Fluhman Rocks

I've been re-reading some of my Fluhman lecture notes, and this portion from one lecture is one of my favorites. Check out his commentary on a scripture in D&C 20, coupled with the text of a dedication by Henry B. Eyring that he ties into it. AWESOME.

Thoughts?


D&C 20:5-6.

5 After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a aremission of his sins, he was bentangled again in the cvanities of the world;
6 But after arepenting, and humbling himself sincerely, through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy bangel, whose ccountenance was as lightning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness;

So we’ve got the Angel Moroni, but what’s this made manifest to Joseph that his sins are remitted . . . stuff? What’s that a reference to? First Vision. Listen to the following 1832 Account. The one you have is from 1838 in the Pearl of Great Price, it was NOT the first time Joseph Smith wrote the First Vision down. First time that we have record of was 1832—are you ready?

“I cried unto the Lord for mercy, for there was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy, and the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness, and while the attitude of calling upon the Lord, a pillar of light—fire was crossed out—above the brightness of the son at noonday, came down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the Spirit of God, and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord, and he spake unto me saying, “Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, behold, I am the Lord of Glory. I was crucified for the world, that all those who believe on my name might have eternal life.”

Absolutely unforgettable. We tell the Primary kids that he went into the Grove wanting to know which church was true, and we’ve told them a half-truth: that’s only half the reason he went in! Why was he going into the Grove? He was looking for mercy! I cried unto the Lord for mercy, he says, in 1832. And what does the Lord come and say unto him? Thy sins are forgiven thee. The First Vision, appropriately, is the resolve of a personal quest for the blessings of the Atonement. Don’t we want it that way? Doesn’t that sound right to your soul? It’s true—believe it! He repeats it in 1835, I brought that one, too. Knowing you as I do, I knew you’d want it.

“I called upon the Lord in mighty prayer. A pillar of fire appeared above my head, which presently rested down upon me, and filled me with unspeakable joy. A personage appeared in the midst of this pillar of flame, which was spread all around and yet nothing consumed. Another personage soon appeared like unto the first. He said unto me, 'Thy sins are forgiven thee.' He testified also unto me that Jesus Christ is the son of God. I saw many angels in this vision.”

Absolutely, again, unforgettable! That the mighty prayer was answered again with this, Thy sins are forgiven thee. Not to mention the very interesting point left out of the 1838 version, that one being appeared, and then the other. Many angels. Great, great stuff. So, truly, verse 5 of Section 20. We’re reading it, and it said that he’d received a remission of his sins, and many of us didn’t even know what we were reading! This is a reference to the First Vision! Fantastic! Wonderful.

The 1832 one is partly in his own handwriting and partly in the handwriting of Frederick G. Williams. The 1835 one is all in the handwriting of Warren Cowdery, Oliver’s brother, who is acting as a scribe. The 1835 one is a trip. This guy comes to Kirtland and says, Hey, I’m a prophet. I hear you’ve got a prophet. Let’s have an alliance. Joseph’s like, Who are you? And he said, well you know, I had this experience, and they kind of trade conversion stories. And luckily, Warren Cowdery’s there, writing like a crazed man, no doubt, so Joseph tells him the experience. Turns out this guy is a lunatic, frankly, name is Robert Matthews, went by Matthias, and he went through a murder trial in New York, and Joseph and the Saints finally figured out who he was and went, like, wait a minute, aren’t you that one guy? Yeah. Joseph’s like, You’re out of here. In fact, later in the journal Joseph says, I told him the devil was his god and I saw him out.  Bye bye Robert Matthews! Incredible exchange in Kirtland. Wild! But luckily he came because we get this First Vision account. So, did you get all that down? You will love them, they are marvelous (First Vision accounts).

He’s terrible with dates, you’re going to be find that right away. Joseph Smith is terrible with dates. What he’s emphasizing early on is obviously the redemptive quality of the vision, the personal quality. By 1838, when he gives the account in the Pearl of Great Price, it’s like his vision of the global significance of the vision, he’s emphasizing kind of the call of prophet element of it. But early on, it’s raw and personal to him, it’s about him and mercy in his own heart—it’s amazing, it’s so touching!

For a reminder of that, walk in front of the Joseph Smith statue, in the warmth, there’s a plaque there, Elder Eyring dedication, powerfully articulates the significance of the First Vision as a moment with the Atonement, and it would be a fitting end to class there.

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Elder Eyring's Dedication

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The Vision
A statue by Avard T. Fairbanks

"I would like to pay tribute to the artist, Avard Fairbanks, and make a wish for the way this statue should be viewed by those who come here. My tribute to Avard Fairbanks is for what he didn't show. One of the marks of great art is not what it portrays but what it suggests. There are other figures not sculpted here which I would like you to imagine with an eye of faith. God the Eternal Father and his Beloved Son Jesus Christ appeared to open this dispensation.

"From studying the various accounts of the First Vision, we learn that young Joseph went into the grove not only to learn which church he should join but also to obtain forgiveness for his sins—something he seems not to have understood how to do. And in more than one account the Lord addressed the young truth seeker and said, 'Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee.'

"I hope that as young people through the generations see this statue, they will realize that though the building is named for Joseph Smith, and though the statue portrays him, this piece of art represents that moment when Joseph learned there was a way for the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be unlocked fully. Because of what Joseph saw and what began at this moment, the Savior was able, through this great and valiant servant and through others that He sent, to restore power and privilege. That power and privilege allows us, and all who will live, to have the benefit of Jesus Christ's Atonement work in our lives. Joseph Smith is looking up at the figures not shown.

"I testify to you that Jesus is the Christ. He lives. I know He lives. I know Joseph saw Him, and I know that because He lives and because Joseph looked up and saw Him and because He sent other messengers, you and I may have the thing that the Prophet Joseph wanted as he went to the grove: to know, not just to hope, that our sins can be washed away."