestations such as swooning, barking, contortions, crams, fits, running around like Indians pretending to scalp each other, scooting on the floor, and so forth. Pratt and several other Elders approached Joseph Smith to try to understand the meaning of these strange manifestations. Joseph Smith inquired of the Lord and received the revelation that is now Doctrine and Covenants 50. Parley P. Pratt was present when the revelation was received and he described the experience in detail. (See J. Christopher Conkling, A Joseph Smith Chronology, pp. 22-23)
I recorded some of the historical background for D&C 50 in a previous post. In his book The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Lyndon W. Cook sheds more light on the historical background for D&C 50:
Date. May 1831 (9 May, as per Evening and Morning Star [August 1832])
Place. Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio.
Historical Note. After the departure of the Lamanite Missionaries to Missouri and before the arrival of Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio (February 1831), extreme spiritual abnormalities were manifested among new converts in the Kirtland area. Several new members of the church were influenced by spiritual gifts and powers that led them to behave contrary to the will of God.
Parley P. Pratt, an eyewitness to these events, recorded the following:
“As I went forth among the different branches, some very strange spiritual operations were manifested, which were disgusting, rather than edifying. Some persons would seem to swoon away, and to make unseemly gestures, and be drawn or disfigured in their countenances. Others would fall into ecstasies, and be drawn into contortions, cramps, fits, etc. Others would seem to have visions and revelations, which were not edifying, and which were not congenial to the doctrine and spirit of the gospel. In short, a false and lying spirit seemed to be creeping into the Church.”
To determine the nature of the spiritual workings among new converts of the Church, Elder Pratt, among others, went to Joseph Smith and asked him to inquire of the Lord concerning the matter. “Afte rwe had joined in prayer in his translating room,” said Pratt, Joseph Smith “dictated in our presence” section 50.
Section 50 gave instructions on the procedure of discerning “the spirits which have gone abroad in the earth.”
Publication Note. Section 50 was first published in the Evening and Morning Star (August 1832) and was included as chapter 53 in the Book of Commandments in 1833.
Biographical Note. John Corrill.
Born 17 September 1794 at Worcester County, Massachusetts. Residing in Ashtabula, Ohio, 1830. Married Margaret. Five known children: Betsy, Nancy, Whitney, Foster, and Mary. Baptized 10 January 1831. Ordained elder before June 1831 Ordained high priest and set apart as assistant to Bishop Edward Partridge 3 June 1831. Served mission to New London, Ohio, early 1831. Appointed to travel with Lyman Wight to Jackson Couty, Missouri, June 1831. Moved family to Missouri 1831. Presided over Branch Number Four in Independence. Prominent Church leader 1831-1838. Imprisoned for short time in Independence 1833. Settled in Clay County, Missouri, after expulsion from Jackson County. Owned property in Clay County. Appointed to receive “endowment” in Kirtland 23 June 1834. Participated in dedication of Kirtland Temple1836. Returned to Clay County, Missouri, by November 1836. Assisted in settling Far West, Missouri. Owned property in Caldwell County. Appointed “Keeper of the Lord’s Storehouse” 7 November 1837. Appointed to assist as Church historian 8 April 1838. Elected state representative for Caldwell County, Missouri, 1838. Voiced opposition to Joseph Smith August 1838. Filed affidavit for loss of property in Missouri 1840. Excommunicated 17 March 1839. Published work against Church: A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints (Commonly Called Mormons) (St. Louis, 1839). Residing in Quincy, Illinois, in 1840.
Biographical Note. Joseph H. Wakefield.
