Exorcisms

Mormon History 1830-1844

Joseph

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Exorcisms

April 1830		Joseph Smith casts devil out of Newel Knight

April Joseph visits Knights	¶	During this month of April I went on a visit to the residence of Mr. Joseph Knight (swh), of Colesville, Broome co., N.Y., with whom and his family I had been previously acquainted … Mr. Knight and his family were Universalists, but were willing to reason with me upon my religious views …We held several meetings in the neighborhood; we had many friends, and some enemies. Our meetings were well attended …		Times and Seasons, vol. 4 no. 1 (November 15, 1842) 12–13. See in Early documents 1:101–105.
Newel Knight Unable to pray in public		Amongst those who attended our meetings regularly, was Newel Knight, son to [13] Joseph Knight. He and I had many serious conversations on the important subject of man's eternal salvation: we had got into the habit of praying much at our meetings and Newel had said that he would try and take up his cross, and pray vocally during meeting; but when we again met together, he rather excused himself; I tried to prevail upon him …
Tries, becomes agitated		… he deferred praying until next morning, when he retired into the woods; where (according to his own account afterwards) he made several attempts to pray but could scarcely do so, feeling that he had not done his duty, in refusing to pray in the presence of others. He began to feel uneasy, and continued to feel worse both in mind and body, until upon reaching his own house, his appearance was such as to alarm his wife very much. He requested her to go and bring me to him.
Distorted appearance, tossed about in the air		I went and found him suffering very much in his mind, and his body acted upon in a very strange manner. His visage and limbs distorted and twisted in every shape and appearance possible to imagine; and finally he was caught up off the floor of the apartment, and tossed about most fearfully.
Witnesses Newel asks Joseph to cast out devil		His situation was soon made known to his neighbors and relatives, and in a short time as many as eight or nine grown persons had got together to witness the scene. After he had thus suffered for a time, I succeeded in getting hold of him by the hand, when almost immediately he spoke to me, and with great earnestness requested me, that I should cast the devil out of him, saying that he knew he was in him, and that he also knew that I could cast him out.
Joseph rebukes devil Newel sees devil leave		I replied, "If you know that I can, it shall be done," and then almost unconsciously I rebuked the devil; and commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to depart from him; when immediately Newel spoke out and said that he saw the devil leave him and vanish from his sight.
First miracle in the church		This was the first miracle which was done in this church or by any member of it, and it was done not by man nor by the power of man, but it was done by God, and by the power of godliness: therefore let the honor and the praise, the dominion and the glory be ascribed to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for ever and ever Amen.

Newel's vision of eternity	¶	This scene was now entirely changed, for as soon as the devil had departed from our friend, his countenance became natural, his distortions of body ceased, and almost immediately the spirit of the Lord descended upon him, and the visions of eternity were opened to his view.—He afterwards related his experience as follows:		Times and Seasons, vol. 4 no. 2 (December 1, 1842) 22.
Newel: visions, caught up to ceiling			I now began to feel a most pleasing sensation resting on me, and immediately the visions of heaven were opened to my view. I felt myself attracted upward, and remained for some time enwrapt in contemplation, insomuch that I knew not what was going on in the room. By and by I felt some weight pressing upon my shoulder and the side of my head; which served to recall me to a sense of my situation, and I found that the spirit of the Lord had actually caught me up off the floor, and that my shoulder and head were pressing against the beams.
Witnessed	¶	All this was witnessed by many, to their great astonishment and satisfaction, when they saw the devil thus cast out; and the power of God, and his holy spirit thus made manifest. So soon as consciousness returned, his bodily weakness was such that we were obliged to lay him upon his bed and wait upon him for some time. As may be expected, such a scene as this contributed much to make believers of those who witnessed it, and finally, the greater part of them became members of the Church.

June, 1830		Exorcism mocked
		JO's greatest as well as least miracle, as narrated by St. Martin, is his 'casting out a devil,' of uncommon size from a miserable man in the neighborhood of the "great bend" of the Susquehannah. The whole family of spirits, who are said to have possessed the fair Magdalene, were mere children, when compared to the imp in question. Such was his malignant disposition that before JO took him in hand, he had nigh demolished the frail tenement which had for a long time afforded him a comfortable shelter —the flesh was "about to cleave from my bones"—the muscles, tendons &c. could no longer perform their different functions—the habitation of Satan, was about to be laid open to the light of day, when the prophet interfered—went to prayer—the demoniac had faith—the devil was routed, and nature resumed her accustomed order.		Palmyra Reflector, June 30, 1830. Off-site link to source at Dale Broadhurst website. There, search for St. Martin. St. Martin: Martin Harris

