Quote:
Originally Posted by Aesa
Tell you what if Jesus Christ visited me, I'd be out on the streets preaching Jesus Christ everyday. And I'd probably write about it the second I had the chance.
I'm sure you're aware that the 1838 account is the canonised one.
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What if the Lord has commanded you to not reveal it just yet and the time is not right.>? I have had many deep spiritual experiences some I do not share because they are for me alone and others I share in an edited form because much of the experience is very personal, but some of it is relevant to others.
As I understand it the 1832 account was his personal account in his diary and he recorded very personal journey of repentance. This in my opinion was not necessary to be canonised as the more powerful journey of Enos is already in there
[T]he Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in <the> attitude of calling upon the Lord <in the 16th year of my age> a pillar of fire light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the <Lord> opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph <my son> thy sins are forgiven thee. go thy <way> walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucifyed for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life <behold> the world lieth in sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned aside from the gospel and keep not <my> commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them according to th[e]ir ungodliness and to bring to pass that which <hath> been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and Ap[o]stles behold and lo I come quickly as it [is] written of me in the cloud <clothed> in the glory of my Father . .
Actually reading it I am not entirely sure this is the same vision it seems to have happened later. What does anyone else think? In which case this one is personal.
As I understand it this is the only version that was not written by someone else so the others were secondhand information like the Gospels. The 1838 version was first published in England in 1840, and in the United States in 1842. For whatever reason it was not deemed necessary for Latter Day Saints before that time to be fully aware of the First Vision, which indicates to me the version we have canonised is what the Lord has commanded we need to know.
I personally believe that the Bible contains real stories but they are edited and told in such a way as to teach us deeper meaning and symbolism. I should imagine the rest of the Standard Works are the same.
-Charley