Voice of Warning

In this episode, I discuss the Joseph Smith's First Vision, its theological implications, its complicated history in Mormon thought, and the differences between the four accounts. Thank you for listening, leave me questions, comments, or feedback at vowarning@gmailcom References: Links to the 4 accounts found at https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/primary-accounts-of-first-vision [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/primary-accounts-of-first-vision] Summary of 1837-1838 found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cowdery [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cowdery] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Harris_(Latter_Day_Saints) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Harris_(Latter_Day_Saints)] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtland_Safety_Society [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtland_Safety_Society] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Smith_(Latter_Day_Saints) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Smith_(Latter_Day_Saints)] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_membership_history [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_membership_history] Quote from Heber C. Kimball: Journal of Discourses, vol.6, p.29 Fawn Brodie, No Man Knows My History, New York, 1957, pp.24-25 Gordon B. Hinckley, October Conference, 2002, The Marvelous Foundations of our Faith Joseph F. Smith's influence on First Vision: Bitton, Davis (1994), Historical Dictionary of Mormonism First Vision replaces polygamy: Flake, Kathleen (2004), The Politics of American Religious Identity: The Seating of Senator Reed Smoot, Mormon Apostle Quoted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vision [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vision] LaMar Peterson's story of the 1832 account: https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Question:_Did_Joseph_Fielding_Smith_remove_the_1832_account_of_Joseph_Smith%27s_First_Vision_from_its_original_letterbook_and_hide_it_in_his_safe%3F [https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Question:_Did_Joseph_Fielding_Smith_remove_the_1832_account_of_Joseph_Smith%27s_First_Vision_from_its_original_letterbook_and_hide_it_in_his_safe%3F] No knowledge of earlier accounts until 1965: https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Joseph_Smith%27s_First_Vision/Church_Hides_Accounts_(1984-1989) [https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Joseph_Smith%27s_First_Vision/Church_Hides_Accounts_(1984-1989)] A handy comparison of the visions can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vision [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vision] Grant Palmer, Joseph Smith's Changing View of God https://youtu.be/3KpYoMGCqpE [https://youtu.be/3KpYoMGCqpE] Note: [Grant Palmer is a staunch anti-Mormon. I don’t necessarily agree with his conclusions, but his evidence is well-founded. One exception in this video is his claim that there was no revival in 1820. Michael Quinn and others have shown clearly that there were revivals in Palmyra from 1818-1820. The other is that some conjecture is required in order to conclude that the 1838 First Vision account includes a calling to prophethood; it’s more implied. Besides those two issues, Grant’s evidence is solid, and comes largely from LDS sources.] First Vision was common, not unique: Richard Bushman, Rough Stone Rolling, p. 41 Ann Lee: https://www.learnreligions.com/ann-lee-4694324 [https://www.learnreligions.com/ann-lee-4694324] Joseph joins Methodist church: Newell & Avery, Mormon Enigma, p. 35 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/book-of-mormon-1830/31 [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/book-of-mormon-1830/31] Joseph on plurality of Gods: Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 370

In this first episode, I summarize the meaning and use of scripture, the origins of the Doctrine and Covenants, and then offer my commentary on the verses in section 1. Because it deals with broad introductory questions, this episode will be one of the longer ones. Thank you for listening, leave me questions, comments, or feedback at vowarning@gmailcom References Sacred texts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_text [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_text] Christian canon: Givens, Terryl - Feeding the Flock, p. 259 Gospel Principles Ch. 10: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-10-scriptures?lang=eng [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-10-scriptures?lang=eng] Canonization: Harold B. Lee, "The Place of the Living Prophet, Seer, and Revelator," Address to Seminary and Institute of Religion Faculty, Brigham Young University, 8 July 1964. As quoted in "Section 68 - Scripture Is the Will, Mind, Word, Voice, and Power of God unto Salvation", Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual: Religion 324 and 325 , Church Educational System, LDS Church, 2001 (quoted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_works) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_works)] George Q Canon, Bruce R. McConkie, Wilford Woodruff, and Joseph F. Smith quoted from The Lectures on Faith: A Case Study in Decanonization - Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought Vol. 20, No. 3 (Fall 1987), pp. 71-77 Living prophets' authority: Ezra Taft Benson, Fourteen fundamentals in following the prophet, Feb 26, 1980 Brigham Young on blind obedience: Brigham Young, “Eternal Punishment,” Journal of Discourses, reported by G.D. Watt 12 January 1862, Vol. 9 (London: Latter-Day Saints Book Depot, 1862), 150. Revelation for sphere of calling: 1978-A:38, Henry D. Taylor, Revelation What is revelation: Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 151 Joseph F. Smith on lack of revelations: Reed Smoot Case, Vol. 1, pages 99, 483-484 History of the D&C found in Richard L. Bushman, Rough Stone Rolling, & Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, Vol. 1, The Standard of Truth, Ch. 13. & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctrine_and_Covenants [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctrine_and_Covenants] Hebrew lexicon and concordance can be found at https://www.blueletterbible.org/ [https://www.blueletterbible.org/] Joseph Smith's inspired translation of the Bible can be found at https://scriptures.byu.edu/ [https://scriptures.byu.edu/] Quotation at verses 15-16, "New and Everlasting Covenant": Heber C. Kimball, JD, V 8, pp. 330-331 Quotation at verses 15-16, "Idols": Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 40-1 Quotation at verses 25-28, "Criticism": Dallin H. Oaks, "Reading Church History" https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2355&v=4hAL-qLOISs&feature=youtu.be [https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2355&v=4hAL-qLOISs&feature=youtu.be] Quotation at verse 30, "True and Living Church": 1971–October, Boyd K. Packer, The Only True and Living Church Quotation at verse 32, "more liberal in his views": Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 257 Quotations at verse 38, "by the voice of my servants": 2015-October, Carole M. Stephens, "If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments" & 2014-October, M. Russell Ballard, Stay in the Boat and Hold On! JD 2:220, Heber C. Kimball & Henry B. Eyring, 2018-October, Try, Try, Try

A brief explanation of the Voice of Warning Podcast. Follow along each week as I discuss the reading for Come, Follow Me in 2021.