Born about 1792. Lived in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, 1820-30. Baptized and ordained elder before May 1831. Appointed to preach with Parley P. Pratt in Western Reserve May 1831. Ordained high priest 3 June 1831. Appointed to preach gospel with Solomon Humphrey in “easter lands” June 1831. Preached in St. Lawrence County, New York; there baptized George A. Smith September 1832. Owned property in Watertown 1833. Moved to Kirtland in summer of 1833. Inflenced by dissident Mormons in Kirtland 1833-34. Claimed that because Joseph Smith came out from tranlating room and immediately engaged in playing with children, he was not true prophet. One of committee of Kirtland citizens who attempted to defame Joseph Smith and prove Book of Mormon written by Solomon Spaulding. Excommunicated by January 1834. (pp. 67-69)
In his chapter “Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts” in Revelations in Context, Matthew McBride sheds even more light on the historical background for D&C 50:
A Revelation on Discerning Spirits
When Parley P. Pratt returned from Missouri in March, he too noted the continued displays of enthusiasm as he visited the congregations scattered about the Kirtland area. He later wrote, “Feeling our weakness and inexperience, and lest we should err in judgment concerning these spiritual phenomena, myself, John Murdock, and several other Elders, went to Joseph Smith, and asked him to inquire of the Lord concerning these spirits or manifestations.”9
They met on May 9, and after they prayed together, Joseph Smith received the revelation now found in Doctrine and Covenants 50. Pratt described what he witnessed: “Each sentence was uttered slowly and very distinctly, and with a pause between each, sufficiently long for it to be recorded, by an ordinary writer, in long hand. … There was never any hesitation, reviewing, or reading back, in order to keep the run of the subject.”10 In this revelation, the Lord spoke “as touching the Church & the spirits which have gone abroad in the Earth.” He indicated that many of these were “false spirits” and that “Satan hath sought to deceive you that he might overthrow you.” He cautioned that some of the practices exhibited by the enthusiasts were “abominations” and that “there are hypocrites among you & have deceived some which have given the adversary power.”11
The Lord reasoned in mercy with this earnest but inexperienced young group of disciples, reminding them that the Holy Ghost is the “spirit of truth” and that anything “which doth not edify is not of God & is darkness.” It also taught them of the corollary “That which is of God is light.” The revelation proceeded to give instructions on how to detect manifestations inspired of God as opposed to those coming from other sources: “If ye behold a spirit manifested that ye cannot understand & you receive not that spirit ye shall ask of the father in the name of Jesus & if he give not unto you that spirit then ye may know that it is not of God.” The elders were to rebuke false spirits with a loud voice, and the Lord promised they would be given power to resist evil influences so long as they remained humble.12
Setting Things in Order
With these revelations, Joseph and the Kirtland elders were better equipped to understand and discern the many spiritual manifestations they encountered. But establishing order in the various congregations would require several weeks, as Joseph and others needed time to put into practice the revelation’s instructions.
On June 4, Joseph Smith met with several elders of the Church in a log schoolhouse on Isaac Morley’s farm near Kirtland. Levi Hancock attended this meeting and witnessed the way Joseph Smith responded to the Lord’s counsel. When several elders began to exhibit the influence of unknown spirits, Hyrum Smith said, “Joseph, that is not of God.” Joseph prayed as the revelation directed, and a moment later stood and rebuked the spirits.
Parley P. Pratt and Joseph Wakefield went “forth among the churches” as the revelation directed, “rebuking the wrong spirits which had crept in among them, setting in order things that were wanting.”13 Jared Carter was also among the growing number who felt newly empowered by the revelation, and he contested a false manifestation during a meeting in Amherst, Ohio.
Reflecting on his experience as a witness to this early wave of spiritual enthusiasm, Levi Hancock said he felt ashamed he had believed it “like a fool.” He gratefully embraced the new revelation and was a faithful member of the Church for the rest of his life.
Joseph Smith’s history summarizes the events of these tumultuous weeks: “Some strange notions and false spirits had crept in among them. With a little caution, and some wisdom, I soon assisted the brethren and sisters to overcome them. … The false spirits were easily discerned and rejected by the light of revelation.”14 (pp. 109-111)
With this historical background in mind, let’s examine and appreciate a piece at a time this revelation on discerning spiritual phenomena in D&C 50:
Hearken, O ye elders of my church, and give ear to the voice of the living God; and attend to the words of wisdom which shall be given unto you, according as ye have asked and are agreed as touching the church, and the spirits which have gone abroad in the earth.
Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world.
