Today I read the third part of the Joseph Smith History, from verses 27 - 54. In this section, Joseph has his famous interview with Moroni and learns of the Book of Mormon and the Nephites for the first time. Everytime I read this, I smile at the innocence of children. And while Joseph was 17 the first time this vision took place, he was still very much a child in many regards. He states that he prayed fulling intending to receive another vision since it had happened the first time.
And he was not disappointed. After he prayed he had a visit from a heavenly messenger, a resurrected being named Moroni who lived around 360 AD and the last known record we have of him being around 421 AD. Just as had happened with the First Vision, the first thing Joseph noticed was light appearing in the room. He also gives us a very detailed description of Moroni's clothing and lets us know that he has a body of flesh and bone as he could see his feet, hands, and chest.
I wonder what went through Joseph's mind as he listened to Moroni's message? He tells Joseph, who is only 17 years old, that his name will be had for good and ill among all nations. For most 17 year olds that would go straight to their head. But Joseph is of course not a normal seventeen year old. Although he tells us in this section that he was normal as far as levity and rambunctiousness is concerned. I suspect it was not really all that serious, more just kids being kids than anything, but Joseph was concerned enough to find out his standing before the Lord and also wanting to know what he should be doing.
I've often found it interesting that opponents of Joseph Smith cite this story of the angel Moroni and the First Vision as proving that Joseph Smith was a liar. They will point out that there are 4 different versions of the First Vision story and they are all different. Or they will point out key differences between Joseph's telling of Moroni's visit compared to his mother's version of it. I usually have a hard time not laughing at such people outright that their argument is essentially someone telling a story, even a true one, didn't tell it the same way every time. Generally when this happens, I am able to compose myself and I ask them a question. Have you ever told a story to someone? Have you ever told that same story to a different person, even just a few minutes later? Did you include every single detail in both tellings? Did you add some details and remove some others depending on your audience? How about years later? Did you tell the story the same way you first told it, 20 years later? Did you remember very single detail then? If they are humble enough that will usually get them thinking about it and perhaps open them up to other possibilities than Joseph was lying. Unfortunately usually the people are too stubborn to actually listen to what I say about it.
I'm also impressed in this story, as well as the whole of Joseph's history, by his family, particularly his father. With so many other people disbelieving him and his story of what happened to him, Joseph must have taken great comfort in the fact that his family never doubted him. His parents were particularly supportive of him and the visions he had. Now, I do not doubt for a moment that when Moroni told Joseph to go tell his father what had happened that Joseph went right to his dad and did not hesitate to follow the command of an angel, but I do wonder what Joseph must have thought as he walked back to his father to tell him.
As we well know, Joseph saw the plates later that same day, but was not permitted to take them because he was not ready. In most versions it is because his mind was not yet wholly on the glory of God and he allowed himself to be distracted. In other versions it just says Moroni told him that the time had not yet come for him to receive the plates. Regardless, Joseph would not receive the plates for another 4 years, but we know that Moroni taught him many things about the Gospel and about the Nephites in those 4 years that he then passed along and taught his family, including his brother Alvin who would die before Joseph actually received the plates.
Those must have been very interesting times for Joseph and his family and it is something I can't wait to talk to him about when I meet him some day. What ever the nitty gritty details of how it all happened, I am extremely grateful it did and that we have the Book of Mormon today and the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope that is what you find most important too. Until tomorrow.
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