The Elders Speak in Tongues at the January 1833 Kirtland Conference — the Gift Returns After Long Absence

On January 22, 1833, a conference of twelve high priests, two elders, and other members, including women, assembled in an upstairs room of Newel K. Whitney's white store in Kirtland, Ohio. This meeting was convened to organize the School of the Prophets, as commanded by the revelation received on December 27-28, 1832, which required the elders to sanctify themselves and clean their hands and feet to be pure from the blood of the generation. The conference was marked by a profound return of spiritual gifts that had largely been absent in Ohio since June 1831. Joseph Smith reported that he spoke in tongues, followed by Zebedee Coltrin and William Smith. Subsequently, the Lord poured out His spirit in a miraculous manner, causing all the elders present and several members, both men and women, to speak in tongues. The participants spent the time singing, speaking, and praying in tongues, experiencing glorious visions until late into the night. On the second day of the conference, January 23, Joseph Smith performed the washing of feet for those present, a ceremony viewed as a testimony of their cleansing from the sins of the age. Zebedee Coltrin noted in his journal that this washing of the disciples' feet was the act that formally organized the School of the Prophets.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

For as we, viz: Joseph Smith jr. Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Newel K. Whitney, Hyrum Smith, Zebedee Coltrin, Joseph Smith sen., Samuel H. Smith, John Murdock, Lyman Johnson, Orson Hyde, Ezra Thayer, high priests; and Levi Hancock, and William Smith elders, were assembled in conference, on the 22nd day of January I spoke to the conference in another tongue, and was followed by Zebedee Coltrin, and then Brother Wm. Smith, after which the Lord poured out his spirit in a miraculous manner until all the elders spoke in tongues, and several members, both men and women. Great and glorious were the revelations and visions were sung to the Lamb; speaking and praying, all in tongues, occupied the conference, until a late hour at night, so rejoiced were we, at the return of these long absent blessings. On the next day, the 23rd, I resumed the conference, and after some time spent in the gift of tongues, and in prayer, I proceeded to wash the feet of the elders, and to perform the ordinance of washing of feet, as a testimony that we were clean from the blood of this generation.