Joseph Smith’s Acquaintance with Old Testament Personalities

The story of the restoration of the gospel is truly one of the most stimulating of all time. Many personalities from beyond the veil visited Joseph Smith as the gospel’s restoration unfolded—among them were persons whose mortal lives are discussed in the Old Testament, including, said President John Taylor, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Adam, Seth, Enoch, and Jesus and the Father, and the apostles that lived on this continent as well as those who lived on the Asiatic continent. He seemed to be as familiar with these people as we are with one another.” (Journal of Discourses,volume 21, p. 94.) The Doctrine and Covenants has references to visits also by Moses, Elias, Elijah, and of “divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the present time. …” (D&C 128:21)