Plan of salvation vision / D&C 76

[LostGirl]

Does anyone have any interesting information about the kindgoms of glory vision that I can read instead of gritting my teeth through Sunday School? I have been surviving SS by digging out academic and historical articles about the topic each week. Haven't found anything juicy for.this week yet.

[Hagoth]

A couple of thoughts.

This section gives us one of the most famous quotes of Mormondom:

22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! 23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

We often hear this quote as a stand-alone statement that gives the impression that it's talking about a physical visitation, but nothing could be further from the truth. This vision came to two guys sitting in a room surrounded by about a dozen other people who saw and heard nothing, so it is a great example of what Joseph's revelatory experience was like. Visions were seen mentally, through spiritual eyes and were carefully guided by Joseph when others were included. This is something to keep in mind when we read Section 110 where Joseph and Oliver saw Jesus, Elijah, Elias(?!) and Moses in the Kirtland Temple, while just on the other side of a curtain from the congregation. That chapter begins with "The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened."

Here's description from one of the witnesses, John Johnson, about how the vision unfolded. While you're reading this you might also wonder if the similar method was followed when the Three Witnesses saw the plates and angel.

“Joseph would, at intervals, say: ‘What do I see?’ as one might say while looking out the window and beholding what all in the room could not see. Then he would relate what he had seen or what he was looking at. Then Sidney replied, ‘I see the same.’ Presently Sidney would say ‘what do I see?’ and would repeat what he had seen or was seeing, and Joseph would reply, ‘I see the same.’

“This manner of conversation was reported at short intervals to the end of the vision, and during the whole time not a word was spoken by any other person. Not a sound nor motion made by anyone but Joseph and Sidney, and it seemed to me that they never moved a joint or limb during the time I was there, which I think was over an hour, and to the end of the vision.

“Joseph sat firmly and calmly all the time in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limber as a rag, observing which, Joseph remarked, smilingly, ‘Sidney is not used to it as I am.’” (Juvenile Instructor, May 1892, pp. 303–4.)

I have heard the last part of this story repeated many times as a faith promoter, but you might also read it as an illustration that Joseph was better at coming up with stuff out of thin air, while Sydney was really struggling to keep up with Joseph and make a good showing for the people around him.

Another interesting thing to consider is that when you read the D&C version of this vision you see that they have completely removed the guided seance-like format of it, which makes it sound like a very different type of event than what the witnesses reported. When you read the witness accounts it kind of feels like two guys riffing on each other's brainstorming session, almost as if they're challenging each other to "top that!" Of course, we can't also rule out the possibility that this was an entirely rehearsed performance, but I like to think it was more sincere than that.

One more thing I take away from this is that, although it is a pretty long section, it still only takes 10 minutes at most to read aloud. Johnson's account says the event took over an hour, so you can't help but wonder what else was going on. Was Joseph prompting Sydney? What was edited out? Who said what? For all we know, Sidney said a bunch of wacky stuff that didn't fit Joseph's intention for this vision and it all got edited out.

[LostGirl]

Thanks hagoth. I thought the same thing:

Another interesting thing to consider is that when you read the D&C version of this vision you see that they have completely removed the guided seance-like format of it, which makes it sound like a very different type of event than what the witnesses reported

I wondered if there are/were any transcripts of the whole thing? If not, where did the current revelation come from? Was it remembered word for word after the fact? What a shame this all happened before audio/video recording could have captured it for posterity

[Charlotte]

Others, please correct anything I'm mistating. I think BY recorded in his journal that he had a very hard time accepting the vision. It was called The Vision, and that's why the Sacred Grove story was eventually labeled First Vision - to distinguish itself from the already more widely known and discussed Sec. 76 material.

[LostGirl]

Yes I also read that BY had a hard time with it, as did many others. The accepted answer seems to be that it was because it was so different to the prior beliefs about heaven and hell.

I also find it interesting that hardly anyone was talking about the FV at the time but this was widely discussed as "The Vision".

[Mormorrisey]

One of the more interesting classes I took in grad school was a transatlantic history of religion in the 19th century. I wrote a paper on the theories of Emanuel Swedenborg, and he had a vision of the afterlife that was very similar to the three degrees vision, and also believed in marriages and families that survived death. At the time, I thought it was wonderful that God revealed such things to more people than Joseph Smith. I now have a different vision, especially as Swedenborg's writings came first - it wouldn't be the first time JS was accused of plagiarism, no?

In any event, I don't know if you have the time, but check Swedenborg out. A fascinating character.

[Hagoth]

Joseph was familiar with Swedenborg. His criticism of him was, "Emanuel Swedenborg had a view of the world to come, but for daily food he perished."