D&C 129

THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

SECTION 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.

1 THERE are two kinds of beings in heaven. [ Note that this does say HEAVEN here, not on the earth. Angels are men and women in a different phase of their eternal existence. They may be “resurrected personages” (D&C 129:1) or “the spirits of just men made perfect” (D&C 129:3), but they are decidedly human. After encountering this doctrine, one observer noted, “I was struck by the fact that the angels of early Mormonism were visitors not only from heaven but also from beyond the grave.” (Samuel Morris Brown, In Heaven as It Is on Earth: Joseph Smith and the Early Mormon Conquest of Death, 2012, ix.) Angels are not a separate creation from humans, they are humans. This is clearly taught in the revelations given to Joseph Smith. The archangel Michael is revealed to be Adam (D&C 27:11), the Angel Gabriel was known as Noah during his time on earth, (Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by William Clayton, p. 11, JSP.) and Moroni was a mortal man who returned to oversee the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. The Hebrew and Greek words for angel in the Old and New Testaments can be simply translated as “messenger.” (Lexham Bible Dictionary, “Angel.” ) If all angels are messengers, there are several more categories of angels we can add to Joseph Smith’s assertion that angels are resurrected beings or the spirits of just people who have already passed away. Angels can also be premortal beings, those who have not yet experienced life on earth. Jesus Christ appeared to the brother of Jared as a premortal spirit, explaining, “this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh” (Ether 3:16). And for obvious reasons, the angel who appeared to Adam and Eve to explain the purpose of sacrifices was also a premortal spirit (Moses 5:6–8). Angels can also be translated beings. Enoch and his city were translated and taken up into heaven (Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 14:32). An early revelation given to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery revealed that the Savior promised the Apostle John that He would “make him as a flaming fire and a ministering angel” (D&C 6:6). In a similar fashion, three of the Nephite disciples became “as the angels of God” (3 Nephi 28:30) and received a promise that they would “never taste of death” (3 Nephi 28:7). A final category of angels consists of righteous mortals. The Old Testament speaks about “two angels” who rescued Lot from the destruction of his city (Genesis 19:1). Joseph Smith’s translation clarifies that these messengers were “angels of God, which were holy men” (Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 19:15). In a similar fashion, John addressed the book of Revelation to several figures he referred to as “the angel of the church of Ephesus” (Revelation 2:1), “the angel of the church in Smyrna” (Revelation 2:18), and so forth. Joseph Smith’s translation of each of these verses replaces angel with servant (Joseph Smith Translation, Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14), indicating that these angels were mortal servants who presided over branches of the Church. Angels can come in the form of resurrected beings, spirits of just men and women, premortal spirits, translated beings, or righteous mortals recruited to serve as messengers of God. But a fundamental truth revealed through Joseph Smith in section 129 is that every angel is a man or woman, just in a different stage of eternal development. ] namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones—

2 For instance, [ Or example number one. ] Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. [ So there are resurrected beings in heaven that have resurrected bodies. ]

3 Secondly: the spirits of just men made perfect, they who are not resurrected, [ Those who are in the paradise of God awaiting the resurrection. Joseph Smith provides an example for us of a man named James Adams who was from Springfield Illinois. He was a judge he becomes a Patriarch. The organization of the spiritual and heavenly worlds, and of spiritual and heavenly beings, was agreeable to the most perfect order and harmony: their limits and bounds were fixed irrevocably, and voluntarily subscribed to in their heavenly estate by themselves, and were by our first parents subscribed to upon the earth. Hence the importance of embracing and subscribing to principles of eternal truth by all men upon the earth that expect eternal life. I assure the Saints that truth, in reference to these matters, can and may be known through the revelations of God in the way of His ordinances, and in answer to prayer. The Hebrew Church “came unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto an innumerable company of angels, unto God the Father of all, and to Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant.” What did they learn by coming of the spirits of just men made perfect? Is it written? No. What they learned has not been and could not have been written. What object was gained by this communication with the spirits of the just? It was the established order of the kingdom of God: the keys of power and knowledge were with them to communicate to the Saints. Hence the importance of understanding the distinction between the spirits of the just and angels. Spirits can only be revealed in flaming fire or glory. Angels have advanced further, their light and glory being tabernacled; and hence they appear in bodily shape. The spirits of just men are made ministering servants to those who are sealed unto life eternal, and it is through them that the sealing power comes down. Patriarch Adams is now one of the spirits of the just men made perfect; and, if revealed now, must be revealed in fire; and the glory could not be endured. Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, and they thought it was His spirit, and they were afraid to approach His spirit. Angels have advanced higher in knowledge and power than spirits. Concerning Brother James Adams, it should appear strange that so good and so great a man was hated. The deceased ought never to have had an enemy. But so it was. Wherever light shone, it stirred up darkness. Truth and error, good and evil cannot be reconciled. Judge Adams had some enemies, but such a man ought not to have had one. I saw him first at Springfield, when on my way from Missouri to Washington. He sought me out when a stranger, took me to his home, encouraged and cheered me, and gave me money. He has been a most intimate friend. I anointed him to the patriarchal power—to receive the keys of knowledge and power, by revelation to himself. He has had revelations concerning his departure, and has gone to a more important work. When men are prepared, they are better off to go hence. Brother Adams has gone to open up a more effectual door for the dead. The spirits of the just are exalted to a greater and more glorious work; hence they are blessed in their departure to the world of spirits. Enveloped in flaming fire, they are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and motions, and are often pained therewith. Flesh and blood cannot go there; but flesh and bones, quickened by the Spirit of God, can. If we would be sober and watch in fasting and prayer, God would turn away sickness from our midst. Hasten the work in the Temple, renew your exertions to forward all the work of the last days, and walk before the Lord in soberness and righteousness. Let the Elders and Saints do away with lightmindedness, and be sober. Such is a faint outline of the discourse of President Joseph Smith, which was delivered with his usual feeling and pathos, and was listened to with the most profound and eager attention by the multitude, who hung upon his instructions, anxious to learn and pursue the path of eternal life. After singing by the choir, and prayer by the President, Conference adjourned sine die, with the benediction of the President. Joseph Smith, President. Gustavus Hills, Clerk. (History Of The Church volume 4 page 20; Vol 6:5-52) ] but inherit the same glory.

