Chapter Eight

GATHERING TO OHIOeyes of some good and honest disciples.” 23 Parley Pratt concurred that “afalse and lying spirit seemed to be creeping into the Church.” 24Uncertain how to handle these spiritual phenomena, the brethren joinedwith the Prophet in prayer in his translating room in Kirtland. Joseph thendictated a revelation (see D&C 50). Elder Pratt remembered the sublimeexperience of observing a revelation in process: “Each sentence was utteredslowly and very distinctly, and with a pause between each, sufficiently longfor it to be recorded, by an ordinary writer, in long hand.” 25The Lord began by acknowledging that there were many “false spirits,which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world” (D&C 50:2–3) andthat Satan was seeking to deceive the people that he might overthrow them.Therefore the Lord gave the brethren a key by which they could detect anddeal with evil spirits:“Wherefore, it shall come to pass, that if you behold a spirit manifestedthat you cannot understand, and you receive not that spirit, ye shall ask ofthe Father in the name of Jesus; and if he give not unto you that spirit, thenyou may know that it is not of God.“And it shall be given unto you, power over that spirit; and you shallproclaim against that spirit with a loud voice that it is not of God”(D&C 50:31–32).T HE L AW OF C ONSECRATIONNow settled in Kirtland, the Prophet was eager to know the Lord’s willconcerning the economic salvation of the Saints, many of whom wereimpoverished, particularly those who had left their homes in New York. Hisinterest in the Lord’s economic program was aroused when he arrived in Ohioand discovered a group of about fifty people who had established acooperative venture based on their interpretation of statements in the book ofActs, describing the early Saints as having all things in common (see Acts2:44–45; 4:32). This group, known as “the family,” formerly followers of SidneyRigdon, were members of the Church living on Isaac Morley’s farm near thevillage of Kirtland. When John Whitmer arrived in mid-January, he noted thatwhat they were doing created many problems. For example, Heman Bassetttook a pocket watch belonging to Levi Hancock and sold it. When asked why,Heman replied, “Oh, I thought it was all in the family.” Levi responded that hedid not like such “family doing” and would not endure it any longer. 26The Prophet Joseph, however, realized the need to establish a more perfectsystem to meet the growing economic needs of the Church. Revenue wasrequired to finance various Church undertakings, such as publishingrevelations and missionary tracts. The Prophet was without a home for hisfamily; Sidney Rigdon had lost his pastoral home and the economic support hehad previously received from his congregation. Money, goods, and propertywere needed to help the poor and to assist immigrants who were sacrificingmuch to gather to Ohio, so Joseph inquired of the Lord.95