October 14, 1830		Newel Knight casts out Satan
		On October 14, 1830, Hyrum Smith preaches at the home of Newel Knight's uncle, Hezekiah Peck. After the meeting, Hyrum and Newel intended to stay with a member nearby,		"Newel Knight's Journal," Classic Experiences and Adventures (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969).
Hezekiah Peck fears for his wife's life	¶	… but as we were ready to start, the Spirit whispered to me that I should tarry there at my uncle's all night. I did so, and retired to bed, where I rested till midnight when my uncle came to my room and desired me to get up, saying he feared his wife was about to die. This surprised me, as she was quite well when I went to bed. I dressed myself, and having asked my Heavenly Father to give me wisdom, and power to rebuke the destroyer from the habitation, I went to the room where my aunt lay.
Under the power of Satan		She was in a most fearful condition; her eyes were closed, and she appeared to be in the last agonies of death. Presently she opened her eyes, and bade her husband and children farewell, telling them she must die for the redemption of this generation, as Jesus Christ had died for the generation in His day. Her whole frame shook, and she appeared to be racked with the most exquisite pain and torment; her hands and feet were cold, and the blood settled in her fingers; while her husband and children stood weeping around her bed. This was a scene new to me, and I felt she was suffering under the power of Satan—that was the same spirit that had bound and overpowered me at the time Joseph cast him out.
Newel Knight prays		I now cried unto the Lord for strength and wisdom that we might prevail over this wicked and delusive power. Just at this time my uncle cried aloud to me, saying: "O, Brother Newel, cannot something be done?"
Commands Satan to depart		I felt the Holy Spirit of the Lord rest upon me as he said this, and I immediately stepped forward, took her by the hand, and commanded Satan, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to depart. I told my aunt she would not die, but that she should live to see her children grown up; that Satan had deceived her, and put a lying spirit in her mouth; that Christ had made the only and last atonement for all who would believe on His name; and that there should be no more shedding of blood for sin. She believed and stretched forth her hand, and cried unto me, and Satan departed from her.

December [7–11], 1830		Revelation
		And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils …		¶ D&C 35:9

March 3–4, 1831		Joseph casts out Satan
March 4, 1831 Joseph casts out Satan		… after being Colled out of my bed in the night to go a small distance I went and had {and} an awful strugle with satan <but> being armed with the power of god he was cast out and the woman is Clothed in hir right mind		¶ Joseph to Hyrum, March 3–4, 1831

May 26, 1832		Jared Carter casts out Satan
		[Visiting Benson, Vermont, Jared Carter calls on the Redfields and find sister Redfield] under some peculier tryals of mind and in great distress of mind & unbelief so much so that she told me that she feared that she never should enjoy the presence of the lord again		Jared Carter diary, 72–73.
		I told hur that she would & that Satan in the name of the Lord should depart from hur I neeled down and Prayed for hur and while I was Praying the Spirit of power was with us & I felt to and did say to Satan in the name of Christ depart and the afflictions of hur soul began to leave hur and in a few minutes she felt to praise the Lord and she nelt down and prai[se]d the Lord
[September] 1832		Amasa Lyman and Zerubabel Snow rebuke the devil
		Early on their first missions, Amasa Lyman and Zerubabel Snow, in Chippewa township, Wayne county, Ohio begin a meeting at the home of brother Baldwin Welton, who has invited some neighbors over:		¶ Amasa Lyman (h)
Alarm		… we sang and prayed, and brother Snow proceeded to make some remarks, but in an instant a chilling sensation pervaded my entire body, and a cry of alarm from the bed attracted the attention of all.
Miss Smith seized		On stepping to the bedside we discovered that Miss Smith's face and her entire form were distorted in the most shocking manner, her eyes were glaring wildly, but apparently sightless, her respiration was very difficult and her limbs were rigid as iron;
Devil rebuked Seized again		the common restoratives were used without effect, we laid our hands upon her and rebuked the devil when she was instantly relieved, but in another moment she was bound as before,
Requests baptism		we kneeled down by her bed and prayed, when she was again released, and asked for baptism, stating that she had been acting against her convictions of right in some conversations we had held with her during the day;
First baptisms		we repaired to the water, and there under the mantle of night introduced the first souls into the Church as the fruits of our labors.

[November–December] 1837		Lunatic healed
	¶	There was a family by the name of Newcombe, residing about one mile south of the temple in Kirtland. His wife’s brother, (a man we should judge about thirty years of age,) was a raving maniac of the most violent kind. He had to be kept chained in an out house by himself, and clothed with strong coarse clothing, for when he could, he would tear his clothing from him. He would also rave and rage exceedingly whenever any person came near him excepting his sister, Mrs. Newcombe, she had control over him. We saw him different times, but it was a distressing sight.		Robinson history 1, no. 8 (Aug. 1889): 115.
	¶	In the latter part of November or in December, 1836, several brethren took his case in hand, and went to brother Newcombe’s and commenced to fast and pray for power over the evil spirit, and deliverance for the man from his power. Joseph Smith Sen., (father of Joseph Smith, jr., the translator of the Book of Mormon,) had charge, assisted by brethren John P. Green[e], Oliver Granger, and others. They continued in fasting and prayer for three days and nights, with occasionally, one at a time, taking a little respite, when brother Smith, sen. told them to bring the man into the room where they were, which they did. They laid their hands upon him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and rebuked the evil spirit by which he had been bound, when the man wilted down, and became as a little child. Brother Joseph Smith, sen,* ordered them to take the chains from off him. He was healed, to the great joy of all, and they felt to render thanksgiving and praise to our heavenly Father, to who be glory and honor forever and ever, Amen.
	¶	The man continued sane and well and during the winter attended church with the family at different times. It was customary in the church in those days to give an invitation and opportunity for any one who wished to unite with the church by baptize, to make it manifest by rising to their feet. This invitation was given at the close of the morning sermon each Sunday. One Sunday in March, 1837, this man who had been healed, sat next to me at my right hand in the same pew with me, in the temple in meeting, and when the invitation for baptize was given out, he arose, and was afterwards baptized.

July 20, 1837		Willard Richards attacked by devils
En route to England	¶	Awoke this morning in the utmost horror. It appeared to me that evil spirits or devils had fastened on every muscle of my body, pinching it so severely as to completely stop the circulation of the fluids, and Satan himself held me so close by the throat, that I was gasping for breath. Doubtless it would have gratified the prince of the power of the air if he could have strangled me, but the Lord suffered him not.		¶ Willard Richards (h)
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