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Difference between revisions of "Multiple accounts of the First Vision/1835/Mentions "Angels""
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'''ARE THE CAPITALIZED “ANGELS” OF THE 14 NOVEMBER 1835 ACCOUNT A REFERENCE TO DEITY?''' | '''ARE THE CAPITALIZED “ANGELS” OF THE 14 NOVEMBER 1835 ACCOUNT A REFERENCE TO DEITY?''' | ||
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An examination of the adjoining sentences in the 9 November 1835 account reveals that within a very short space Warren Parish thrice used the capitalized word “Angel” to refer to Moroni. Therefore, the capitalized “Angels” of the 14 November 1835 statement (which was also penned by Warren Parish) cannot be applied to Deity with any degree of certainty. | An examination of the adjoining sentences in the 9 November 1835 account reveals that within a very short space Warren Parish thrice used the capitalized word “Angel” to refer to Moroni. Therefore, the capitalized “Angels” of the 14 November 1835 statement (which was also penned by Warren Parish) cannot be applied to Deity with any degree of certainty. | ||
| − | It should also be noted that one of Joseph Smith’s other, contemporaneous scribes ( | + | |
| + | It should also be noted that one of Joseph Smith’s other, contemporaneous scribes (Frederick G. Williams) regularly used the capitalized words “Angel” and “Angels” to refer to celestial beings other than Deity. And on at least one occasion Joseph Smith himself used the capitalized word “Angels” to do the same (see below). | ||
| − | '''31 July 1832''' [handwriting of | + | '''31 July 1832''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] |
| − | :"God is rem[em]bering mercy unto us and making us mighty to the pulling down the strong hold of Satan, having sent down the Angel of God to trouble the waters" | + | :"God is rem[em]bering mercy unto us and making us mighty to the pulling down the strong hold of Satan, having sent down the <font color="red">Angel</font> of God to trouble the waters" |
| − | '''September–November 1832''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | + | '''September–November 1832''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] |
| − | :"seccondly the ministering of Angels" | + | :"seccondly the ministering of <font color="red">Angels</font>" |
'''4 January 1833''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | '''4 January 1833''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | ||
| − | :"The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western Tribes of Indians, having been found through the ministration of an holy Angel translated into our own Language by the gift and power of God" | + | :"The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western Tribes of Indians, having been found through the ministration of an holy <font color="red">Angel</font> translated into our own Language by the gift and power of God" |
'''19 December 1833''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | '''19 December 1833''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | ||
| − | :"This day Bro William Pratt and David Pattin took their Journey to the Land of Zion for the purpose of bearing dispatches to the Brethren in that place from Kirtland 0 may God grant it a blessing for Zion as a kind Angel from heaven Amen" | + | :"This day Bro William Pratt and David Pattin took their Journey to the Land of Zion for the purpose of bearing dispatches to the Brethren in that place from Kirtland 0 may God grant it a blessing for Zion as a kind <font color="red">Angel</font> from heaven Amen" |
'''16 August 1834''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | '''16 August 1834''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | ||
| − | :"was met in the face and eyes as soon as I had got home with a catalogue that was as black as the author himself and the cry was Tyrant,! Pope!! King!!! Usurper!!!! Abuser of men!!!!! Ange[l]!!!!!! False prophet!!!!! Prophecying Lies in the name of the Lord and taking consecrated monies!!!!!!! and every other lie to fill up and complete the cattelogue that was necissary to perfect the Church to be meet for the devourer the shaft of the devouring <destroying> Angel! . . . . when the church lifts up the head the Angel will bring us good tidings even so Amen" | + | :"was met in the face and eyes as soon as I had got home with a catalogue that was as black as the author himself and the cry was Tyrant,! Pope!! King!!! Usurper!!!! Abuser of men!!!!! <font color="red">Ange[l]</font>!!!!!! False prophet!!!!! Prophecying Lies in the name of the Lord and taking consecrated monies!!!!!!! and every other lie to fill up and complete the cattelogue that was necissary to perfect the Church to be meet for the devourer the shaft of the devouring <destroying> <font color="red">Angel</font>! . . . . when the church lifts up the head the <font color="red">Angel</font> will bring us good tidings even so Amen" |
'''7 October 1835''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | '''7 October 1835''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | ||
| − | :"according to the measure that he meeteth out with a liberal hand unto the poor so shall it be measured to him again by the hand of his God even an hundred fold Angels shall guard <his> house and shall guard the lives of his posterity" | + | :"according to the measure that he meeteth out with a liberal hand unto the poor so shall it be measured to him again by the hand of his God even an hundred fold <font color="red">Angels</font> shall guard <his> house and shall guard the lives of his posterity" |
'''29 October 1835''' [handwriting of Warren Parish] | '''29 October 1835''' [handwriting of Warren Parish] | ||
| − | :"I then set down and taught <related to> them the history of the coming forth of the book the administration of the Angel to me" | + | :"I then set down and taught <related to> them the history of the coming forth of the book the administration of the <font color="red">Angel</font> to me" |
