“Doctrinal Mastery: The First Vision,” New Era, August 2018
Doctrinal Mastery
The First Vision
pillar of light … above the brightness of the sun
Joseph Smith described the glory of the Lord’s presence just as other prophets had:
1. It’s bright or fiery (see Exodus 3:2–4; Deuteronomy 5:4; Isaiah 33:14; Matthew 17:2, 5).
2. It can seem like a pillar (see Exodus 13:21).
Calling me by name
The Father knows each of us individually.
Two Personages
These two words convey important truths:
1. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are two separate beings.
2. They are in human form, suggesting that …
3. We are literally the spirit children of the Father, not some other kind of animal creation of His.
This is My Beloved Son
The Father has introduced the Son at other times:
At Jesus’s baptism (see Matthew 3:17).
On the Mount of Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:5).
When Jesus Christ appeared to the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 11:7).
Hear Him!
The Father’s voice to Joseph—and to us all—directs us to hear His Son. That’s how we’ll have peace and eventually return to the Father.