[An account of the First Vision in the Book of Mormon]

This reference to the First Vision in the Book of Mormon is where Nephi is expanding on a prophecy of Isaiah with his own prophecy of the latter-days. (See the short little video linked above.)

As a part of that prophecy, Nephi wrote that the churches in that day would "contend" with each other, each claiming to be "the Lord's" but not being His because they relied on their own wisdom and "learning." The reason for providing that context is that Nephi tells of how the the Lord chose Joseph Smith to translate the golden plates because he was "not learned" and would instead seek wisdom from God and rely on His "precepts."

Nephi gives background on Joseph Smith, stating explicitly that the Lord would personally talk with Joseph to tell him about the churches not having the truth, telling Joseph that they "draw near" to the Lord "with their lips," but "their hearts far from [Him]." This is a reference to the message the Lord told Joseph in the Sacred Grove, using those exact words from Isaiah.

Let me know what you guys think!

[An account of the First Vision in the Book of Mormon]

I made this Youtube video to show how there is a reference to the First Vision in the Book of Mormon.

Check it out! 

 

 

[Priesthood restoration discrepancies]

Another important thing to keep in mind:

Boyd K. Packer:

Quote

"The priesthood is greater than any of its offices. When someone first receives the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood, it is conferred upon him by the laying on of hands. After the priesthood has been conferred upon him, he is ordained to an office in the priesthood. All offices derive their authority from the priesthood. The priesthood is not divisible. An elder holds as much priesthood as an Apostle (see D&C 20:38). When a man receives the priesthood, he receives all of it. However, there are offices within the priesthood —divisions of authority and responsibility."

Thus, an "office" in the Priesthood applies to how authority is divided and delegated within the church.

When Peter, James, and John gave Joseph and Oliver the Melchizedek Priesthood, they received the whole Priesthood. However, it only became necessary to ordain themselves to the office of "Elders" once the church had been formally organized, and they were given responsibilities within the Church.

Similarly, when the Church was formally organized, several individuals (including Joseph and Oliver) had already been baptized for the "remission of sins" under the Aaronic Priesthood and had received the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands under the Melchizedek Priesthood. However, upon formally organizing the church on April 6th, everyone who had already been baptized was re-baptized, in this case to be baptized into the Church and subsequently confirmed a member of the Church.

We have to remember that restrictions and rules on ordaining people aren't always because of authority, but because of permission. The rule that an "Elder" can't ordain someone to be a "High Priest" if he himself is not yet a High Priest isn't because he doesn't have the Priesthood to do so. Rather, it is because he doesn't have permission to do so according to the rules that have been provided by the person holding all the keys. In fact, even today, a Stake President is allowed to ordain someone to be a Patriarch, even if he himself has never been ordained to the office of Patriarch, as long as he has received permission to do so.