Why Joseph Smith Said to Shake an Angel’s Hand

How do you know if a messenger is from God or the devil? Doctrine and Covenants 129 explains certain "keys" for discerning different spirits, and some Christians claim that the angel Moroni was really a demon. Barrett Burgin's short horror film "The Angel" probes these challenging questions, so in this episode, we'll be diving into the history and lore around how to discern an angel from a demon. The Angel Film: https://youtu.be/ACn\_CT\_7gtE?si=53FhGi9uuMYA-woD Alonzo Gaskill article on D&C 129: https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-8-no-1-2007/doctrine-covenants-1298-reality-satans-physicality ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by: The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye https://ancientamerica.org/ ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #lds #mormon #livestream #churchofjesuschrist ### Chapters - (00:00:00) - Introduction to Informed Saints and Guest Barrett - (00:02:38) - Synopsis of the Film 'The Angel' - (00:07:04) - How Would You Discern an Angel from a Demon? - (00:10:23) - Doctrine and Covenants 129 Explained - (00:14:46) - Handshake Test vs. Symbolic Interpretation - (00:22:40) - Did Any Prophet Ever Actually Perform the Test? - (00:26:03) - Historical Context and Canonization of D&C 129 - (00:28:59) - Demonic Laws, the Sign of the Dove, and Missionary Folklore - (00:30:21) - Stephen's Mission Exorcism Story - (00:33:59) - Joseph Smith's Preoccupation with Deception - (00:37:38) - Was Joseph Smith Deceived by a Devil? - (00:39:16) - Galatians 1:8 and the Angel of Light Debate - (00:45:27) - Plural Marriage and the Angel with a Drawn Sword - (00:49:32) - The Deeper Meaning of Deception and the Divine - (00:53:03) - Why We Need D&C 129: Final Reflections - (00:59:57) - Closing Thoughts from Barrett and Wrap-Up