First Vision Council

In this brief paper we'll discover that God and Christ were not the only divine beings present at the First Vision and clues left by Joseph Smith point us to a more ancient Old Testament-mode Prophetic Call or Divine Assembly where the plans and purposes of the Almighty were discussed and resolved.

The First Vision (ie Visitation) may be more accurately called a Divine Council or Divine Assembly of the Godhead on earth where a young Joseph Smith played a central and integral role as testator and mortal witness of God and Christ.

By considering all versions of the First Vision as well as taking cues from ancient council motifs including the calling of the prophet Lehi and other Old Testament prophets this brief paper should not distract from what we already know of the First Vision but rather expand and reveal dormant or hidden insights to bolster and amplify the calling and import of the prophet Joseph Smith.

"..a pillar of fire light appeared above my head, it presently rested down upon me head, and filled me with Joy unspeakable, a personage appeard in the midst of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeard like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testifyed unto me that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; and I saw many angels in this vision I was about 14 years old when I received this first communication.." Joseph Smith, November 9, 1835

"I commenced and gave him a brief relation of my experience while in my juvenile years, say from 6 years old up to the time I received the first visitation of Angels which was when I was about 14." Joseph Smith, November 14, 1835

The earliest recitations of the First Vision come into clearer focus when one realizes Joseph is still determining exactly what elements of this most sacred event he is allowed or even willing to share with others. While Joseph certainly mentions deity the presence of other personages or "angels" indicates that potentially more is going on than is generally acknowledged.

In fact, Joseph Smith never referred to what we now call the "First Vision" by that name. Instead, he referred to it as the "first visitation of angels" or the "first communication" a critical point when considering a Divine Council motif.

The sequence of events appears to be that Joseph saw and spoke to God and Christ and then: "the [Lord] opened the heavens upon me". It seems after the initial introductions and instruction the vision became much more expansive and the "heavens were opened".

• "and there were many things which transpired that cannot be written" - 1832


• "I saw many angels in this vision" - 1835


• "and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time" - 1839

Council of Gods before the Deluge. (click for larger)

Engraving by Virgil Solis for Ovid's Metamorphoses Book I, 162-208.

Before significant events take place on earth the Gods convene a grand council, assembly or "sod" where "..there is deliberation about the concerns of his government; important questions are agitated and decided.." (Albert Barnes)

Such imagery may assist in recognizing the expansive nature of the First Vision event as we begin to transition from the solitary deities of God and Christ to a more open Divine Council. This may help get us closer to understanding what Joseph meant when he said in the 1832 First Vision version that the Lord "opened the heavens upon me".

A closer look at the phrase "I saw many angels" reveals the following:

"many" as defined by the 1828 Webster's dictionary: 1. Numerous; comprising a great number of individuals.

"numerous" as defined by the 1828 Webster's dictionary: 1. Being many, or consisting of a great number of individuals; as a numerous army; a numerous body; a numerous people.

Taking it a little further, synonyms for the phrase "great number" include: horde, legion, throng, army etc.

This is admittedly an elementary exercise (but worth it for clarity) and while it's impractical to infer a specific number, it would appear based on the above definitions we're at least approaching the size of an average church congregation in attendance at the First Vision and that's on the low end. The next relevant number might be the size of a multi-stake conference. However, the definitions give us leeway to picture an even larger gathering if we're more liberal-minded with the numbers.

The Council of The Gods (click for larger)

Loggia di Psiche, ceiling fresco by Raffael and his school. Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy. Council imagery depicted in art and mythology, Frescoe based on the myth of eros and psyche.

When all accounts of the First Vision are considered it is clear that God and Christ were not alone and the view of a lone Father and Son while effective is decidedly incomplete.

Rather than Joseph's description of "many angels" in the earliest recitals and then transitioning to God and Christ in later recitals and that being a modification or embellishment, we discover that in reality Joseph held back many details from public view even with the 1838 'official' version and the prophet wasn't speaking lightly when he said many things transpired and were said that he could not reveal.

The mechanics of the first vision as described by Joseph lend historical and scriptural authenticity to the event where two key elements stand out consistently through all versions:

• A brilliant robe or pillar of light surrounding the presence of God descends slowly or gradually


• Joseph is unable to see the source of the light until he is fully enveloped within it

Early Hebrews and Christians believed that before one can see God they must penetrate the dense veil of light that surrounds him. This ancient belief, called the "Kabod" or "Glory of God" in Old Testament times stresses that God's physical form is surrounded by a brilliant robe of light and is thought to be a "visible manifestation" of the physical presence of God.