'''9 November 1835''' [handwriting of Warren Parish] | '''9 November 1835''' [handwriting of Warren Parish] | ||
| − | :"I saw many angels in this vision. I was about 14 years old when I received this first communication; When I was about 17 years old I saw another vision of angels in the night season . . . . an angel appeared before me . . . . the angel appeard to me again . . . . the Angel came to me again and commanded me to go and tell my Father, what I had seen and heard, I did so, he wept and told me that it was a vision from God to attend to it I went and found the place, where the plates were, according to the direction of the Angel, also saw them, and the angel as before; the powers of darkness strove hard against me. I called on God, the Angel told me that the reason why I could not obtain the plates at this time was because I was under transgression" | + | :"I saw many <font color="red">angels</font> in this vision. I was about 14 years old when I received this first communication; When I was about 17 years old I saw another vision of <font color="red">angels</font> in the night season . . . . an <font color="red">angel</font> appeared before me . . . . the <font color="red">angel</font> appeard to me again . . . . the <font color="red">Angel</font> came to me again and commanded me to go and tell my Father, what I had seen and heard, I did so, he wept and told me that it was a vision from God to attend to it I went and found the place, where the plates were, according to the direction of the <font color="red">Angel</font>, also saw them, and the <font color="red">angel</font> as before; the powers of darkness strove hard against me. I called on God, the <font color="red">Angel</font> told me that the reason why I could not obtain the plates at this time was because I was under transgression" |
'''14 November 1835''' [handwriting of Warren Parish] | '''14 November 1835''' [handwriting of Warren Parish] | ||
| − | :"I received the first visitation of Angels which was when I was about 14. years old" | + | :"I received the first visitation of <font color="red">Angels</font> which was when I was about 14. years old" |
'''16 November 1835''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | '''16 November 1835''' [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams] | ||
| − | :"O ye Angels! that surround the throne, <of God> Princes of heaven, that excell in strength, ye who are clothed with transcendant brightness" | + | :"O ye <font color="red">Angels</font>! that surround the throne, <of God> Princes of heaven, that excell in strength, ye who are clothed with transcendant brightness" |
'''29 March 1838''' [handwriting of George W. Robinson] | '''29 March 1838''' [handwriting of George W. Robinson] | ||
| − | :"chariot of fire came and near the place and the Angel of the Lord put forth his hand unto Br. Marks & said unto him thou art my son come here" | + | :"chariot of fire came and near the place and the <font color="red">Angel</font> of the Lord put forth his hand unto Br. Marks & said unto him thou art my son come here" |
'''2 May 1838''' [handwriting of James Mullholland] | '''2 May 1838''' [handwriting of James Mullholland] | ||
| − | :"I answered that an Angel of God had revealed it unto him. He then said to me, let me see that certificate" | + | :"I answered that an <font color="red">Angel</font> of God had revealed it unto him. He then said to me, let me see that certificate" |
'''21 March 1839''' [handwriting of Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin] | '''21 March 1839''' [handwriting of Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin] | ||
| − | :"which our fathers have wa[i]ted with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times which their minds were pointed to by the Angels as held in reserve for the fullness of their glory" | + | :"which our fathers have wa[i]ted with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times which their minds were pointed to by the <font color="red">Angels</font> as held in reserve for the fullness of their glory" |
'''4 April 1839''' [handwriting of Joseph Smith] | '''4 April 1839''' [handwriting of Joseph Smith] | ||
| − | :"With immotions known only to God, do I write this letter, the contemplations, of the mind under these circumstances, defies the pen, or tounge, or Angels, to discribe, or paint, to the human | + | :"With immotions known only to God, do I write this letter, the contemplations, of the mind under these circumstances, defies the pen, or tounge, or <font color="red">Angels</font>, to discribe, or paint, to the human mind" |
'''16, 23 August 1842''' [handwriting of William Clayton] | '''16, 23 August 1842''' [handwriting of William Clayton] | ||
| − | :"I say it by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, and by the ministering of Holy Angels, and by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. . . . sound of the Arch-Angels trump" | + | :"I say it by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, and by the ministering of Holy <font color="red">Angels</font>, and by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. . . . sound of the Arch-<font color="red">Angels</font> trump" |
Revision as of 13:46, 16 April 2007
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Contents
Criticism
The Tanners claim that this statement contradicts Joseph Smith’s teaching that the Father and Son appeared to him in the First Vision. They also claim that the later version in the History of the Church has been “falsified.” Furthermore, they state: “The fact that Mormon historians had to make such a serious change in Joseph Smith’s History after his death tends further to weaken the case for the first vision.”
Source(s) of the criticism
Tanner and Tanner, Changing World of Mormonism, 156-59.
Response
- Joseph Smith diary, 14 November 1835, p. 37.
- Manuscript History, Book B-1, p. 642.
