Moroni’s Magical Manifestations

30 January

Galatians 1:6-8; “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” [emp. mine]

Yesterday we looked at divining rods; a hobby Joseph Smith picked up from his father.

Today we’re onto another topic within that same genre, only this time we’re looking at a recurring experience Smith had while he was a prophet. Visiting angels. More specifically, Moroni, the angel of light.

In the annals of Mormon history, this has to be one of the most  openly grievous blasphemies Smith pulled off during his tenure as prophet. Given the specific way scripture describes the fallacy of false gospels, it’s remarkable how the Mormon people aren’t stopped in their tracks to disavow their belief in Joe Smith’s stories.

While there are numerous doubtful stories about Smith’s claims regarding Moroni, one specific occurrence is our focus today.

Joseph Smith-History 1:30, 47; “While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor… 47 … I found that day was approaching, so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night.”

For the sake of time, we’ve included only the summary of Smith’s account. To read the entire story, click on link provided.

Our questions about this incident are many as you might imagine. The main issue for this scenario is space. We’re wondering how this event occurred when Smith was sharing a room with his five brothers, and no one else saw anything.

If Moroni’s presence lit everything up like daytime, and the six brothers were sharing two twin beds in a really small room, how is it no one woke up?

Why aren’t there any testimonies from his siblings about that night?

Supposedly this was the greatest event in history since the Savior’s birth. If that’s true, where are the accolades of the blissful event?

Why doesn’t the average Mormon know more about this story?

My life is a classic example of the average Mormon. I had no idea Moroni showed up 3 times in one night, and immediately afterwards a cock crowed.

I had no idea Smith shared a bedroom with his 5 brothers in a small cramped room, and no one else woke up with Moroni’s appearance.

Acclaimed Mormon Historian, Richard Bushman, wrote that Smith had determined there was no way to get any privacy in the small cabin, and that’s why he resorted to going to the woods to pray. See Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism. Still others have pointed out the Smith family was not living in Palmyra at the time Smith claims this happened (more on that another time).

The collage of Smith’s visit with Moroni is a collection of a few renditions of Moroni’s visit taken from lds.org.

Be sure to ask the Mormon you know about this all important event in Mormon history. After all, this is where it all began, and should rank up there with the first vision!

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor. 1:18

References:

MormonThink.com

ExMormon.org

Note: While we’ve referenced the two organizations above, LAM does not endorse all their ideologies. They are, however, great references for all things Mormon!

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