The Tongue of Angels

- 2 Nephi 14 SC

A New Tongue

But 

behold 

my beloved brethren

thus came the voice of the Son

unto me saying

"After you have repented 

of your sins 

and witnessed 

unto the Father

that you

are willing to keep 

my commandments 

by the baptism of water 

and 

have received 

the baptism of fire 

and of the Holy Ghost 

and can speak with a new tongue 

yes 

even with 

the tongue of angels 

and after 

this should deny me 

it would have been better 

for you 

that you had not known me"

And I heard a voice from 

the Father 

saying "yes, 

the words of my beloved 

are true and faithful

He 

that endures to the end 

the same 

will be saved" 

And now my beloved brethren

I know by this 

that unless a man will endure 

to the end 

in following the example 

of the Son of the living God 

he cannot be saved 

wherefore do the things which I have told you 

-Nephi

2 Nephi 13 RE

The First Vision

One of the core principles or lessons taught by LDS missionaries is the story of the "First Vision", where Joseph Smith saw God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.  (If you'd like to read more about it, I'm quite certain you can learn more at www.mormon.org.  I'm assuming most readers of this post are already familiar with the full account of what happened, so I'll proceed accordingly.)  People can agree or disagree as to the truth of that vision, whether or not it happened, or whether or not they believe Joesph.  I believe him, but regardless of that, I want to discuss what he said he was taught, and some principles behind it.

In the year 1820, Joseph went into a grove of trees near his home in Palmyra, NY, to ask God in prayer a simple question: Which church do I join?  His experience was anything but ordinary, and he shares that he experienced a stifling power overtake him, which attempted to destroy him.  Only in calling out for God to save him from this unseen power was he relieved of it, and was next presented with a visitation from God the Father and Jesus, His Son (as I noted above).

This past week I have had opportunity to share my thoughts with a family member about my thoughts relating to this vision.  I am quite perplexed.  I am a Mormon, and I believe in visions.  I believe in healings, miracles, spiritual gifts of diverse kinds.  I believe that there is an unseen world, and we can be affected for good or ill by those within that realm.  I believe that most Mormons believe likewise, or at least purport to believe so.

Despite me believing that, doesn't mean it's true.  Not all Mormons appear to believe in these things.  How do I know?

It seems that the belief of many Latter-day Saints is that the president of the LDS Church is the only one entitled to have or experience such things.  As a young adult, I felt so strongly that psychics or mediums were "of the devil", and I remember distinctly sharing with my friend's mom that going to a psychic was unacceptable.  Anything similarly related to skills of a psychic (foretelling the future, as in prophecy) were likewise considered taboo to be avoided.

Do I still feel the same?  No.  Granted, I'm not calling up "Miss Hilda" on her 1-900 number in Jamaica.  But I have had occasion to meet people with spiritual gifts that some would call "psychic".  Do I think they're evil, or of the devil?  Absolutely not.  Does that mean they're perfect?  Or that because they can see things the rest of us can't see, they must be somehow more elect or chosen by God?  I don't think so.  I think it's a gift – a marvelous one – but we all receive unique gifts.  Some are just less visible than others.

What does this have to do with Joseph Smith?  Joseph was a visionary man, much like Lehi.  Also like Nephi, Alma, Abinadi, Moses, Noah, Moroni... the list goes on and on.  Do I think that the Bible and/or Book of Mormon are the only records that have any account of living prophets?  Or do I think that if it's not in those books, then it can't be true?  No way!  Do I think that anyone can receive the gift of visions, tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc?  God willing, yes!

So why are we Mormons, Christians, so skeptical when someone says they have had a vision?  Or that they can see spirits?  Or that they can see someone's history or even their future by looking at them?  Why do we label them, medicate them, and call them schizophrenic?  I'm just curious, how this came to be.

If Joseph Smith walked up to us in our day, would we Mormons honestly believe him?  Would we sell our homes, move westward, and gather?  Would we study the words he was able to translate more fervently, if he still had a mortal body?  Would we take it more seriously?  Any of it?

Just curious.     

6 Month Challenge - Spiritual Gifts

Part of my 6 month challenge included an assignment, to pick a topic to look out for in my reading.  I was to write it inside the cover of a new copy of The Book of Mormon, and then highlight any verses where the topic comes up.  Here's what's inside my cover:

Focus:
Gifts of the Spirit
Angels
Dreams
Visions

Etc.

I find it interesting lately, how many people are leery of anyone professing to have gifts of the Spirit.  But they are talked about ALL the time in the scriptures.  This challenge is truly evidence of that for me, as I'm marking all these verses in blue colored pencil.  I found one again in Omni, a very seldomly quoted book, where many generations had opportunity to pen a few verses.  Here is Amaleki speaking:

"...I shall deliver up these plates unto [king Benjamin], exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil."  (Omni 1:25, italics added)

(Sorry, I don't have source info for this.  If you know it, please let me know so I can cite {or get permission!;}.  So beautiful!)

It seems a lot of people these days are hesitant to believe anything that is extraordinary.  Most of us use cell phones, wireless internet, fly in airplanes, and do or use many things that work by unseen means, but when we hear of someone who can prophesy or do things we don't understand, we often automatically chalk it up to being evil –of the devil.  Amaleki cautions us to observe whether or not it is "good".  For he wants us to believe in these good, marvelous gifts.  Is that not what Christ did?  The most extraordinary, wonderful miracle for all of us?  

We are to continue to believe.  And more than that –to know, and experience the blessings of these things. 

~Jen:)

xoxo