diff --git a/.changeset/olive-points-own.md b/.changeset/olive-points-own.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fbdb020ee3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/olive-points-own.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@clerk/elements': patch
+---
+
+Add appropriate messaging for an invalid instance configuration vs implemented Elements strategies
diff --git a/.changeset/violet-lobsters-scream.md b/.changeset/violet-lobsters-scream.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f533bcefc06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/violet-lobsters-scream.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@clerk/elements': patch
+---
+
+Fixes a bug where multiple verification codes were sent at once.
diff --git a/packages/elements/examples/nextjs/next.config.js b/packages/elements/examples/nextjs/next.config.js
index 38d9318fcc9..840f438e060 100644
--- a/packages/elements/examples/nextjs/next.config.js
+++ b/packages/elements/examples/nextjs/next.config.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /** @type {import('next').NextConfig} */
 const nextConfig = {
   // Disable React strict mode when using the state machine inspector
-  reactStrictMode: process.env['NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_ELEMENTS_DEBUG'] !== 'true',
+  reactStrictMode: false,
   typescript: {
     ignoreBuildErrors: true,
   },
diff --git a/packages/elements/src/internals/machines/sign-in/verification.machine.ts b/packages/elements/src/internals/machines/sign-in/verification.machine.ts
index 9be31fab59a..9b6aef44ac6 100644
--- a/packages/elements/src/internals/machines/sign-in/verification.machine.ts
+++ b/packages/elements/src/internals/machines/sign-in/verification.machine.ts
@@ -34,9 +34,11 @@ type Parent = ActorRefFrom<TSignInRouterMachine>;
 
 export type PrepareFirstFactorInput = WithParams<SignInFirstFactor | null> & {
   parent: Parent;
+  resendable: boolean;
 };
 export type PrepareSecondFactorInput = WithParams<SignInSecondFactor | null> & {
   parent: Parent;
+  resendable: boolean;
 };
 
 export type AttemptFirstFactorInput = { parent: Parent; fields: FormFields; currentFactor: SignInFirstFactor | null };
@@ -109,11 +111,16 @@ const SignInVerificationMachine = setup({
 
       if (
         process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' &&
+        context.currentFactor?.strategy &&
         !context.registeredStrategies.has(context.currentFactor?.strategy as unknown as SignInFactor)
       ) {
         throw new ClerkElementsRuntimeError(
           `Your sign-in attempt is missing a ${context.currentFactor?.strategy} strategy. Make sure <Strategy name="${context.currentFactor?.strategy}"> is rendered in your flow. For more information, visit the documentation: https://clerk.com/docs/elements/reference/sign-in#strategy`,
         );
+      } else if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && !context.currentFactor?.strategy) {
+        throw new ClerkElementsRuntimeError(
+          'Unable to determine an authentication strategy to verify. This means your instance is misconfigured. Visit the Clerk Dashboard and verify that your instance has authentication strategies enabled: https://dashboard.clerk.com/last-active?path=/user-authentication/email-phone-username',
+        );
       }
     },
     sendToNext: ({ context, event }) =>
@@ -171,6 +178,7 @@ const SignInVerificationMachine = setup({
         src: 'prepare',
         input: ({ context }) => ({
           parent: context.parent,
+          resendable: context.resendable,
           params: context.currentFactor as SignInFirstFactor | null,
         }),
         onDone: {
@@ -267,10 +275,14 @@ const SignInVerificationMachine = setup({
 export const SignInFirstFactorMachine = SignInVerificationMachine.provide({
   actors: {
     prepare: fromPromise(async ({ input }) => {
-      const { params, parent } = input;
+      const { params, parent, resendable } = input;
       const clerk = parent.getSnapshot().context.clerk;
 
-      if (!params?.strategy || params.strategy === 'password') {
+      // If a prepare call has already been fired recently, don't re-send
+      const currentVerificationExpiration = clerk.client.signIn.firstFactorVerification.expireAt;
+      const needsPrepare = resendable || !currentVerificationExpiration || currentVerificationExpiration < new Date();
+
+      if (!params?.strategy || params.strategy === 'password' || !needsPrepare) {
         return Promise.resolve(clerk.client.signIn);
       }
 
@@ -359,12 +371,16 @@ export const SignInFirstFactorMachine = SignInVerificationMachine.provide({
 export const SignInSecondFactorMachine = SignInVerificationMachine.provide({
   actors: {
     prepare: fromPromise(({ input }) => {
-      const { params, parent } = input;
+      const { params, parent, resendable } = input;
       const clerk = parent.getSnapshot().context.clerk;
 
+      // If a prepare call has already been fired recently, don't re-send
+      const currentVerificationExpiration = clerk.client.signIn.secondFactorVerification.expireAt;
+      const needsPrepare = resendable || !currentVerificationExpiration || currentVerificationExpiration < new Date();
+
       assertIsDefined(params);
 
-      if (params.strategy !== 'phone_code') {
+      if (params.strategy !== 'phone_code' || !needsPrepare) {
         return Promise.resolve(clerk.client.signIn);
       }