- “This afternoon, Erastus Holmes, of Newbury, Ohio, called on me to inquire about the establishment of the church, and to be instructed in doctrine more perfectly. I gave him a brief relation of my experience while in my juvenile years, say from six years old up to the time I received the first visitation of angels, which was when I was about fourteen years old; also the revelations that I received afterwards concerning the Book of Mormon, and a short account of the rise and progress of the church up to this date” (Deseret News, vol. 2, no. 15, 29 May 1852).
- (History of the Church, 2:312).
ARE THE CAPITALIZED “ANGELS” OF THE 14 NOVEMBER 1835 ACCOUNT A REFERENCE TO DEITY?
The documentary evidence does not support such a conclusion. Warren Parish was the scribe for the 14 November 1835 account. In that text he reported the Prophet as saying, “I received the first visitation of Angels which was when I was about 14 years old.” Warren Parish was also the scribe for the earlier 9 November 1835 account. There he reported the Prophet as saying that during his “first” communication from heaven he “saw many angels” and was “about 14 years old” when it took place. The matching context of the remarks (and the very close proximity in time for when they were both recorded) implies a matching interpretation – i.e., Joseph Smith was first visited by angels during his First Vision experience and these angels were separate and distinct from the two deified Personages who were also present.
An examination of the adjoining sentences in the 9 November 1835 account reveals that within a very short space Warren Parish thrice used the capitalized word “Angel” to refer to Moroni. Therefore, the capitalized “Angels” of the 14 November 1835 statement (which was also penned by Warren Parish) cannot be applied to Deity with any degree of certainty.
It should also be noted that one of Joseph Smith’s other, contemporaneous scribes (Frederick G. Williams) regularly used the capitalized words “Angel” and “Angels” to refer to celestial beings other than Deity. And on at least one occasion Joseph Smith himself used the capitalized word “Angels” to do the same (see below).
31 July 1832 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
- "God is rem[em]bering mercy unto us and making us mighty to the pulling down the strong hold of Satan, having sent down the Angel of God to trouble the waters"
September–November 1832 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
- "seccondly the ministering of Angels"
4 January 1833 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
- "The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western Tribes of Indians, having been found through the ministration of an holy Angel translated into our own Language by the gift and power of God"
19 December 1833 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
- "This day Bro William Pratt and David Pattin took their Journey to the Land of Zion for the purpose of bearing dispatches to the Brethren in that place from Kirtland 0 may God grant it a blessing for Zion as a kind Angel from heaven Amen"
16 August 1834 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
- "was met in the face and eyes as soon as I had got home with a catalogue that was as black as the author himself and the cry was Tyrant,! Pope!! King!!! Usurper!!!! Abuser of men!!!!! Ange[l]!!!!!! False prophet!!!!! Prophecying Lies in the name of the Lord and taking consecrated monies!!!!!!! and every other lie to fill up and complete the cattelogue that was necissary to perfect the Church to be meet for the devourer the shaft of the devouring <destroying> Angel! . . . . when the church lifts up the head the Angel will bring us good tidings even so Amen"
7 October 1835 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
- "according to the measure that he meeteth out with a liberal hand unto the poor so shall it be measured to him again by the hand of his God even an hundred fold Angels shall guard <his> house and shall guard the lives of his posterity"
29 October 1835 [handwriting of Warren Parish]
- "I then set down and taught <related to> them the history of the coming forth of the book the administration of the Angel to me"
9 November 1835 [handwriting of Warren Parish]
- "I saw many angels in this vision. I was about 14 years old when I received this first communication; When I was about 17 years old I saw another vision of angels in the night season . . . . an angel appeared before me . . . . the angel appeard to me again . . . . the Angel came to me again and commanded me to go and tell my Father, what I had seen and heard, I did so, he wept and told me that it was a vision from God to attend to it I went and found the place, where the plates were, according to the direction of the Angel, also saw them, and the angel as before; the powers of darkness strove hard against me. I called on God, the Angel told me that the reason why I could not obtain the plates at this time was because I was under transgression"
14 November 1835 [handwriting of Warren Parish]
- "I received the first visitation of Angels which was when I was about 14. years old"
16 November 1835 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
- "O ye Angels! that surround the throne, <of God> Princes of heaven, that excell in strength, ye who are clothed with transcendant brightness"
29 March 1838 [handwriting of George W. Robinson]
- "chariot of fire came and near the place and the Angel of the Lord put forth his hand unto Br. Marks & said unto him thou art my son come here"
2 May 1838 [handwriting of James Mullholland]
- "I answered that an Angel of God had revealed it unto him. He then said to me, let me see that certificate"
21 March 1839 [handwriting of Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin]
- "which our fathers have wa[i]ted with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times which their minds were pointed to by the Angels as held in reserve for the fullness of their glory"
4 April 1839 [handwriting of Joseph Smith]
- "With immotions known only to God, do I write this letter, the contemplations, of the mind under these circumstances, defies the pen, or tounge, or Angels, to discribe, or paint, to the human mind"
16, 23 August 1842 [handwriting of William Clayton]
- "I say it by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, and by the ministering of Holy Angels, and by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. . . . sound of the Arch-Angels trump"
Conclusion
Endnotes
None
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide: