-- Feb 09, 1843
Joseph Smith explains the "three grand keys" for the detection of angels and false spirits. His instructions later make up Doctrine and Covenants 129. (1)
-- Feb 9, 1843
[D and C] Doctrine and Covenants 129: Instructions given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, February 9, 1843, making known three grand keys by which the correct nature of ministering angels and spirits may be distinguished. HC 5: 267.
1-3, There are both resurrected and spirit bodies in heaven; 4-9, Keys are given whereby messengers from beyond the veil may be identified. (2)
Section 129, Place: Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois.
Historical Note: The substance of section 129 was revealed to Joseph Smith before 1843. Although the exact date of his receiving these principles of detecting false spirits is not known, it can safely be set before 27 June 1839. On that day members of the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve met in council in Nauvoo, and in this meeting the Prophet presented the following instructions for the benefit of the Twelve prior to their leaving for England:.
In order to detect the devel when he transforms himself nigh unto an angel of light. When an angel of God appears unto man face to face in personage & reaches out his hand unto the man he takes hold of the angels hand & feels a substance the same as one man would in shaking hands with another he may then know that it is an angel of God & he should place all confidence in him Such personages or angels are Saints with their resurrected Bodies, but if a personage appears unto man & offers him his hand & the man takes hold of it & feels nothing or does not sens[e] any substance he may know it is the devel, for when a Saints whose body is not resurrected appears unto man in the flesh he will not offer him his hand for this is against the law given him.
On the evening of 7 February 1843, Parley P. Pratt arrived in Nauvoo from his mission to England. Two days later, while he was in conversation with the Prophet Joseph Smith, the keys of detecting false spirits (section 129) were explained. The Prophet's scribe, William Clayton, was present and recorded section 129, and Clayton's account was the source for the 1876 publication of the revelation.
Compare the following entry in the Joseph Smith Diary for 9 February 1843. Although this entry, in the hand of Willard Richards, is abbreviated and unclear as a result of poor punctuation, the substance is essentially the same. The Joseph Smith Diary entry is undoubtedly based on Clayton's report.
Parley Pratt & others came in & Joseph explained the following there 3 asministerer Angels, spirits Devils--one class in heaven angels the spirits of just men made perfect--innumerable co of angels & spirits of just men made perfect an angel appears to you how will you prove him. ask him to shake hands If he has flesh & bones. he is an angel. "spirit hath not flesh & bones" spirit of a just man made perfect person in its tabernacle could hide its glory if David Patten or the Devil come. how would you determine should you take hold of his hand you would not feel it. If it were a false administration. he would not do it. True spirit will not give his hand The devil will Three keys.
Publication Note. Section 129 was first published in the Deseret News (23 April 1856) and was included as section 129 in the 1876 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. (3)
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith received Doctrine & Covenants 129, a revelation about the nature of heavenly beings, stating that there are two kinds of beings in heaven, resurrected angels who have bodies of flesh and bones and the spirits of just men made perfect. (4)
[Joseph Smith] Joseph receives D&C 129. (5)
-- Feb 9, 1843 (Thursday)
Joseph Smith received by revelation three grand keys, by which bad angels, or spirits, may be known. (Doc. and Cov., Sec. 129.) March 1843 A "Young Gentlemen's and Ladies' Relief Society" was organized at Nauvoo, with Wm. Cutler as president. March 1843 Joseph Smith studied the German language. (6)
-- Feb 10, 1843
[Joseph Smith] In mayor's court, Joseph sentences a man who claimed to have been visited by the "Ancient of Days" several times; he is charged with having stolen some goods from a store. He is sent to Carthage jail because he cannot pay the $5,000 bail. (5)
-- 1843 February 10
Friday, February 10th 1843 Conversation with Strangers and others. Reviewed the History of the Mob in Hyrum and the first Journey to Missouri.
3 o'clock P.M. in court room with B[righam] Young, H[eber] C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, P[arley] P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, Geo[rge] A. Smith, and Willard Richards according to previous appointment by Pre[siden]t Joseph at 3 1/2 P.M. Let business be presented in short. No explaination.
Had an interview with Mr. Cowan this morning. He is a delegate from the inhabitants 20 miles above this, opposite Burlington /viz. Shokokon/ to come to Nauvoo and petition that a talented Mormon preacher take up his residence with them [and] they would find him a good house and give him support with liberty to invite as many Mormons to settle in that place as they please to so to do. Decided that Bro[ther] [John] Bear go and preach to them.
Observation concerning theiving and the Post office and suggested that a general Meeting be called and that Elder Geo[rge] J. Adams be silenced and called to Nauvoo with his family. /Requested that all business be presented without comments
/5 o'clock P.M. Adjourned and immediately Oliver Olney and Newell Nurse were brought in by Sheriff J[ohn] D. Parker as prisoners for stealing goods from the Store of Moses Smith on the night of the 23d of January last. Olney confessed before the Mayor's court that he had been visited many times by the Ancient of Days.
