Levi Hancock: Musician, Missionary, and Witness to the Power of God at Morley Farm and Zion's Camp

“The Fourth of June came and we all met in a little string of buildings under the hill near Isaac Morley's in Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio. Then we all went to a school house on the hill about one fourth of a mile ascending nearly all the way. The building was built of logs. It was filled with slab benches, here the elders were seated and the meeting was opened as usual. Joseph Smith began to speak, he said that the kingdom of Christ that he spoke of that was like a grain of mustard seed was now before him and some should see it put forth its branches and the angels of heaven would some day come like birds to its branches just as the Saviour had said. Some of you shall live to see it come with great glory. Some of you must die for the testimony of this work and he looked at Lyman Wight and said to him, "You shall see the Lord and meet him near the corner of the house" and 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 on Harvey Whitlock and ordained him to 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; his eyes were in the shape of oval O's. Hyrum Smith said, "Joseph, that is not of God." Joseph said, "Do not speak against this." "I will not believe," said Hyrum, "unless you inquire of God and he owns it." Joseph bowed his head, and in a short time got up and commanded Satan to leave Harvey, laying his hands upon his head at the same time. At that very instant an old man said to weigh two hundred and fourteen pounds sitting in the window turned a complete summersault in the house and came his back across a bench and lay helpless. Joseph told Lyman to cast Satan out. He did. The man's name was Leman Copley, formerly a Shaker. The evil spirit left him and as quick lightning Harvey Green fell bound and screamed like a panther. Satan was cast out of him. But immediately entered someone else. This continued all day and the greater part of the night. Then [Joseph] ordained Jacob Scott and some others to the High Priesthood. He came to Zebedee Coltrin and myself and told us that we had another calling as high as any man in the house. I was glad for that for 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.”

“On June the fifth we all assembled on the hill in a field where there was a large concourse of people collected. Lyman Wight spoke and gave a fine discourse. The Prophet Joseph said that from that time on the elders would have large congregations to speak to and they must soon take their departure into the regions West.”

— Levi W. Hancock, journal (1803–1836), recounting the visions and spiritual manifestations at the June 1831 conference on Isaac Morley's farm near Kirtland, Ohio, as published by Doctrine and Covenants Central