The Vision of the Yoke and Lamps — Levi Hancock's Spirit Leaves His Body

“In December [1830] I went about three miles west to work on a house laying the floors. It was white top plank, I had to match. I hired a Mr. Baldwin to help me. He was a good man and after we had laid the floor we concluded to make a fire and lie down until morning. As I was praying a personage stood before me with a small yoke in his hands, said he, "This is the yoke of Christ." There were many lamps placed on the top of this small yoke. I thought it was the Lord talking to me and I felt willing to obey him and put forth my hand and laid it on one lamp and saw a smoke rise from it. I then touched two more and saw a blue blaze, then some more and some smoked and others burned blue. Three shone as bright as any lamp I ever saw in my life. He stood and held them a short time and then said, "These I will take into heaven and give you a sign that you may know that you are my servant." He then drew in his breath and blew in my face and said, "You will tarry till I come again."”

“As he breathed on me, faith came, the heavens sent forth a shower of spirit, it took me in the face and filled me until I ran over with it. No person could feel better than I did. My spirit took its flight and left my body on the floor. I thought I was dead. All my senses were perfect and I realized many things that I am not able to write nor express with my tongue, I was told by the spirit to come back and bear testimony to the world of the truth of the work. I then entered into my body and told the vision to Mr. Baldwin. I told him how the lamps all went out but the three that burned so bright, and how smart and what a gentleman the personage was who came without anything on his head, with ruffles shirt to me, even Satan and how modest and innocent the man was who called himself the Lord. I saw tears run down from his eyes. I saw the unfortunate son who fell, when he tried to approach me the wave of my hand would cause him to go from me.”

— Levi W. Hancock, journal (1803–1836), recounting the vision of the yoke and lamps he received in December 1830 in Rome, Ohio, as published by Doctrine and Covenants Central