It appears my question is not easy for you to answer. Let me try asking it another way. If you were walking along the road to Damascus with Saul, the Saul from Acts, and Jesus appeared and told you that you were called to be a witness for Him, how would you respond?
My sins would inflict me with immediate guilt! I would cry “I am one with unclean lips!”
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
If I were a con artist like Joseph Smith I would con no more.
If I were an adulterer like Joseph Smith I would cease chasing other men's wives.
If I were a sheep stealer like Joseph Smith I would not return to my sheep thefts like he did!
If I were a fortune teller like Joseph Smith I would cease divining and seek honest work.
All because one in sin cannot stand in the presence of the MOST HOLY without this guilt!
What other reason would the Apostle Paul have a complete change in his demeanor!
Yes.
And if two demonic imposters show up I'll tell them to get lost - but that would be redundant.
Well, if it really happened, I'd at least accurately recall:
#1 The age I was (Depending upon which version you read, Smith handwrote he was "in the 16th year of my age" vs. other versions where he was "about 14" (two mention this)...the first published version by Orson Pratt in 1840 says he was "about 14 or 15")
#2 If a pillar of light appeared to me [a couple of the versions don't mention that]
#3 How many personages appeared to me [three of the versions mention only a single personage...his 1830 version doesn't mention two...his 1832 version only says "The Lord"...his 1835 version talks about a "visitation of angels"]
#4 If he or they identified himself/themselves -- or fail to do so [In Joseph's case -- was there a "father" personage there? Only one of the half-dozen or so versions I checked mentioned that...the official version...how curious is that? And even here, this "father" never identifies himself as God]
#5 If it was more than one, did that one also identify or fail to ID itself/himself? [In Joseph's case -- was there a "son" personage present? Surprisingly a few of Smith's versions actually don't mention a "son" personage as being present...his 1830 version doesn't...his 1835 version doesn't...and a third version mentions a second personage without reference to him being a "son" identifier...In fact, the name "Jesus" is never used...the closest reference is his 1832 version where he says "the Lord"]
#6 And I'd also accurately recall if I asked these beings any question(s) [Smith? Well, the "official" version says he does. But in 4 of the other versions, no, he doesn't ask any questions -- and in a fifth version, an "angel" answers him -- as he doesn't even mention any father-son combo in that version...In fact, this Nov. 9, 1835 journal version of Smith's is his first written copy...in this one, neither personage is id'd ]
The problem is, TheDon, is this you put this Q as a "first-person" Q when the only way we as "jury members" who weren't at the scene-of-the-crime can properly evaluate it is to compare the alleged witness' conflicting statements.
I dare Lds. Get ALL of the First Vision Accounts together & compare them for these six distinct discrepancies mentioned above.
I believe there's also a 7th First Vision version I didn't reference...plus several of the Lds ensuing "prophets" commented on what they recollected hearing directly from Joseph Smith which focus only on angels -- no other personages appearing to him.
If you were walking along the road to Damascus with Saul, the Saul from Acts, and Jesus appeared and told you that you were called to be a witness for Him, how would you respond?
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That would never never happen...
Those with Paul were never called to be a witness for Him...
And nor was Paul...in the first account of the story...
the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Acts 9:6
And they heard what Paul heard...
But Jesus did not “appear” to any of them...
there shined round about him a light from heaven: Acts 9:3
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. Acts 9:7
Later Paul told King Agrippa that, after Jesus had knocked him off his horse and blinded him for 3 days...He said to him..
Acts 26:16 “... I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Act 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
Act 26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Act 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Act 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Acts 26:16
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Joey never told anyone about his “vision” not commenced to preach, but instead stole a sheep on the way home...
However, Joey Smith was somewhat the same as Paul in his attitude towards the Christians..
Paul was “exceedingly mad against them,” Acts 26:11
Joey was mad at the Presbyterian Church for some real or imagined slight or other ..
It could have been a young Presbyterian girl spurned him or the Presbyterian minister told him he had to change his ways..
So you may be partly right when you suggest his experience was like Paul’s..
Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
Act 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Acts 9:1, 2