In 1799 the prophet Handsome Lake had his first vision given to him by the Creator to help the Iroquois people. His subsequent visions and his teachings led many people to accept a new Iroquois religion, one based upon past religious beliefs, but appropriate for a new social and economic reality.  

Central to his teachings was admonishing the people to celebrate the annual cycle of ceremonies, to give-up alcohol, and to stop the practice of witchcraft.  Witches were to confess their deeds and thus lose their power. Also, individuals in the community who were not behaving properly were to confess at longhouse ceremonies.  The nuclear family was to be strengthened, by no longer allowing divorce, by ending abortion, by welcoming the conception of children, and by warning the mothers-in-law not meddle in families. Farming was to become a more important element in the community as practiced by men.  The sale of land was to be stopped. Iroquois should combine all their separate communities into one. Handsome Lake helped the Iroquois adjust to the pressures from the encroaching white communities. The religion continues to lend moral strength when the communities must battle new invasions such as casinos or big business. 

Most of Handsome Lake’s followers are from Tonawanda, Onondaga, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Oneida, and Six Nations. Later, his followers brought his teachings to the communities of Akwesasne, Kanawake, Kanesetake  and Oneida, Ontario  and Wisconsin.

In the 1960s, Iroquois, mostly from Akwesasne, Kanawake and Kanesetake, began to reject the legitimacy of Handsome Lake as a prophet.  They felt Handsome Lake was too influenced by the teachings of the Quakers.  Instead, they focused on the teachings of the Peacekeeper, the founding leader of the Iroquois Confederacy.     
Disputes have arisen between these two groups.  The most notable tensions have occurred when gambling was sanctioned by the Akwesasne Longhouse Community. In general, the Handsome Lake followers do not condone gambling for profit.