History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834]

  • Source Note
  • Historical Introduction
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iately the visions of heaven were opened to my view. I felt myself attracted upward and remained for some time enwrapt in contemplation in so much that I knew not what was going on in the room. By and by I felt some weight pressing upon my shoulder and the side of my head; which served to recall me to a sense of my situation, and I found that the Spirit of the Lord had actually caught me up off the floor, and that my shoulder and head were pressing against the beams.”
All this was witnessed by many, to their great astonishment and satisfaction when thy <​they​> saw the devil thus cast out; and the power of God and his holy spirit thus made manifest. So soon as consciousness returned, his bodily weakness was such that we were obliged to lay him upon his bed, and wait upon him for some time. As may be expected, such [HC 1:83] a scene as this contributed much to make believers of those who witnessed it, and finally, the greater part of them became members of the .
Soon after this occurrence I returned to , Seneca County. The Book of Mormon (“The Stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim”) had now been published for some time, and as the ancient Prophet had predicted of it; “It was accounted as a strange thing.” No small stir was created by its appearance; great opposition, <​and​> much persecution followed the believers of its authenticity; but it had now come to pass that, Truth had sprung out of the earth; and Righteousness had looked down from Heaven, so we feared not our opponents, knowing that we had both Truth and righteousness on our side; that we had both the Father and the Son, because we had the doctrines of Christ and abided in them; and therefore <​we​> continued to preach and to give information to all who were willing to hear.
During the last week in May the above mentioned came to visit us, at and was by .
June 1830
On the first day of June 1830, we held our first conference as an as an organized Church. Our numbers were about thirty, beside<​s​> whom, many assembled with us, who were either believers or anxious to learn.
Having opened by singing and prayer, we , we then called proceeded to several who had lately been baptized; after which we called out and severals to the various offices of the . Much [HC 1:84] exhortation and instruction was given; and the Holy Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner many of our number prophecied, whilst others had the Heavens opened to their view, and were so over come that we had to lay them on beds, or other convenient places: Among the rest was Brother who had to be placed on a bed, being unable to help himself. By his own account of the transaction, He could not understand why we should lay him on the bed, <​as​> he felt no sensibility of weakness. He felt his heart filled with love, with glory and pleasure [p. 41]
iately the visions of heaven were opened to my view. I felt myself attracted upward and remained for some time enwrapt in contemplation in so much that I knew not what was going on in the room. By and by I felt some weight pressing upon my shoulder and the side of my head; which served to recall me to a sense of my situation, and I found that the Spirit of the Lord had actually caught me up off the floor, and that my shoulder and head were pressing against the beams.”
All this was witnessed by many, to their great astonishment and satisfaction when they saw the devil thus cast out; and the power of God and his holy spirit thus made manifest. So soon as consciousness returned, his bodily weakness was such that we were obliged to lay him upon his bed, and wait upon him for some time. As may be expected, such [HC 1:83] a scene as this contributed much to make believers of those who witnessed it, and finally, the greater part of them became members of the .
Soon after this occurrence I returned to , Seneca County. The Book of Mormon (“The Stick of Joseph in the hands of Ephraim”) had now been published for some time, and as the ancient Prophet had predicted of it; “It was accounted as a strange thing.” No small stir was created by its appearance; great opposition, and much persecution followed the believers of its authenticity; but it had now come to pass that, Truth had sprung out of the earth; and Righteousness had looked down from Heaven, so we feared not our opponents, knowing that we had both Truth and righteousness on our side; that we had both the Father and the Son, because we had the doctrines of Christ and abided in them; and therefore we continued to preach and to give information to all who were willing to hear.
During the last week in May the above mentioned came to visit us, at and was by .
June 1830
On the first day of June 1830, we held our first as an organized Church. Our numbers were about thirty, besides whom, many assembled with us, who were either believers or anxious to learn.
Having opened by singing and prayer, we , we then proceeded to several who had lately been baptized; after which we called out and severals to the various offices of the . Much [HC 1:84] exhortation and instruction was given; and the Holy Ghost was poured out upon us in a miraculous manner many of our number prophecied, whilst others had the Heavens opened to their view, and were so over come that we had to lay them on beds, or other convenient places: Among the rest was Brother who had to be placed on a bed, being unable to help himself. By his own account of the transaction, He could not understand why we should lay him on the bed, as he felt no sensibility of weakness. He felt his heart filled with love, with glory and pleasure [p. 41]
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