4 When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you. [ An earlier version of these teachings, recorded by Wilford Woodruff, suggests that Doctrine and Covenants 129 is not about handshakes but about eternal law and how it affects eternal beings, both good and evil. Elder Woodruff recorded, There are many keys to the kingdom of God. The following one will detect Satan when he transforms himself nigh unto an angel of light. When Satan appears in the form of a personage unto man and reaches out his hand unto him and the man takes hold of his hand and feels no substance, he may know it is Satan. For an angel of God (which is an angel of light) is a Saint with his resurrected body, and when he appears unto man and offers him his hand and the man feels a substance. When he takes hold of it as he would in shaking hands with his neighbor, he may know it is an Angel of God. And should a Saint appear unto man whose body is not resurrected, he will never offer him his hand, for it would be against the law by which they are governed, and by observing this key we may detect Satan that he deceive us not. (Discourse, 27 June 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff–A, p. 19–20, JSP, spelling and punctuation modernized.) President Woodruff’s record states that angels who are not resurrected do not extend their hand because “it would be against the law by which they are governed.” This hints that resurrected beings, the spirits of the just, and deceiving spirits all do certain actions because they are compelled by eternal law. Even the spirits who follow Satan are subject to eternal law. Joseph Smith taught this even more directly in an article that appeared in the Times and Seasons on April 1, 1842: “It would seem also that wicked spirits have their bounds, limits, and laws by which they are governed or controlled, and know their future destiny; hence those that were in the maniac said to our Savior, ‘art thou come to torment us before the time.’” (Times and Seasons, 1 April 1842, p. 745, JSP..). ]

5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.

6 If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—

7 Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message.

8 If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, [ So we might ask why does an angel of the devil not know this? Answer is that they must obey eternal laws. see President Woodruffs comments. ] and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him. [ We have an example of one who did not understand this, it is taught in Alma 30:52; Moses 1:(If you can look upon him with your mortals eyes, if he comes as a mortal being, or if you do not need to be transfigured to withstand his presence. #2 if you can feel the darkness around him.) Isaiah 14: ]

9 These are three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God.

[ Historical Material Pertaining to Doctrine & Covenants 129 Excerpts from History of the Church. Spent most of the day in conversation with Parley P. Pratt and others. [text of D&C 129 quoted] A man came to me in Kirtland, and told me he had seen an angel, and described his dress. I told him he had seen no angel, and that there was no such dress in heaven. He grew mad, and went into the street and commanded fire to come down out of heaven to consume me. I laughed at him, and said, You are one of Baal’s prophets; your God does not hear you; jump up and cut yourself: and he commanded fire from heaven to consume my house. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 5, pages 267-268) He explained the difference between an angel and a ministering spirit; the one a resurrected or translated body, with its spirit ministering to embodied spirits the other a disembodied spirit, visiting and ministering to disembodied spirits. Jesus Christ became a ministering spirit (while His body was lying in the sepulchre) to the spirits in prison, to fulfill an important part of His mission [1 Peter 3:18-20] , without which He could not have perfected His work, or enter into His rest. After His resurrection He appeared as an angel to His disciples. Translated bodies cannot enter into rest until they have undergone a change equivalent to death. Translated bodies are designed for future missions. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 4, page 425) Excerpt from Journal of Discourses I saw legions of wicked spirits that night, as plain as I now see you, and they came as near to me as you now are, and company after company of them rushed towards me; and brother [Orson] Hyde and brother [Willard] Richards also saw them. It was near the break of day, and I looked upon them as I now look upon you. They came when I was laying hands upon brother [Isaac] Russell, the wicked spirits got him to the door of the room, I did not see them till after that took place, and soon afterwards I lay prostrate upon the floor. That was in England, pious England, in the little town of Preston, at the corner of Wilford Street, and they struggled and exerted all their power and influence. That was the first introduction of the Gospel into England, and I was shown those spirits as plainly as ever I saw anything.... I saw their hands, their eyes, and every feature of their faces, the hair on their heads, and their ears, in short they had full-formed bodies. If evil spirits could come to me, cannot ministering spirits and angels also come from God? Of course they can, and there are thousands of them, and I wish you to understand this, and that they can rush as an army going to battle, for the evil spirits came upon me and brother Hyde in that way.... The spirits of the wicked, who have died for thousands of years past, are at war with the Saints of God upon the earth. Do I ever pray that I may see them again? No, I do not.... When I returned home I called upon brother Joseph, and we walked down the bank of the river. He there told me what contests he had had with the devil; he told me that he had contests with the devil, face to face. He also told me how he was handled and afflicted by the devil, and said, he had known circumstances where Elder [Sidney] Rigdon was pulled out of bed three times in one night. After all this some persons will say to me, that there are no evil spirits. I tell you they are thicker than the “Mormons” are in this country, but the Lord has said that there are more for us than there can be against us. “Who are they,” says one? Righteous men who have been upon the earth. But do you suppose that angels will pay friendly visits to those who do not live up to their privileges? Would you? No, you would not like to visit with persons who lie, and steal your goods, and borrow and never pay. Would you not forsake such persons? (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, volume 3, pages 229-230) Excerpt from Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith 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. (Lyndon W. Cook, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith)]