Was Joseph Smith's vision a hallucination...????

Question

I understand he had some visions beginning when he was about 14 years old - but will someone please explain to me how these so-called visions became so credible? What was it about this kid that was so dog-gone believable? Something doesn't make sense to me about the Mormon Faith - but before I start bashing it, I at least want to know why Joseph Smith's visions gained such wide acceptance and authority?

Any Mormons or others who might have insight? Here is the link I am reading now.....if there are other good ones, please let me know. Thank you!

http://www.mormonbeliefs.org/mormon_beliefs.html

Thanks TexasTem - that's very nice. It's hard to explain but in short - my faith is in Jesus Christ, not any religion!

Answer 1

The visions Joseph Smith had were so believable because he had witnesses to back them up. The only recorded vision where there was only him was his very first one at the age of 14. Oliver Cowdry, John Witmore, Martin Harris, Sidney Rigdon, etc.

What makes these witnesses even more incredible is that many of them left Joseph and the church but never, never denied what they had seen. Why not? If you hated the church so bad, and all you had to do to destroy it (which many tried to do) was to say "I made it up." But none of them ever did.

Thats what makes the Joseph Smith story so believable.

Answer 2

Visions could be interpreted as God-inspired hallucinations.
The visions became credible, because Joseph Smith later had credible witnesses to his gifts, with signatures and dates. Read the introduction at the beginning of the Book of Mormon.
Years ago, I began to read it, and found it unbelievable.
Now, after actually talking to Latter Day Saints, and growing to be a person of deep belief and faith, I have read a lot from the Book of Mormon, and do believe it.
What made the difference was my open mind and heart, and praying to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, for whether it was the Truth, which it is.

Answer 3

Has any one gone through the KJV Bible with undivided attention and figured out the time on every person in it, then did the same for the Mormon book.

The bible has its own time, place and history, then there are those that have tried to give it their version of time, place and history [ how can any one know when he or they got it right? if it is not examined beyond doubt ]?

As 1656 to flood, 427 to Abraham's covenant, 430 to Moses at Exodus, 40 years to Moses death, 480 1Ki.6:1; Solomon begans temple, Solomon has 36 years, Judah kings have 391 years, 606 B. C. at 2007 after Christ and the bible in circulation in the world 396 years. Mormon book 167 years.

How many ways can time of man, be examined to be a fact beyond doubt?
Now do the same for the book of Mormons. It is based on what has been done earlier by some trying to figure it out and did not do history accurately.

Answer 4

I have prayed to God and received and answer from Him. That is all it takes for me, but I think you can look at the fruits of what he did... I mean you have to admit that no one can provide any explanation for how he could produce the Book of Mormon after studying it in linguistic and cultural detail i.e. difference writing styles (which we knew nothing about until computers cam around) which can be identified by proven methods, and the chiasmus which is prevalent in Hebrew poetry, but was unknown to the west (especially a farm boy with no more than 3 years schooling) when the Book of Mormon was published.
The story of his vision is admittedly far from the ordinary and can be hard to believe, but the truth of it is manifested by the Holy Ghost if you show faith.

Answer 5

Technically when you delve into deeper church history (the stuff the leaders dont mention so you dont bother reading or looking up) you will find he had 4 visions before finally settling on the one the church uses.

Its a matter of perspective and belief though....true blue members will say he had a vision and saw God and Jesus while others say he was full of it.

Personal opinion having been a member and been "out" of it. He was a smart kid/man who knew how to work people.

Answer 6

Well, I'm not a Mormon, but I have read books on Mormonism, and from what I've been able to ascertain, Joseph Smith was very solid in his beliefs that "he alone" had been given the truths concerning man's purpose on this earth. As a Christian, I know from reading the Holy Bible that God gave His truth to all men/women, and did not entrust His truth with only one person.

Answer 7

I'm not a LDS'er, but that's kind of a silly question. If visions don't mean anything, then somebody needs to really rethink Paul and the bunch of folks on the second floor building in the beginning of Acts doing the Pentacostal jitterbug.

Answer 8

Here is the best link for you: lds.org. Why not go to the source. Going to anti Mormon sites is like going to a Dell computer store and asking them what they think of HPs. Of course you are going to get a biased response from an outside source. Got to a pro Mormon site and ask sincere, honest questions. You will find sincere, honest answers.
That is what I did, and that is how I received my "witness" of the truthfulness of Mormonism. I do not believe anymore...I know!

Answer 9

His visions were real!

here is a link to a history of some of his experiences that he wrote:
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1

why it is so believable is because anyone can ask God to show them if it is true or not....God showed me it was true by His power...that is the main reason...."Personal Revelation"

get your answers from God, not man!

Answer 10

You forgot the glasses that showed up specially made to read the book that just showed up