D&C Section 76

[_honorentheos]

I thought this might be interesting to discuss here.

I tend to be very skeptical of the revelation that we know as Section 76 of the D&C which was the original revelation regarding the three degrees of glory. Philo Dibble, a faithful member of the church, was present with up to a dozen or so others when it was received and gave this description -

Joseph would, at intervals, say: ‘What do I see?’ as one might say while looking out the window and beholding what all in the room could not see. Then he would relate what he had seen or what he was looking at. Then Sidney replied, ‘I see the same.’ Presently Sidney would say ‘what do I see?’ and would repeat what he had seen or was seeing, and Joseph would reply, ‘I see the same.’ This manner of conversation was repeated at short intervals to the end of the vision, and during the whole time not a word was spoken by any other person. Not a sound nor motion made by anyone but Joseph and Sidney, and it seemed to me that they never moved a joint or limb during the time I was there, which I think was over an hour, and to the end of the vision.

Let's consider this for a moment. Joseph, in a preface to the first publication of the vision said "From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man, had`been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled. It appeared self-evident from what truths were left, that if God rewarded every one according to the deeds done in the body the term ‘Heaven,’ as intended for the Saints’ eternal home must include more kingdoms than one. Accordingly, on the 16th of February, 1832, while translating St. John’s Gospel, myself and Elder Rigdon saw the following vision: (Then follows what is now Section 76 of the D&C)

So he makes it clear that to him it was apparent that there should be more kingdoms than one prior to the event described to us by Philo. And, when it happens, what we have are two men sitting as if "looking out the window and beholding what all in the room could not see". And one would say, "This is what I see" and the other would say, "I see the same". And, when they gave the next section they might switch, with the other now saying "this is what I see", and the other saying, "I see the same".

To me, this reads like a party trick. It sounds like Joseph and Sidney were putting on a show. There is nothing in the description of how the revelation was received that causes me to feel increased confidence in Joseph Smith's description of the celestial kingdom.

And when we add to this how Joseph used both the promise of the kingdom as well as the threat of h*** fire to persuade women to enter into polygamy with him behind Emma's back, I find the level of deserved incredulity to be off the charts.

I'd also add this quote in for consideration -

Brother Dibble stated to me that the Prophet Joseph told him in connection with the others who were present in Father Johnson’s home at the time the Vision was given to the Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon, that (the Prophet speaking): ‘My whole body was full of light and I could even see out at the ends of my fingers and toes.

Joseph claimed that during the event he could see out his fingers and toes?

[_Joseph]

"From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important points touching the salvation of man, had`been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled."
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Have any archaeological finds of scrolls and records since this time contained the 'removed from the Bible' information?

Seems some of the finds should have this lost and removed material.

*****************************

"while translating St. John’s Gospel"

What records did joe have to translate from? He did not translate a damned thing... unless you count the greek book, kinderhook plates and egyptian scrolls from the mummies - and we know how accurate that crap is.

[_zeezrom]

Honor,

I wonder why truth would be revealed in a way that might trick people into thinking there were 2 independent witnesses when there really may not have been. If God wanted the demonstration of his revelation to be more convincing, why not do it in a way that is really convincing? He could have separated Joseph Smith and SR and given them both the same revelation. Joseph Smith and SR could have memorized a script so an even more convincing method would have been to reveal the same vision to two strangers on opposite sides of the earth.

[_honorentheos]

Honor,

I wonder why truth would be revealed in a way that might trick people into thinking there were 2 independent witnesses when there really may not have been. If God wanted the demonstration of his revelation to be more convincing, why not do it in a way that is really convincing? He could have separated Joseph Smith and SR and given them both the same revelation. Joseph Smith and SR could have memorized a script so an even more convincing method would have been to reveal the same vision to two strangers on opposite sides of the earth.

Hi Zeez,

That's a good way of putting the problem this account presents. So often we hear how Sidney participated in this revelation with Joseph. I suspect, though, that more people are familiar with the face in the hat method of Book of Mormon translation than are aware of the late night infomercial manner Section 76 was actually received.

