Today we’re looking at a vision Joe Smith claimed he received from the Lord while in a council meeting with many of the Church members present. This vision is supposedly when Smith saw his twelve apostles in the Celestial Kingdom, but there are multiple problems in this passage taken from the History of the Church 2:381. You can read it in full by clicking on the link.

Today we’re looking at the text to find out why this is false, and asking a few questions!

Lie #1

“I also beheld Elder M’Lellin in the south, standing upon a hill, surrounded by a vast multitude, preaching to them, and a lame man standing before him supported by his crutches; he threw them down at his word and leaped as a hart, by the mighty power of God.”

This can’t be true because M’Lellin turned out to be an apostate not long after this event took place.

M’Lellin was excommunicated on May 11, 1836 and compared to the biblical magician Balaam whose ass (donkty) refused to denounce Israel. You can read about these events in History of the Church 3:224-233, Brigham Young, “History of Brigham Young”, and Millennial Star, 1864, vol. 26, p. 808.

The truth is that M’Lellin signed a no confidence note regarding Smith after his Kirtland Safety Socity fiasco with the feds where he tried to print fake money and steal untold amounts of money from the Saints, and society in general.

Result:

There’s no way Smith’s vision could be true if M’Lellin was tossed from membership.

Lie #2

“Also, I saw Elder Brigham Young standing in a strange land, in the far south and west, in a desert place, upon a rock in the midst of about a dozen men of color, who appeared hostile. He was preaching to them in their own tongue, and the angel of God standing above his head, with a drawn Sword in his hand, protecting him, but he did not see it. And I finally saw the Twelve in the celestial kingdom of God. I also beheld the redemption of Zion, and many things which the tongue of man cannot describe in full.” – Joseph Smith, January 21, 1836

While Brigham Young was known to be a great orator, leader, and organizer, he in no way fulfilled the visionary requirements Smith claimed he would.

Leading the Saints to Utah is a far cry from the events in Smith’s vision. Brigham Young didn’t stand amongst a dozen men of color in a foreign place, nor did he ever speak in a foreign tongue.

Lie #3

Smith couldn’t have seen the twelve standing in celestial kingdom of God because 7 of those 12 men apostatized. See LDS Apostles for more info.

Oh what a tangled web we weave…

These events are for sure worthy of spending the time to share with the Mormon you know!

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor 1:18