From:	Marcus Martins

To:	larry daugherty

Date:	1/17/00 10:51AM

Subject:	Re: Thoughts and Visions

Larry:

Great question!

I just looked in the dictionary (you know, the "other standard work") and the word "methinks" (past: "methought") means "it seems to me." Unfortunately I can't answer this question based on any personal experience with visions, but consider the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith on the subject:

The Prophet Joseph Smith (Teachings, p.304)

"... the things that are written are only hints of things which existed in the prophet's mind, which are not written concerning eternal glory."

The Prophet Joseph Smith (Teachings, p.355)

"All things whatsoever God in his infinite wisdom has seen fit and proper to reveal to us, while we are dwelling in mortality, in regard to our mortal bodies, are revealed to us in the abstract, and independent of affinity of this mortal tabernacle, but are revealed to our spirits precisely as though we had no bodies at all; and those revelations which will save our spirits will save our bodies."

Now, consider the following scriptures.

D&C 76:116

" ... for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him"

D&C 67:10-12

" ... the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am--not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual. For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God. Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind."

Moses 1:11

"But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him."

Based on these statements, in my mind the suggestion is clear: a person does not experience a heavenly vision, through his or her natural (i.e. mortal) senses. This is probably the reason why the Apostle Paul and the prophet Joseph Smith used the expression "whether in the body or out I cannot tell" (2 Corinthians 12:2; D&C 137:1) when referring to what they felt after heavenly manifestations.

It would then be quite appropriate for Lehi to try to explain how he saw God using the verb "methought."

I hope this makes sense. Gotta go to class now.

Bro. Martins

>>> "larry daugherty" <larrythedoc@hotmail.com> 01/17/00 10:14AM >>>

I hope you don't mind, I have a question unrelated to D&C..it's actually

about the Book of Mormon.

In the beginning chapter of the Book of Mormon when Lehi has his vision, my

wife and I noticed that he says he "thought" he saw god in a vision. Later

on, when he recounts his vision of the tree of life he says "methought"

again, referring to a vision of God. Nephi uses similar language when

referring to his vision. Why do you think they say it like that?

Thanks a lot. Larry.

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