Controversy Concerning D&C 121:28

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Criticism

In 1839 Joseph Smith received a revelation from God in which it was stated that the time would come "in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods they shall be manifest" (D&C 121:28). This was an "unnecessary revelation," since according to the official LDS Church First Vision account Joseph Smith supposedly knew that there was more than one God since 1820. This information counts as evidence that the Prophet's story was fraudulent.

Source(s) of the criticism

• Christian Research and Counsel, “Documented History of Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” full-color pamphlet, 10 pages. [There is a notation within this pamphlet indicating that research and portions of text were garnered from Utah Lighthouse Ministry]

Response

This is truly one of the strangest accusations that has ever been made against the veracity of the First Vision story.

A study of the origin of D&C 121 reveals that it consists exclusively of five widely-separated, but sequential, extracts from two letters written by Joseph Smith and others between the 20th and 25th of March 1839 (while they were imprisoned in Liberty, Missouri). The extracts run as follows:

D&C 121:1-6

D&C 121:7-25

D&C 121:26-32

D&C 121:33

D&C 121:34-46

The comment about "one God or many gods" is found in extract #3.

Anyone who will read the original letter from whence this extract was taken (the first letter / see Jesee, ed., Personal Writings of Joseph Smith) will quickly discover that the comment about "one God or many gods" is NOT part of a revelation from the Lord -- but is rather part of comments being made by Joseph Smith.

A careful reading of the first letter also reveals that references are made to all three members of the Godhead:

• "God the father"
• "our Lord and savior Jesus Christ"
• "the holy Ghost"

Conclusion

This anti-Mormon argument against the First Vision is built upon a false premise; the material being used as the weapon has been misidentified (it is NOT a revelation from the Lord).

Endnotes

None

Further reading

FAIR web site

• FAIR Topical Guide: