View source for Question: Does Doctrine and Covenants 84 say that one cannot see God without holding the priesthood?

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|L=Question: Does Doctrine and Covenants 84 say that one cannot see God without holding the priesthood?
|H=Question: Does Doctrine and Covenants 84 say that one cannot see God without holding the priesthood?
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|L1=This argument is fatally flawed by an improper interpretation of D&C 84:21-22 and also by not taking into account additional texts that were produced by Joseph Smith
|L2=The word "this" in verse 22 does not refer to the Melchizedek Priesthood, but rather to "the power of godliness"
|L3=Moses was transfigured in order that he could see God and endure his presence
|L4=Joseph Smith recorded that he was "filled with the Spirit of God" during the First Vision
|L5=In the Charles Walker account of the First Vision, it is indicated that Jesus touched Joseph's eyes in order for him to be able to see him
|L6=In three of the Prophet's retellings of the First Vision story he mentions that he too lost his strength and fell to the earth
|L7=Some early Christian authors saw things in the same way as Joseph
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==Question: Does Doctrine and Covenants 84 say that one cannot see God without holding the priesthood?==
===This argument is fatally flawed by an improper interpretation of D&C 84:21-22 and also by not taking into account additional texts that were produced by Joseph Smith===

Joseph Smith claimed that he saw God in 1820 and also claimed that he received the priesthood in 1829. However, in a text which he produced in 1832 ({{s||D&C|84|21-22}}) it is said that a person cannot see God without holding the priesthood. Some have misinterpreted section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants in an effort to destroy the testimony of Joseph Smith with regard to the reality of the First Vision. Their effort fails when the text is seen in its proper context and then compared with other writings that were prepared by the Prophet.

When D&C 84:21-22 is analyzed in context then an interpretation emerges that does not support the one proposed by the Prophet's critics. The relevant words read: 

<blockquote>
19 "And this greater [i.e., Melchizedek] priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. 

20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, '''the power of godliness''' is manifest. 

21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, '''the power of godliness''' is not manifest unto men in the flesh; 

22 For without '''this''' no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live."
</blockquote>

===The word "this" in verse 22 does not refer to the Melchizedek Priesthood, but rather to "the power of godliness"===

The word "this" in verse 22 does not refer to the Melchizedek Priesthood, but rather to "the power of godliness." <ref>{{Book:Robinson Garret:Commentary on the D&C:3|pages=32-33}}</ref> One of the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood is the bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (see {{s||D&C|49|14}}). As the Lord explained in an 1831 revelation, "no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God" ({{s||D&C|67|11}}). 

===Moses was transfigured in order that he could see God and endure his presence===

An example of this happening is seen in the ''Pearl of Great Price'' where it is recorded that Moses "saw God face to face, and he talked with Him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure His presence" ({{s||Moses|1|2}}). Moses confirmed that it was because he was transfigured by the glory of God that he did not die when he saw the Lord's face while in mortality (see {{s||Moses|1|11}}). The Lord verified to Moses in yet another text that sinful mortals cannot see His face and live (see [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/jst/16 JST Exodus 33:20]). 

===Joseph Smith recorded that he was "filled with the Spirit of God" during the First Vision===

This brings us to the case of Joseph Smith in 1820. In the earliest known account of this heavenly manifestation (written in 1832 - the same year as D&C 84) the Prophet made note of the fact that when the experience began a pillar of fire rested down upon him and he was "filled with the Spirit of God." Once the heavens were opened the Savior appeared and said, "Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee." The Redeemer tied these elements together in a Book of Mormon passage where He informed a multitude of His disciples that certain persons would be "visited with '''fire''' and with '''the Holy Ghost''', and shall receive a '''remission of their sins''' ({{s|3|Nephi|12|2}}). Since the Prophet's experience followed the same pattern, it is reasonable to believe that this is what happened to him in the Sacred Grove.

There are two further pieces of evidence pointing to the conclusion that Joseph Smith was transfigured during the First Vision event. First, there is Orson Pratt's 1840 recounting of the incident wherein he relates that the pillar of fire or light "continued descending slowly, until it rested upon the earth, and [Joseph Smith] was enveloped in the midst of it. When it first came upon him, it produced a peculiar sensation throughout his whole system." <ref>{{Book:Pratt:An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions|pages=5}}</ref> Joseph noticed that there was some sort of change wrought upon his body and it was of an extraordinary nature&mdash;something he was apparently not accustomed to. Second, we find a parallel between what happened to Moses after his transfiguration and that which happened to young Joseph after his theophany ended. In Moses chapter 1 we read: 

<blockquote>
9 "And the presence of God withdrew from Moses, that His glory was not upon Moses; and Moses was left unto himself. And as he was left unto himself, he fell unto the earth. [10] And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man."({{s||Moses|1|9-10}})
</blockquote>

===In the Charles Walker account of the First Vision, it is indicated that Jesus touched Joseph's eyes in order for him to be able to see him===

''Diary of Charles Lowell Walker'', as told by John Alger:
<blockquote>
2nd Feb Thurs [1893] Cold and chilly. Attended Fast Meeting.... Br John Alger said while speaking of the Prophet Joseph, that when he, John, was a small boy he heard the Prophet Joseph relate his vision of seeing The Father and the Son, That God touched his eyes with his finger and said “Jospeh this is my beloved Son hear him.” As soon as the Lord had touched his eyes with his finger he immediately saw the Savior. After meeting, a few of us questioned him about the matter and he told us at the bottom of the meeting house steps that he was in the House of Father Smith in Kirtland when Joseph made this declaration, and that Joseph while speaking of it put his finger to his right eye, suiting the action with the words so as to illustrate and at the same time impress the occurence on the minds of those unto whom He was speaking. We enjoyed the conversation very much, as it was something that we had never seen in church history or heard of before.<ref>Karl Larson and Katharine Miles Larson, eds., ''Diary of Charles Lowell Walker'' (Logan, UT: Utah State University Press, 1980), 2:755–56 [recorded 2 February 1893]</ref>
</blockquote>

===In three of the Prophet's retellings of the First Vision story he mentions that he too lost his strength and fell to the earth===

;1838 Main Text and Note B
:"When I came to myself again I found myself lying on my back looking up into heaven; When the light had departed I had no strength, but soon recover[ed] in some degree."

;1843 David N. White Interview
:"when I came to myself, I was sprawling on my back and it was some time before my strength returned."

;1844 Alexander Neibaur Diary
:"I endeavored to arise but felt uncom[monly] feeble."

===Some early Christian authors saw things in the same way as Joseph===

For example, in an early Christian document called the ''Clementine Homilies'' the apostle Peter is portrayed as agreeing:
<blockquote>
For I maintain that the eyes of mortals cannot see the incorporeal form of the Father or Son, because it is illumined by exceeding great light. . . . For he who sees God cannot live. For the excess of light dissolves the flesh of him who sees; unless by the secret power of God the flesh be changed into the nature of light, so that it can see light.<ref>{{Anf1|author=Apostle Peter (claimed)|article=Clementine Homilies|citation=17:16|vol=8|start=322|end=323}}</ref>
</blockquote>
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{{Critical sources box:Joseph Smith's First Vision/Doctrine and Covenants 84 says God not seen without priesthood/CriticalSources}}
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[[Category:Becoming Gods]]
[[Category:MormonThink]]
[[Category:The Changing World of Mormonism]]
[[Category:Questions All Mormons Should Ask Themselves]]

[[de:Frage: Lehre und Bündnisse 84 sagt: niemand kann Gott sehen ohne Priestertum?]]
[[es:Pregunta: ¿La Doctrina y Convenios Sección 84 dice que uno no puede ver a Dios sin tener el sacerdocio?]]
[[fi:Kysymys: OL 84 sanoo, että Jumalaa ei voi nähdä ilman pappeutta?]]
[[pt:Pergunta: Doutrina e Convênios 84 dizer que não se pode ver Deus sem possuir o sacerdócio?]]
[[Category:Questions]]