And also Satan hath sought to deceive you, that he might overthrow you.
Behold, I, the Lord, have looked upon you, and have seen abominations in the church that profess my name.
But blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life.
But wo unto them that are deceivers and hypocrites, for, thus saith the Lord, I will bring them to judgment.
Behold, verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but behold such shall be reclaimed;
But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world.
Wherefore, let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness before me. (D&C 50:1-9)
The spirits that were causing the Saints and others in the midst to fly into fits or contort themselves in bizarre ways were evil spirits, perhaps something like those of which John the Revelator prophesied:
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:14)
Many were false spirits that Satan sent forth to deceive and overthrow the Saints. Even at this very early stage in the history of the Church, Satan continued to seek to destroy the Church. Although evil doers sometimes escaped the notice of the Saints, the Lord identified deceivers, hypocrites, and others who worked abominations in the church while professing the Lord’s name. Nevertheless, the Lord promised to bring such evil doers to justice, to bless the faithful who endure, and to reclaim those who had been deceived.
The Lord issued an especially stern warn to the hypocrites whom the He promised to detect and cut off. If false spirits, deceivers, hypocrites, and others who worked abominations infiltrated the Church at this early period, it seems likely that the devil has only increased his evil efforts since that time. The Lord is not mocked and cannot be deceived. He will continue to detect and cut off all such evil doers. The Lord requires truth and righteousness from His Saints.
Regarding these verses Smith and Sjodahl observe:
Warning Against False Spirits
Words of Wisdom] That is the name given to this Revelation concerning “the Church and the spirits which have gone abroad in the Earth.” Secton 89 is also called “A Word of Wisdom.”
False Spirits] Elder George A. Smith says: “There was a prevalent spirit all through the early history of the Church, which prompted the Elders to suppose that they knew more than the Prophet. Elders would tell you that the Prophet was going wrong. Men who thought they knew all about this work, some of them thirty or forty years before the Lord revealed it, tried to ‘stead the ark.’ The Church was constantly afflicted with such a class of men” (Jour. of Discourses. Vol. IX., p. 7).
-
Abominations in the church] Elder George A. Smith refers to a “church” formed by apostates, in which the president accused the bishop of impure conduct, and the bishop retaliated by charging his accuser with stealing. Their “church” lasted only a few months. There were abominations in it.
-
-8. The Lord, in these paragraphs denounces deceivers. It is possible to save “sinners,” when they repent, but a hypocrite cannot repent, until he become honest before God and men. The Prophet Joseph was not a deceiver. (p. 290)
In my opinion, it is possible that the phenomena that George A. Smith and others observed had some connection to the tares of which our Savior prophesied and taught in His parables, and to the church of the devil of which Nephi prophesied. Thus some of the false spirits, deceivers, hypocrites, and others who worked abominations may have organized in opposition to the Lord’s work and continued to grow together with the wheat of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul prophesied of such apostasy and perilous times in the last days, and he also shared the remedy:
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:13–17)
The revelation on discerning spiritual phenomena in D&C 50 continues:
And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand;
Let us reason even as a man reasoneth one with another face to face.
Now, when a man reasoneth he is understood of man, because he reasoneth as a man; even so will I, the Lord, reason with you that you may understand.
Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained?
To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.
And then received ye spirits which ye could not understand, and received them to be of God; and in this are ye justified?
Behold ye shall answer this question yourselves; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto you; he that is weak among you hereafter shall be made strong.
Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
And if it be by some other way it is not of God.
And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
If it be some other way it is not of God.
Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?
Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.
And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;
He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is the least and the servant of all.
Wherefore, he is possessor of all things; for all things are subject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth, the life and the light, the Spirit and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son.
But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin.
And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done.
But know this, it shall be given you what you shall ask; and as ye are appointed to the head, the spirits shall be subject unto you.
Wherefore, it shall come to pass, that if you behold a spirit manifested that you cannot understand, and you receive not that spirit, ye shall ask of the Father in the name of Jesus; and if he give not unto you that spirit, then you may know that it is not of God.
