How do mormon's know that Joseph Smith saw an angel and not satan when he got the golden plates?

Question

Just wondering because the bible says that the devil was an angel.

Answer 1

THEY DON'T;
2co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Re 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Re 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Answer 2

In Joseph Smith History and other sources, it says that Moroni introduced himself (D&C 27:5, Joseph Smith History 1;33). And that is only the official scripture sources. To Kristy:Wow, you must enjoy ripping down the LDS faith. You are quoting a source that has been proved human error. In almost every account of the visitation of moroni (those prior to and after the sources you cited) list the Angel as Moroni. There was one scribe, George W Robinson, that copied the name wrong. The story went to press uncorrected, and thus the confusion. This was originaly printed in the April 15, 1842 paper. The other sources you used were taken from the above article, thus keeping the error in tact. Your use of anti-mormon sources (The Tanner's and others) does nobody good, it distorts the truth, which is meant to make us free.

To Pedir mi cosa: Just because The first vision may not have been widely circulated in the 1830's does not mean it didn't happen. Also, it is true that without the priesthood man can't see God. But it never states that the person who sees God must posses the priesthood. It is by God's power that a miracle happens. The priesthood is just that power. If God shows himself to a person, is it not a miracle, and thus performed by his power, the priesthood? If you wish to dscuss this subject further, you can contact me at this same user name.....

Answer 3

Most Mormons will tell you that the angel that visited Joseph Smith three times on the night of Sept. 21, 1823 was named Moroni. This angel is the one who told Joseph Smith where the gold plates were buried and can be seen on top of most LDS temples.

However, a close examination of early church history tells a different story. Some early Mormon sources say that the angels name was actually Nephi.

For some reason the Mormons feel the need to change Joseph Smiths story, so they don't really know anything about it.

Answer 4

The devil was an angel.. a fallen angel. And when Joseph Smith prayed in the woods to know the truth, he felt the devil's presence... trying to stop what was about to happen. But then a pillar of light shone down and he spoke with God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ. Not an angel of the Lord, but the Lord himself. I am a convert to the faith. I know of its truth because I have read the book of mormon and have prayed to know the truth myself.

Answer 5

justinodhans982000... I see from your sources you are easily lead by the nose. Perhaps you should attempt removal of those blinders you have installed over your eyes and avoid partaking of the feedbag of half truths which FairLDS.org provides.

Others have researched this and it appears that his initial vision is a creation of later dates. So if that is the case, was it an angel, good or evil, or just ol J.S.'s great imagination, which he defintely was most creative with. He is not called a flim-flam man for nothing.

[ Perhaps one of the most damaging evidences that Joseph Smith did not see the Father and the Son in 1820, to those who believe in the restoration of the Priesthood, is the fact that in the year 1832 Joseph Smith claimed to have a revelation which stated that a man could not see God without the Priesthood. This revelation is published as Section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In verses 21-22 we read:

"And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;

"For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live."

Now, it is claimed that "The Father and the Son appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith before the Church was organized and the priesthood restored to the earth" (Doctrines of Salvation, by Joseph Fielding Smith, vol. 1, p.4).

The revelation given in 1832 suggests that Joseph Smith's story of the first vision was made up years after it was supposed to have occurred. Smith did not even claim to have the Priesthood in 1820, and the Doctrine and Covenants clearly says that without the Priesthood no man can see God and live.

James B. Allen, who now serves as assistant church historian, frankly admitted that the story of the first vision "was not given general circulation in the 1830's." (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Autumn 1966, p.33). Dr. Allen makes some startling concessions in this article. He admits, for instance, that "none of the available contemporary writings about Joseph Smith in the 1830's, none of the publications of the Church in that decade, and no contemporary journal or correspondence yet discovered mentions the story of the first vision...." Dr. Allen goes on to state that in the 1830's "the general membership of the Church knew little, if anything, about it."]

If you go check out the source where this came from, there is a whole chapter on just this subject. Fascinating it is, and also this book where this chapter came from details many interesting things about dear Joseph Smith, the prophet. Indeed after learning of all his deeds I left the church and received my "freedom" letter just last week. Bless Jesus Christ for opening my eyes and perhaps justinodhans982000 he will also open yours too.

Answer 6

I prayed about it. One way you can tell if you are being visited by a divine Personage or a deceptive angel is to pay attention to how you feel. If you feel fear then it would not be from God. You have the right to pray about any experience others tell you. I agree with Prince Zelph, that it would be a good idea to read the experience of Joseph Smith in his own words and not anyone else's comments.

Answer 7

If you read the complete Joseph Smith's Story, a gross darkness encompassed Joseph Smith binding his tongue and was about to destroy him when he was saved by God the Father and Jesus Christ. If you would read it and listen to how much Jesus Christ plays a pivitol role in the doctrine that the Book of Mormon there is no way Satan could inspire such a faith inspiring book.

Answer 8

In ancient Jewish tradition Satan is simply an angel doing the work that God assigned to Satan to do.

The word Satan means challenger. With the idea of Satan challenging us, or tempting if you will. This description sees Satan as the angel who is the embodiment of man's challenges. This idea of Satan works closely with God as an integral part of God plan for us. His job is to make choosing good over evil enough of a challenge so that it becomes clear to us that there can be only one meaningful or logical choice.

Contrast this to Christianity, which sees Satan as God's opponent. In Jewish thought, the idea that there exists anything capable of setting itself up as God's opponent would be considered polytheistic or setting up the devil to be an equally powerful polarity to god or a demigod.

Oddly, proof for The Christian satan/devil mythology is supposedly found in the ancient Jewish texts that were borrowed to create the bible. One can’t help but wonder how Christians came up with such a fantastically different interpretation of Gods assistant Satan in their theology.

Other hints about Satan’s role in human relations can be seen if you look at the name Lucifer. It meaning in the original tongue translates as Light bearer or light bringer. Essentially the bringer of enlightenment. The temptations of the Satan idea bring all of us eventually into Gods light. Hardly the Evil entity of Christian mythology.

Love and blessings
don

Answer 9

it truly is astounding! Joesph Smith is a really properly-known historic determine; the founding father of Mormonism, it really is first prophet. this does no longer mean you need to develop into Mormon, despite the indisputable fact that it really is an exciting ancestry connection. The Mormons are reliable human beings, very family participants dependent. lots of the international's Christians could evaluate them non-Christians for being unorthodox in theology. besides the very incontrovertible fact that even I as a Roman Catholic recognize them, reliable those with a really exciting tale. have exciting with it, carry out slightly study!!

Answer 10

In the book of Mormon some of the plates were brass.