Revelation given to the elders of the church through Joseph Smith, Jr., May 1831, at Kirtland, Ohio. Some of the elders who returned from their missions in order to share in the June conference (D. and C. 44) reported that they had been embarrassed by strange and unedifying spiritual manifestations which were experienced among the congregations of the Saints. Joseph sought the Lord for guidance, and the following revelation as given him.
[Sec 50:1a] Hearken, O ye elders of my church, and give ear to the voice of the living God; and attend to the words of wisdom which shall be given unto you, according as ye have asked and are agreed as touching the church, and the spirits which have gone abroad in the earth.
[Sec 50:1b] Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world: and also Satan hath sought to deceive you, that he might overthrow you.
[Sec 50:2a] Behold, I the Lord have looked upon you, and have seen abominations in the church that professes my name; but blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life.
[Sec 50:2b] But woe unto them that are deceivers, and hypocrites, for thus saith the Lord, I will bring them to judgment.
[Sec 50:3a] Behold, verily I say unto you, There are hypocrites among you, and have deceived some, which has given the adversary power, but, behold, such shall be reclaimed;
[Sec 50:3b] but the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will, and woe unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world;
[Sec 50:3c] wherefore, let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness before me.
[Sec 50:4a] And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand: let us reason even as a man reasoneth one with another face to face:
[Sec 50:4b] now when a man reasoneth, he is understood of man, because he reasoneth as a man; even so will I, the Lord, reason with you that you may understand: wherefore I, the Lord, asketh you this question, Unto what were ye ordained?
[Sec 50:4c] To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter, which was sent forth to teach the truth: and then received ye spirits which ye could not understand, and received them to be of God, and in this are ye justified?
[Sec 50:4d] Behold, ye shall answer this question yourselves, nevertheless I will be merciful unto you; he that is weak among you hereafter shall be made strong.
[Sec 50:5a] Verily I say unto you, He that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the spirit of truth, or some other way? and if it be by some other way, it be not of God.
[Sec 50:5b] And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the spirit of truth, or some other way? if it be some other way, it be not of God:
[Sec 50:5c] therefore, why is it that ye can not understand and know that he that receiveth the word by the spirit of truth, receiveth it as it is preached by the spirit of truth?
[Sec 50:6a] Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understandeth one another, and both are edified and rejoice together;
[Sec 50:6b] and that which doth not edify, is not of God, and is darkness: that which is of God is light, and he that receiveth light and continueth in God, receiveth more light, and that light groweth brighter and brighter, until the perfect day.
[Sec 50:6c] And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you, for he that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is least, and the servant of all:
[Sec 50:6d] wherefore, he is possessor of all things, for all things are subject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth, the life, and the light, the spirit, and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father, through Jesus Christ, his Son;
[Sec 50:6e] but no man is possessor of all things, except he be purified and cleansed from all sin; and if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus, and it shall be done:
[Sec 50:6f] but know this, it shall be given you what you shall ask, and as ye are appointed to the head, the spirits shall be subject unto you.
[Sec 50:7a] Wherefore, it shall come to pass, that if you behold a spirit manifested that you can not understand, and you receive not that spirit, ye shall ask of the Father, in the name of Jesus, and if he give not unto you that spirit, that you may know that it is not of God;
[Sec 50:7b] and it shall be given unto you power over that spirit, and you shall proclaim against that spirit with a loud voice, that it is not of God;
[Sec 50:7c] not with railing accusation, that ye be not overcome; neither with boasting, nor rejoicing, lest you be seized therewith:
[Sec 50:7d] he that receiveth of God, let him account it of God, and let him rejoice that he is accounted of God worthy to receive, and by giving heed and doing these things which ye have received, and which ye shall hereafter receive;
[Sec 50:7e] and the kingdom is given you of the Father, and power to overcome all things, which is not ordained of him;
[Sec 50:7f] and, behold, verily I say unto you, Blessed are you who are now hearing these words of mine from the mouth of my servant, for your sins are forgiven you.
[Sec 50:8a] Let my servant Joseph Wakefield, in whom I am well pleased, and my servant Parley P. Pratt, go forth among the churches and strengthen them by the word of exhortation;
[Sec 50:8b] and also my servant John Corrill, or as many of my servants as are ordained unto this office, and let them labor in the vineyard; and let no man hinder them of doing that which I have appointed unto them:
[Sec 50:8c] wherefore in this thing my servant Edward Partridge, is not justified, nevertheless let him repent and he shall be forgiven.
[Sec 50:8d] Behold, ye are little children, and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
[Sec 50:8e] Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost;
[Sec 50:8f] and the Father and I are one; I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me, and I in you; wherefore I am in your midst;
[Sec 50:8g] and I am the good Shepherd (and the stone of Israel: he that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall), and the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am. Watch, therefore, that ye may be ready. Even so. Amen.