And it shall be given unto you, power over that spirit; and you shall proclaim against that spirit with a loud voice that it is not of God—
Not with railing accusation, that ye be not overcome, neither with boasting nor rejoicing, lest you be seized therewith.
He that receiveth of God, let him account it of God; and let him rejoice that he is accounted of God worthy to receive.
And by giving heed and doing these things which ye have received, and which ye shall hereafter receive—and the kingdom is given you of the Father, and power to overcome all things which are not ordained of him—
And behold, verily I say unto you, blessed are you who are now hearing these words of mine from the mouth of my servant, for your sins are forgiven you. (D&C 50:1-36)
The beginning of this passage reminds us immediately of the first chapter in the Book of Isaiah:
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
Although infinitely superior to us in glory, intelligence, and attributes of godliness, our Savior condescends to reason with us by His Spirit and in a way that we may understand. As the Master Teacher, Jesus begins with a rhetorical question and the answer to that question. The Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ were and are ordained to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth. As mentioned in previous posts, the early Saints often struggled to discern true spiritual manifestations from deception, and they received spirits that they could not understand, incorrectly supposing them to be of God.
Mercifully and patiently, therefore, the Lord corrected and instructed His early Saints and promised to strengthen the weak. He taught them how to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, and in the Spirit of truth. He taught them His ways and contrasted His ways with the other ways that were not of God. The overarching and undergirding principle for recognizing true doctrine and true teachings from our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost is that such are conveyed and must be received by the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of truth conveys the word of truth by simplicity, clear understanding, and edification, such that both the preacher and the listener are edified and rejoice together.
The Lord provided a simple key for discerning between truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil, the Lord’s ways and any other way:
That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
This is exactly what Moroni taught near the end of the Book of Mormon:
But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. (Moroni 7:13-19)
Light and truth and knowledge and goodness dispel darkness and falsehood and ignorance and evil, or as the Lord puts it in this revelation on discerning spiritual phenomena, the truth enables us to chase darkness from among us.
The following verses in D&C 50 remind us of the importance of becoming purified and cleansed from all sin. Purity enhances our communication with Heavenly Father, our capacity to receive revelation, and our ability to become possessor of all things, or in other words, increased purity makes us more like our Savior Jesus Christ. I am reminded again of Moroni’s great teachings near the end of the Book of Mormon:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:48)
In essence, the Lord taught His early Saints, and He teaches us how to recognize, receive, and act upon revelation from Him. Furthermore, He promises great blessings to the obedient, including inheritance in the kingdom of God and power to overcome all things which are not ordained of Him. The Lord even blessed His early Saints who heard these words from the mouth of His servant Joseph Smith by forgiving them of their sins. We too can receive forgiveness of our sins as we hearken unto and heed this revelation.
Smith’s and Sjodahl’s commentary on these verses is also helpful, and I commend it to your attention. The revelation on discerning spiritual phenomena in D&C 50 concludes:
Let my servant Joseph Wakefield, in whom I am well pleased, and my servant Parley P. Pratt go forth among the churches and strengthen them by the word of exhortation;
And also my servant John Corrill, or as many of my servants as are ordained unto this office, and let them labor in the vineyard; and let no man hinder them doing that which I have appointed unto them—
Wherefore, in this thing my servant Edward Partridge is not justified; nevertheless let him repent and he shall be forgiven.
Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;
And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.
And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you.
Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall.
And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am.
Watch, therefore, that ye may be ready. Even so. Amen. (D&C 50:37-46)
I absolutely love these verses. Jesus Christ is our Savior who loves us and tenderly beckons us to come unto Him and be saved. He has overcome the world and is one with the Father. He is in our midst. He is the Good Shepherd, and the Stone of Israel. We are His and He is ours. We are His little children and His little flock who must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
I am grateful that our Savior Jesus Christ is patient with us in this learning and growing process. I am grateful for His mercy as we continue to learn to build upon the Rock of our Redeemer, until that day when we shall hear His voice and see Him, and know that He is.
I recommend Smith’s and Sjodahl’s commentary on these verses as well.