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| From one of Edson Robis Rase's comments, It turns out he didn't know anything about it. |
Okay, so Edson Robis Rase Meme could be a good topic, but it seems he never knew anything at all about it.
So, let's try to make it more constructive to help him out with his meme, so it'll make sense.
So what's with the 4 accounts of First Vision?
The story of Joseph Smith’s First Vision is central to Latter-day Saint beliefs, and over the years, he provided several accounts of his experience. Each account, though slightly different in detail and emphasis, contributes to the overall understanding of that sacred event. Here’s a brief overview of four different accounts of the First Vision:
1832 Account:
This is the earliest known account, written in Joseph Smith’s own hand. In this version, Joseph Smith did emphasized his personal quest for a remission of his sins and some other issues or struggles for spiritual enlightenment. He recounted that he saw the Lord, who forgave his sins and told him that the world had turned away from the gospel. (Check out this link to see the rest of the Story)
1835 Account:
In this account, Joseph shared his experience with Robert Matthews (alias Matthias the Prophet). He mentioned that his prayer was interrupted by an evil force but was delivered by the appearance of a pillar of fire. He also described seeing two personages, with one introducing the other as his beloved Son. This account highlights the opposition faced while praying and provides details about the visitation. (Check out this link to see the rest of the Story)
1838 Account (Official Church History):
And this one, which was published as part of the Pearl of Great Price, is the most well-known version among Latter-day Saints, which is used and quoted by missionaries if you've been to a missionary discussion. It emphasizes the confusion Joseph felt due to the conflicting doctrines of the various churches. The account details his reading of James 1:5, his decision to pray, and his subsequent vision where he saw two personages—God the Father and Jesus Christ. They told him to join none of the churches, as they were all wrong. (Check out this link to see the rest of the Story)
1842 Account (Wentworth Letter):
And this one was written in response to a request from John Wentworth of the Chicago Democrat. Joseph Smith summarized the Vision, which he focused on his desire to know which of the churches in his day was right. He says that the Lord appeared to him in the vision and told him that none of the existing denominations were correct and that he would be instrumental in restoring the true gospel. (Check out this link to see the rest of the Story)
Take Note: While details may vary, they offer a richer understanding of the First Vision and its significance that is relevant to different audiences in different circumstances.
What were the differences?
So, let's dive into the detailed differences among the four main accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision.1832 Account -
Main Themes: Personal forgiveness and early confusion.
Details:
- Joseph was concerned about his sins and the state of mankind.
- He read and felt inspired by the Bible, particularly James 1:5.
- Joseph Smith saw a vision of the Lord, whom he identified as Jesus Christ.
- Emphasis on being forgiven of his sins and being told that the world had turned away from the truth.
1835 Account
Main Themes: Satanic opposition, two personages, more conversational.
Details:
- Joseph described a motive: seeking religious truth and a confrontation with an adversarial force (Satan).
- He experienced a vision where he saw two personages; one introduced the other.
- First mention of auditory experiences before the vision, describing hearing someone walking towards him before the vision.
1838 Account
Main Themes: Institutional apostasy, greater detail, and divine mandate.
Details:
- Describes Joseph’s confusion about which church to join and his determination to seek answers directly from God.
- Details his reading of James 1:5, which prompted him to pray.
- Mentions a battle with darkness and the physical feeling of being bound.
- Describes an extended divine encounter where both God the Father and Jesus Christ appear, with the Father introducing the Son.
The account was written for a broader publication, which was included in LDS scripture, making it the most well-known narrative.
1842 Account
Main Themes: Clear, concise, and written for a non-LDS audience.
Details:
- Summarizes Joseph’s early quest for religious knowledge.
- Describes the appearance of two personages who provided an answer to his question about which church to join.
- The divine beings told Joseph that all existing churches were incorrect and he should join none of them.
Each account reflects different focuses and circumstances in which they were given or recorded. The differences can help paint a fuller picture of Joseph Smith's experiences and the foundational period of the restoration.
Does the account have reconciliation, as critics claim it's contradicting?
So again, these accounts are different versions of the same story, presented to different audiences and in different settings. Each account may include details that are appropriate or necessary for that particular audience to understand the main point or vision.
Just because certain details are mentioned in one account but left out of another does not mean that either account is wrong or contradictory. Some details may simply not have been necessary in that particular setting. We should not expect every account to include every detail of everything that happened throughout the entire day, including exactly what happened immediately before or after each event.
The accounts can therefore give different details while still describing the same overall event. The absence of a particular detail in one account does not automatically make that account incorrect.
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| Challenging Eliza Lino Abaya on his understanding of Scripture. |
And about this Concern. Let's see if Liza Lino Abaya could point out some good points of her claim. I also challenge Edson Robis Rase to help Eliza Lino Abaya in her research.
Paul and his Vision
Now, Eliza Lino Abaya and Edson Robis Rase, let's talk about the accounts of Paul's vision, which some people may think are contradictory.
Paul's experience on the road to Damascus, as we know, is recorded in three places in the New Testament: which is found in Acts 9, Acts 22, and Acts 26. All of this three accounts agree on the main points, which is, Paul saw a light, became blind, and heard the voice of Jesus. But here's the but: some details are presented differently.
Who Fell to the Ground?
Acts 9:7, as it says that the men who were traveling with Paul stood speechless.
And in -
Acts 26:14, Paul says that they all fell to the ground.
And in -
Acts 26:14, Paul says that they all fell to the ground.
- So which is which? They stood up speechless, or did they fell to the ground?
Who Heard the Voice?
Acts 9:7 says that they heard a voice but did not see anyone
And in -
Acts 22:9 which says that they saw the light, and yet they did not hear the voice that spoke to Paul.
And in -
Acts 22:9 which says that they saw the light, and yet they did not hear the voice that spoke to Paul.
- Ok, so what is going on here, Edson and Eliza? They heard a voice and did not see anyone, or they saw light but did not hear the voice? How are we gonna reconcile that, Edson and Eliza?
At first, these details may seem contradictory. But they can also be understood as different accounts that focus on different details of the same event. One account may mention something that another account does not mention. That does not automatically mean that one of them is wrong.
The writers were not necessarily giving every detail of everything that happened. They may have somehow focused on the parts that were important for that particular audience and purpose. So, we should look at the main story as a whole instead of assuming that every account must have the same details or elements.
So go ahead, Eliza and Edson, what's your response to this? Do you see these differences between contradictions and different accounts describing the same event from different perspectives? Im waiting on your rebuttal.
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