Have I seen Christ?

Question

Gramps,

I enjoy reading your responses and hope you can help me. Is it possible for a single sister see Christ? I feel I have. Granted, I saw Him in a dream but I don’t think it different from an awake vision. I’ve been told that it is not possible for me to be blessed in such a way, that Jesus shows Himself only to the prophet and other high-ranking brothers in our church, including those in the bishopric. Should I listen to them or hold on to my belief that He has visited me?

Concerned

Answer

Concerned,

When others express their opinion regarding doctrinal truths, thank goodness we live in a day and age when we have scriptures and the words of our prophets so readily available to us. The book of Genesis (also the book of Moses) gives us an excellent starting point to answer your question with the life of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve walked and talked with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the Garden of Eden. These scriptures provide us with evidence that not only did Eve (a woman) see God, she also spoke with them “And I, the Lord God, said unto the woman: What is this thing which thou hast done? And the woman said: The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” (Source)

As we look further in our scriptures the New Testament provides us with further evidence, after the Lord’s resurrection, that the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene (who wasn’t a prophet, nor did she hold any level of church leadership), John 20:16-18:

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

 

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

 

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. (emphasis added)

When we further think about visions, dreams, or even visitations of the Lord, back in August of 1992, an Ensign article was dedicated to the life of Emma Smith, the wife of our beloved prophet, Joseph Smith. The nurse of Emma Smith, before Emma past away, related this story,

“Sister Elizabeth Revel, Emma’s nurse, explained that a few days earlier Emma had told her that Joseph came to her in a vision and said, ‘Emma, come with me, it is time for you to come with me.’  As Emma related it, she said, ‘I put on my bonnet and my shawl and went with him; I did not think that it was anything unusual. I went with him into a mansion, and he showed me through the different apartments of that beautiful mansion. And one room was the nursery. In that nursery was a babe in the cradle.’ She said, ‘I knew my babe, my Don Carlos that was taken from me.’ She sprang forward, caught the child up in her arms, and wept with joy over the child. When Emma recovered herself sufficient she turned to Joseph and said, ‘Joseph, where are the rest of my children.’ He said to her, ‘Emma, be patient and you shall have all of your children.’ Then she saw standing by his side a personage of light, even the Lord Jesus Christ.” (emphasis added)

Bruce R. McConkie shared,

“The Prophet Joseph Smith said that this promise has reference to personal revelation, to a visitation of the Lord to an individual (see History of the Church, 3:381). It is within our capability, if we adhere as we ought to the standards of righteousness that we have received, to have a total, complete reaffirmation of the word to us, the word the Lord gave first through Joseph Smith. We begin to get that reaffirmation when we get in our hearts the spirit of testimony, and the Holy Spirit of God tells us the work is true.

 

“What I am saying is that the ultimate end of spiritual progression is not only to know that the revelations are true, but also to see visions and feel the Spirit and get the added light and knowledge which it is not lawful to utter and which was not recorded in the revealed record. What a glorious dispensation we live in. We live in a day when the Lord desires to confirm his word in the hearts of all who will heed his voice, and it is our privilege so to obtain.”

The promise of the Second Comforter is given to all who, by faith, are able to receive it. Through my personal studies I have come to love this verse my Mission President first introduced me to, Moses 6:60, “For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified.” This promise is given unto all of God’s sons and daughters, for God is no respecter of persons as declared in Acts 10:34, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” and to add further witness, 2 Nephi 26:33, “…he [the Lord] inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” (emphasis added)

As to whether or not you have received a vision from the Lord…you are the only individual who can bare witness to this truth. If you have, hold this experience very sacred and share it only when inspired by the Lord’s spirit to do so.

Gramps