“When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.” — Doctrine and Covenants 129¹

Doctrine and Covenants 129 outlines three keys for discerning whether a heavenly messenger is sent from God or is a deceiving spirit. Angels, as resurrected beings, have bodies of flesh and bones and will shake hands when asked. Spirits of just men made perfect, though not resurrected, cannot physically be touched, but will still deliver their message without deceit. Evil spirits, however, may pretend to be angels of light and will offer a hand that cannot be felt.¹ As an example, Joseph taught that if the Devil or the deceased apostle David Patten appeared, asking to shake hands with them would help discern if they were a messenger from God or a false spirit. Joseph Smith shared these principles with Parley P. Pratt and other Saints on February 9, 1843, in the Mills’ Masonic Hall Tavern in Nauvoo.² Notes from this meeting were recorded in Joseph’s journal by his scribe and secretary William Clayton.³

1. Doctrine and Covenants 129

2. Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 1, 21 December 1842–10 March 1843, 172-174, josephsmithpapers.org; “Masonic hall, Nauvoo, Illinois,” josephsmithpapers.org

3. ”’Our Hearts Rejoiced to Hear Him Speak,’” Revelations in Context, churchofjesuschrist.org