It is this light as described by Joseph and the method of its conveyance that lends authenticity to the account as it is unlikely that 14 year old Joseph would be able to richly and accurately describe the unfamiliar Kabod in such detail, (God descending in magnificent glory and light) if he was not eye-witness to an actual event - a dramatic event that was certainly beyond the power of human art to counterfeit in the early 19th century either mechanically or via mental ingenuity.

As the light rested upon Joseph he was then enveloped within (or allowed inside of) the Kabod and it was then and only then that he was able to see God, Christ and the full congregation of those assembled for the council - an important function or operational rubric of the Kabod that is likely to be known only via direct experience with it.

The Kabod is such that outside observers would only see a brilliant light but no personages or sources of that light. Being permitted inside the Kabod would be literally entering a different realm.

During the First Vision Council Joseph received guidance, counsel and instruction as to how the kingdom of God would emerge in this dispensation with his role as testator coming more into focus.

As such, it is almost certain that Joseph was invited by Christ to see and feel the wounds of crucifixion, the nail prints in his hands and feet and thereby was able to fulfill his role as Testator on earth.

Christ showing the wounds of crucifixion to the apostles. (click for larger)

We may rightly surmise that Joseph had such a physical witness since we know that the resurrected Christ made a specific point to show the prints of the nails in his hands to the apostles at Jerusalem as well as to Thomas on a separate occasion and to those in the western hemisphere where the entire multitude went forth:

"..and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet.."

This behavior seems to be a significant part of the personality of Christ and a common manifestation of his divinity to those he comes in personal contact with as occasion permits.

However, the highly personal nature and the sacredness of such an event would certainly preclude its telling to the general populace.

As the pre-earth Testator it was proper, right and necessary that Joseph be part of the Divine Council.

It is viewed by some that the First Vision was anticipated on both sides of the veil and therefore attended and witnessed by thousands if not hundreds of thousands in the vein of the Old Testament council visions wherein "numberless concourses of angels" are present.

Joseph Ordained as a Seer
It should be noted that during the council Joseph Smith was called as a Seer and to facilitate such a calling he was given a white seer stone at some point during the council proceedings - this is how Joseph obtained his first seer stone - ie directly under the direction of deity, the white seer stone is prepared by God to assist in obtaining revelation and translating languages. "To him that overcometh will I give a white stone" Rev. 2:17. "The white stone mentioned in Rev 2:17 will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one..." D&C 130:10.

As a Seer, Joseph had one of the attributes of deity: the "all seeing eye"

If you doubt this, there are accounts of Joseph having a white seer stone by age 16 and this is not something that you just stumble upon - this ability is bestowed by deity, often personally, as it was with Abraham.

We'll conclude this brief paper with a quick summary of what we've explored:

• The First Vision should be more accurately termed the "First Visitation"


• The First Visitation was far more expansive than generally understood


• When considering ALL versions or 'tellings' of the First Vision we start to see more of a Divine Assembly unfold


• We may confidently begin to transition from a First Vision view of solitary deities of God and Christ to a more open Divine Council


• The First Visitation follows an ancient council motif as noted at the calling of the prophet Lehi and other OT prophets


• When God the Father visits this earth His physical form is surrounded by a brilliant robe of light


• The brilliant robe of light was known anciently as the 'Kabod' or 'Glory of God'


• It is unlikely that 14 year old Joseph would be able to accurately describe the appearance and function of the Kabod without being an eye-witness


• Joseph Smith was an integral part of the First Vision Council


• Joseph personally felt the wounds of crucifixion of Jesus Christ


• Joseph continues his Testator work on earth as a visual and physical witness of God and Christ
  
  
• Joseph was ordained a Seer for this dispensation


• Joseph was given a white stone at some point during the council


• As a Seer Joseph had one of the attributes of deity: the "all seeing eye" and as such was prepared to translate the Book of Mormon when the time came

With the extant sources of the First Vision we can be sure God and Christ were not alone - that approach to the text is self-evident and indubitable. From there it's a small step to get to a council motif and prophetic call narrative based on Old Testament era dialectic.

The First Vision Council heralds the glory of the calling of Joseph as a prophet in this dispensation and properly fixes our reverence and awe of this remarkable transcendental event.