[Mr. Olney stated,] "Sat with him on the 9th, 10[th], and 11[th] days of June last and shall sit in council with ancient of days on Tuesday next. Have had a mission from him to the 4 Quarters of the world and have been [and] have established the 12 stakes of Zion. I have visited them all but one in the south. I have suffered much for 2 or 3 years, been without clothes and suffered much. I despise a thief, but to clothe myself I opened the store of Moses Smith on the eve[ning] of 23d of January by boring into a board window and took out the goods present (several Hundred peices) hid them in the cornfield and carried them home from time to time under the same roof with Smith. No one knows anything about the robbery but myself. [I] found the $50 bill among the goods. Mrs. had a piece of cloth to make some frocks."
Witnesses: Harriet Nurse, Mary Olney, Isaac Chase, Joseph Hadlock, Mr. Far, [and] Moses Smith. Decision of court: [that] Mr. Nurse be dischar[ge]d [and] Olney be remanded to prison for trial on bond under $5,000 bonds.
Olney stated that the Church had never taught him to steal or any such thing. Olney was cut off from the Church some time since. [rest of page blank] *
-- 1843 February 11
Saturday, February 11th 1843 City council assembled at 10 o'clock A.M. 7 new councillors sworn in, when the Mayor come in and said he had been doing a good deed. Had been conversing with Elder Rigdon and he and his family were willing to be saved. Good feelings prevailed and we have shaken hands together.
A general Election of Petty officers took place. Prophecied to James Sloan, Recorder, that it would be better for him 10 years hence not to say any thing more about [payment of] fees.
Mayor [Joseph Smith] made his Inaugural Address /in which he/ and urged the necessity of the city council acting upon the principle of liberality and of relieving the city from all unnecessary expences and burthens [burdens]. Not to attempt to improve the city but enact such laws as will promote peace and good order and the people will improve the city. Capitalist[s] will come in from all quarters and Mills, factories, and machinery of all kind and buildings will arise on every hand [and] this will become a great city. [Joseph] prophecied that if the council would be liberal in their proceedings they would become rich.
[Joseph] spoke at considerable length against the principle of pay for every little service rendered and especially that of committees having extra pay for services.
[Joseph] reproved the Judges of the late Election for not holding the poll open after 6 o'clock when there were many wishing to vote. Judges were Geo[rge] W. Harris, Daniel Spencer, and [blank] Warrington. Dr. Foster took an active part in electioneering for the written opposition ticket and obstructing the passage to the polls. Adjourned at 3 P.M. for one hour.
Assembled at 4 [P.M.] the subject of marketing was introduced when Alderman Harris spoke. B[righam] Young [and] Harris again recommending 2 houses for Marketing. Hyrum Smith advocating the same. Said he, "There is old Aunt Sabrey. She comes to Market with horse and carriage with her butter and we can accomodate old Au/n/t Sabry."
Mayor said if we began too large we shall do nothing. If the council will give me leave I will build a house, a small one at once and the markitt ought to be holden by the corporation of the house. When built [it] will support itself [and] then we can go on the hill and build another or on[e] larger. Council should hold an influence over the prices in market so that the poor shall not be oppressed. The machanic should not oppress the farmer.
The upper part of the town has no right to rival us. Here on the bank of the river was where we first pitched our tents, where the sickness and deaths occured. We have been the making of the upper part of town. We have given them the Temple. We began here and let the market go out from this part of the city. Let the upper part of the town be marketed by the waggon till they can build a Market.
Voted that a market house be built, that the committee on public improvements be required to select a piece of ground for Market and the rise of ground on Main St. [be] reported. Voted that it be left discretionary with the Mayor how large the market shall be. [nine lines left blank]
Changing the furniture in the house to receive Mother Smith in the family. [Brigham] Young and [Willard] Richards wrote G[eorge] J. Adams to come to Nauvoo and silenced him. *
-- Feb 11, 1843
Recently elected Nauvoo mayor Joseph Smith "made his Inaugural Address in which he urged the necessity of the city council acting upon the principle of liberality and of relieving the city from all unnecessary expences and burthens [burdens]. Not to attempt to improve the city but enact such laws as will promote peace and good order and the people will improve the city. Capitalist[s] will come in from all quarters and Mills, factories, and machinery of all kind and buildings will arise on every hand [and] this will become a great city. [Joseph] prophecied that if the council would be liberal in their proceedings they would become rich." (7)
Nauvoo, Illinois. At a city council meeting, Joseph Smith reproved the judges for closing the polls at six o'clock, when there were many wishing to vote. (4)
[Joseph Smith] Joseph interviews the Sidney Rigdon family and finds that good feelings prevail. (5)
Footnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - Doctrine and Covenants
3 - Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants
4 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith
5 - Conklin, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
6 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
7 - This Day in Mormon History, http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html
* Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43
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