Joseph Smith Sees God and Christ — Evil Spirits Expelled at the June 1831 Kirtland Conference

Levi Hancock was an eyewitness to one of the most dramatic spiritual events of early Church history: the June 4, 1831 conference at Kirtland where the high priesthood was first conferred. He recorded it in detail:

Joseph Smith prophesied that Lyman Wight would 'see the Lord and meet him near the corner of the house,' then laid his hands on him and blessed him with 'the visions of heaven.' Joseph then stepped out on the floor and declared: 'I now see God, and Jesus Christ at his right hand, let them kill me, I should not feel death as I am now.'

When Joseph ordained Harvey Whitlock to the high priesthood, the man 'turned as black as Lyman was white. His fingers were set like claws... his eyes were in the shape of oval O's.' Hyrum Smith declared it was not of God. Joseph bowed his head, then commanded Satan to leave Harvey. At that instant a 214-pound man sitting in the window 'turned a complete summersault in the house and came his back across a bench and lay helpless.' The evil spirit then leapt to Harvey Green, who 'fell bound and screamed like a panther.' Satan was cast out of him too but 'immediately entered someone else. This continued all day and the greater part of the night.'

Levi noted afterward: 'I was so scared I would not stir without his liberty for all the world. I knew the things I had seen was not made.'

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

On the 4th of June, 1831, we all met in Kirtland, in a school house built of logs. Here the Elders were seated on slab benches, and the meeting was opened as usual. Joseph Smith began to speak. He looked at Lyman Wight and said, “You shall see the Lord and meet him near the corner of the house.” The Prophet laid his hands upon him and blessed him with the visions of heaven. Joseph Smith then stepped out on the floor and said, “I now see God, and Jesus Christ at his right hand. Let them kill me; I should not feel death as I am now.” Joseph put his hands upon Harvey Whitlock and ordained him to the office of high priest in the High Priesthood. He turned as black as Lyman was white. His fingers were set like claws. He went around the room and showed his hands and tried to speak, but he could not. His eyes were in the shape of oval O's. Hyrum Smith said, “Joseph, that is not of God.” Joseph bowed his head and remained in that position for some time. He then raised his head and looked at Harvey and commanded the evil spirit to leave him. At that instant, a man by the name of Harvey Green, who was sitting in the window, turned a complete summersault in the house and came his back across a bench and lay helpless. The evil spirit then left Harvey Whitlock and entered Harvey Green, who fell bound and screamed like a panther. Satan was cast out of him too, but immediately entered someone else. This continued all day and the greater part of the night. I was so scared I would not stir without his liberty for all the world. I knew the things I had seen was not made.