Mormon Dilemma 588

First Vision According to George A. Smith

Journal of Discourses 12:334; “Joseph Smith had attended these meetings, and when this result was reached he saw clearly that something was wrong. He had read the Bible and had found that passage in James which says “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not,” and taking this literally, he went humbly before the Lord and inquired of Him, and the Lord answered his prayer and revealed to Joseph, by the ministration of angels, the true condition of the religious world. When the holy angel appeared, Joseph inquired which of all these denominations was right and which he should join, and was told they were all wrong…the Lord was about to restore the priesthood and establish His Church, which would be the only true and living Church on the face of the whole earth.” – George A. Smith, Salt Lake City, November 15, 1868

Galatians 3:4-6; “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”

If the body of Christ – meaning all of Christianity – had truly disappeared then what do Paul’s words mean? 

Mormons try and tell people they are the true Jews but this can’t happen unless you’re literally of Jewish descent. Therefore, Paul’s teaching here means that the Gentiles would be fellow-heirs when they believe in the Messiah (meaning Jesus). How can everyone who believes in Jesus whether they’re Jewish or Gentile all be deemed wrong and unworthy of God’s salvation? 

While Jesus’ promise to us that His church would always be in existence is important, there’s also things like this that must be taken into account. 

The existence of Christianity didn’t take place in a vacuum. Rather it was a well planned out event that God orchestrated and had been in the making for thousands of years!  God was at work in the hearts of mankind for a long time. 

Galatians 4:4-7; “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” 

Joseph Smith didn’t want to accept the dispensation of God’s saving grace had already taken place and Smith didn’t want to accept the fullness of time had already arrived. The truth is that Smith wasn’t the center of attention and he wasn’t humble enough to accept that. 

And besides all that – who appeared to Joseph Smith that first night and why can’t the apostles and elders remember this all important event?  

This whole thing was supposed to revolutionize the world and they can’t recall specific details?