The following is an amalgamation of multiple accounts of the 1831 June Conference. I believe that the wine of the sacrament was infused with an entheogen, as many people in attendance had experiences which have particularly echoed through time as being unique and meaningful. As the experience is said to have occurred for over 24 hours, I believe the likely candidate is datura.
The original accounts can be found here:
Ezra Booth Letter, October 31st, 1832
History of the Church, Volune 1, Chapter 15
John Corrill’s Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints.
1
A. The Conference was scheduled for June 4th, 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio.
B. Before the Conference, Joseph Smith Jr. prophesied that God’s Spirit would strongly influence the church and attendees, enabling them to see God.
C. However, he also warned that the Devil would take this opportunity to demonstrate his own strength.
C. This endowment would enhance understanding and give first-hand experience, making them more important than mere faith.
2
A. Filled with confidence and high hopes, around 50 people gathered as scheduled in a hilltop schoolhouse made of logs, which was furnished with benches made from slabs of wood.
B. The elders took their seats and the meeting began as usual with prayers from Joseph Smith Jr., Sidney Rigdon, and a few others who spoke.
C. The group adhered to the practices outlined in The Articles and Covenants of the Church, which included blessing and partaking of the Sacrament.
3
A. Joseph addressed the Conference and urged them not to be startled by the forthcoming events.
B. He then spoke for a great length of time until the Spirit fell upon him and others in an unusual manner.
C. He turned to Lyman Wight and declared, “You will see and meet God near the corner of the house.” Following this, Joseph laid his hands on Wight, ordained him to the high priesthood, and blessed him to have heavenly visions.
D. Smith then laid his hands on several more people, granting the same priesthood. These included John Murdock, Reynolds Cahoon, Harvey Whitlock, and Hyrum Smith.
4
A. The Spirit fell upon Lyman who stood up, looking pale and with an intense expression. His arms were outstretched and his hands twisted backward. His whole body was distorted and was quite unsettling to look upon. He declared himself a demonstration of God’s great power and urged onlookers to see him as a sign.
B. He then prophecied the arrival of God, stating that some would survive to see God come down from Heaven with a loud shout and surrounded by holy angels. This event would be as bright as the sunrise and cover the whole earth. He described how hills would flatten, valleys would rise, crooked paths would straighten, and rough surfaces would be made smooth.
C. However, he also warned that some would endure martyrdom, and their deaths would serve as a confirmation of their beliefs.
D. Climbing onto a bench, he saw the heavens open and saw God.
E. He proclaimed that God was about to do something so extraordinary that it was beyond words and human comprehension.
5
A. Lyman Wight then turned to Joseph and likewise ordained him, and the glory of God surrounded them.
B. Joseph then declared “I can see God! If someone were to take my life at this moment, I wouldn’t even feel death given my current state.”
6
A. Joseph Smith Jr. explained that the profound spiritual experiences that they had made Lyman Wight capable of ordaining others. Joseph identified who was to be ordained, and Lyman Wight carried out the ordinations.
B. Those ordained by Wight included Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh, Isaac Morley, Edward Partridge, Joseph Wakefield, Ezra Thayer, Martin Harris, Ezra Booth, John Corrill, Samuel H. Smith, Solomon Hancock, Simeon Carter, Wheeler Baldwin, Jacob Scott, Joseph Smith Sr., John Whitmer, and Sidney Rigdon.
C. Afterward, Bishop Edward Partridge blessed the newly ordained.
D. John Corrill and Isaac Morley were then specifically ordained to be Partridge’s assistants by Lyman Wight.
7
A. Following this powerful spiritual experience, Harvey Whitlock and John Murdock found themselves unable to speak.
B. Whitlock’s appearance became particularly menacing. One of his shoulders rose higher than the other, making his head tilt towards it. His legs were slightly bent; arms somewhat outstretched; hands were helf-clenched and had the appearance of claws; mouth contracted in the shape of an italic O; and eyes were also shaped like O’s. All this combined to give him a wild and ferocious look.
C. Whitlock moved through the room, showing his hands to others and attempting to speak, but without success. His appearance was terrifying to those watching.
8
A. Hyrum Smith expressed distressed concern to Joseph, saying: “Joseph, this isn’t from God!” Joseph replied, “Don’t condemn this; I understand its purpose. Sometimes God restricts freedom in order to give freedom.”
B. Hyrum remained skeptical, insisting, “I won’t accept this unless you ask God and confirm it.” Joseph bowed his head, and in a short time stood up, laid his hands on Havey’s head, and commanded Satan to leave Harvey, which pleased and relieved everyone in attendance.
C. Joseph explained that the Devil’s presence was intentional so that the Elders would learn about Satan’s tactics. He emphasized that the day’s experiences at the Conference would equip them with enough understanding to effectively handle similar situations in the future.
9
A. Right then, a man named Leman Copley, who was sitting by the window, did a somersault, landed on his back across a bench, and couldn’t move.
B. Joseph instructed Lyman to cast Satan out of him. Lyman followed the instruction, and the bad presence left Copley.
C. Instantly, Harvey Green was overcome and screamed like a wild animal. The evil spirit was also driven out of him, but then it manifested in another person right away.
D. This cycle continued throughout the day and for most of the night.
10
A. Later, at Isaac Morley’s house, Harvey Whitlock shared that when Hyrum Smith said that the manifestations were not from God, he felt hatred towards Hyrum in his heart. However, once the evil spirit was removed from him, Harvey realized that it had indeed been Satan influencing him, and he became fully aware of it.
B. Harvey Green expressed that he was unable to recount the depth of the horrendous experience he endured while in the hands of Satan.
C. Levi Hancock spoke with Brother Whitmer, sharing the events of the Conference with him. Whitmer inquired if Joseph’s prediction about someone seeing God had come to pass. Levi affirmed he believed it had. Whitmer questioned, “Do you truly believe that?” to which Levi confirmed, “Yes, sir.”‘
11
A. The following day many people gathered on a hill in a field to hear Lyman Wight deliver an impressive sermon.
B. As darkness fell, Solomon Hancock, Levi Hancock, Wheeler Baldwin, and a few others set off for the Hancock home.
C. Their journey was quite difficult, as some felt as though the Devil and his demons were close by waiting to capture them.
D. Levi Hancock kept his unease to himself until they reached the mill pond, the halfway mark of their journey that night. Upon arriving at the pond he suggested that they pray together.
E. They all knelt down and took turns praying. Just as the last prayer was offered, which was at about 9 at night under a clear moonlit sky, they heard a loud braying of a donkey about 20 feet away from them. Despite searching, they saw nothing, and nothing could be hiding a donkey. The unseen creature continuously brayed as it moved towards and then over the pond and up the tall him until it gradually faded.
F. Wheeler Baldwin then concluded, “This confirms to me that our cause is just, as we sought Divine help and the Devil retreated.”