Richie T. talks to Kerry Muhlestein about his newest book, I Saw the Lord.
About the Book:
The Prophet Joseph testified, “I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it” (JS—H 1:25). This is the best documented vision of God in the history of the world. Yet, because the details of the vision are spread over several different accounts, many people do not know all they could about this remarkable and world-changing experience.
At the same time, many people today have questions, sometimes even doubts, about Joseph Smith’s First Vision, in part because the nine recorded accounts differ in emphasis and some details.
Kerry Muhlestein, BYU professor of ancient scripture, presents one compelling harmonized account to show how each of the various accounts might relate select aspects of the vision, yet all be consistent with the actual event experienced by Joseph Smith. As the Prophet recorded his remarkable vision in four firsthand accounts—either recorded by him or under his direction—he emphasized different details depending on the audience and circumstances in which the account was shared.
The five secondhand accounts also have much to offer, although perhaps in varying degrees of reliability, all taken into account by Muhlestein in this relatable, harmonized retelling of Joseph Smith’s incomparable vision. Readers will come to understand the vision more fully through this combined account. This retelling of the vision is enhanced by the inclusion of the full, original text from all nine accounts, allowing readers to take in all the glorious and edifying details of the event.
Check out Kerry’s other two appearances in The Hall & the books he talked about in those interviews:
Episode 490 & God Will Prevail: Ancient Covenants, Modern Blessings, and the Gathering of Israel
Episode 778 & The Easter Connection: Made Whole with God Through Christ
Episode Timestamps:
3:39- Getting to know Kerry
7:39- The value of symbolism
14:27- The path to a career in symbolism and meeting his wife in Jerusalem
19:27- Living in Jerusalem
24:29- Inspiration behind Kerry’s book, I Saw the Lord
29:54- The First Vision: differing accounts and finding faith instead of fault
35:56- Kerry’s favorite account of the First Vision
43:08- Insight into Joseph Smith going into the woods to pray; scriptural themes
46:54- Lessons from the “other accounts” of the First Vision
55:03- The First Vision as an expression of God’s love for us
57:41- How to get Kerry’s book, I Saw the Lord
About the Author:
Kerry Muhlestein is a professor and former associate chair of the Department of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, where he has taught about the First Vision for over two decades. He is also the director of research for that department. He has taught in the history department of three universities and has been part of award-winning history publications. He received his BS in psychology with a Hebrew minor from BYU, his MA in Ancient Near Eastern studies from BYU, and his PhD from UCLA in Egyptology. He is also the director of the BYU Egypt Excavation Project. He and his wife, Julianne, are the parents of six children, and they have lived in Jerusalem on multiple occasions with Kerry taught there.
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