[_zeezrom]

Honor,

Sadly, this method used by Joseph Smith and SR makes God appear to be a little shallow and oafish.

[_honorentheos]

But Zeez, if you act now, you can get a free extra celestial family and a universe at no extra charge! How much do you think this great value is worth?!

They have to be crazy to give this stuff away for just 10% of your income for life!

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

It's entirely possible that Philo Dibble made up the entire story. Is it corroborated anywhere else?

Dibble is the source of a story that Joseph Smith prophecied the Leonid meteor shower. Joseph Smith witnessed the shower and from his journal, it is apparent that he was as surprised by the event as everyone else, and pronounced it a sign of the return of Christ, with no mention of a prophecy. Surely, he wouldn't have failed to take credit for a prophecy if there had been one!

The story has all the hallmarks of a faith promoting rumor, maybe the first one in church history! See below:

"Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith," The Juvenile Instructor 27 (1892)

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH
[Elder Philo Dibble, who was born at Peru, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and who now resides at Springville, Utah County, Utah, is one of the oldest living members of the Church. He embraced the gospel on the 16th of October, 1830, in Kirtland, Ohio. This was several months before the Prophet came to Kirtland. The first time he met the latter was after his arrival there. He testifies, however, that he knew he was a prophet before he saw him. He also relates the following incidents:]

There was a branch of the Church raised up in Kirtland before the Prophet came there, and at the time he arrived a variety of false spirits were manifested, such as caused jumping, shouting, falling down, etc. Joseph said, as soon as he came, "God has sent me here, and the devil must leave here, or I will." Those delusive spirits were not seen nor heard any more at that time.

On one occasion Joseph was preaching in Kirtland sometime in the fall of 1833. Quite a number of persons were present who did not belong to the Church, and one man, more bitter and skeptical than others, made note with pencil and paper of a prophecy uttered on that occasion, wherein Joseph said that "Forty days shall not pass, and the stars shall fall from heaven."

Such an event would certainly be very unusual and improbable to the natural man, and the skeptic wrote the words as a sure evidence to prove Joseph to be a false Prophet.

On the thirty-ninth day after the utterance of that prophecy a man and brother in the Church, by the name of Joseph Hancock, who is yet living, in Payson, Utah, and another brother were out hunting game and got lost. They wandered about until night, when they found themselves at the house of this unbeliever, who exultingly produced this note of Joseph Smith's prophecy, and asked Brother Hancock what he thought of his Prophet now, that thirty-nine days had passed and the prophecy was not fulfilled.

Brother Hancock was unmoved and quietly remarked, "There is one night left of the time, and if Joseph said so, the stars will certainly fall tonight. This prophecy will all be fulfilled."

The matter weighed upon the mind of Brother Hancock, who watched that night, and it proved to be the historical one, known in all the world as "the night of the falling of the stars."

He stayed that night at the house of the skeptical unbeliever, as it was too far from home to return by night, and in the midst of the falling of the stars he went to the door of his host and called him out to witness what he had thought impossible and the most improbable thing that could happen, especially as that was the last night in which Joseph Smith could be saved from the condemnation of "a false prophet."

The whole heavens were lit up with the falling meteors, and the countenance of the new spectator was plainly seen and closely watched by Brother Hancock, who said that he turned pale as death, and spoke not a word.

After that event the unbeliever sought the company of any Latter-day Saint. He even enticed Mormon children to keep him company at his house. Not long afterwards, too, he sent for Joseph and Hyrum to come to his house, which they did, but with no noticeable results, for I believe he never received the gospel.

[_honorentheos]

Good question, Lucretia. The church lesson manuals for institute quote some of the Philo Dibble material, so they accept it to some extent. But that doesn't mean it wasn't cut from whole cloth by a man who wanted to show how involved he was in the early church.

I'm not aware of other accounts but am curious.