Early printings of the hymn contain text only, although tune names were given twice in the church newspaper, the Messenger and Advocate.
[4] On the other hand, the March 1836 issue specifies the different tune Hosanna when it was sung for the dedication service of the Kirtland Temple.
Karen Lynn Davidson has stated that some believe Assembly to be another name for the Hosanna tune used at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple.
Joseph Smith speaks of the meeting in his diary, 17 January 1836: The Lord poured out his spirit upon us and the brethren began to confess their faults one to the other.
The gift of tongues come upon us also like the rushing of a mighty wind and my soul was filled with the glory of God.
[12]The first words come from "The American Star" which begins, "The spirits of Washington, Warren, Montgomery" and "then goes on to praise these heroes of the Revolution who yet watch over nineteenth-century patriots.
The use of the phrase "armies of heaven" in first line is used to mean a "great multitude of angels," but also reflects the imagery of the original song, "The American Star."
"[11] More recently, Andrew Bolton and Randall Pratt authored a revised or alternative version of "The Spirit of God" in 2003.
The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) has kept this stanza as the ordinance of Feet Washing is currently practiced among the baptized membership.
The first two lines are a reference to Isaiah 11:6, which in the KJV reads, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."