When Joseph Smith was fourteen (or 15, or 16?) years old he says “…I saw the Lord and he spake unto me…” Earlier in our study we read “Joseph Smith later recounted* that he saw two ‘personages’” Yet aren’t we told nobody can see the face of God and live?
"And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD . . . But, "he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live. " (Exodus 33:19-20, NIV)
It states clearly here “for no one may see me and live” (Ex ch 33) but back in chapter 6 God is reported to say “and I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac, and unto Jacob”. And Job says “but now my eyes see You”. Could a possible explanation be that it is Jesus Christ speaking about appearing to these prophets, not God the Father? Doesn’t he refers to Himself often as the one God relating to the prophets?
" . . .He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords . . . dwelling in unapproachable light (where the Father lives), whom NO MAN has seen or can see …show more content…
If Oliver Cowdery is correct, Joseph Smith would be 16 years old, not 15 as he says he was. It should be noted here that nowhere does Joseph Smith state that when he went to pray a terrible dark power tried to overcome him. Details? In fact, just the opposite is stated. Everything is glorious and light as soon as he enters a prayer to God. He continues “…many things which transpired that cannot be written…” Why not? Is there ever a time when God dangles information in front of people through his prophet and after going through many things that transpire between God and his prophet he tells his prophet “many things… that cannot be written?” One may be left to wonder what “details” are preserved in the circa summer 1832 history that are not already written down in the Joseph Smith Papers
"And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD . . . But, "he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live. " (Exodus 33:19-20, NIV)
It states clearly here “for no one may see me and live” (Ex ch 33) but back in chapter 6 God is reported to say “and I appeared unto Abraham unto Isaac, and unto Jacob”. And Job says “but now my eyes see You”. Could a possible explanation be that it is Jesus Christ speaking about appearing to these prophets, not God the Father? Doesn’t he refers to Himself often as the one God relating to the prophets?
" . . .He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords . . . dwelling in unapproachable light (where the Father lives), whom NO MAN has seen or can see …show more content…
If Oliver Cowdery is correct, Joseph Smith would be 16 years old, not 15 as he says he was. It should be noted here that nowhere does Joseph Smith state that when he went to pray a terrible dark power tried to overcome him. Details? In fact, just the opposite is stated. Everything is glorious and light as soon as he enters a prayer to God. He continues “…many things which transpired that cannot be written…” Why not? Is there ever a time when God dangles information in front of people through his prophet and after going through many things that transpire between God and his prophet he tells his prophet “many things… that cannot be written?” One may be left to wonder what “details” are preserved in the circa summer 1832 history that are not already written down in the Joseph Smith Papers