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Question: Does the use of the capitalized word "Angel" in the 14 November 1835 account refer to Deity?
Question: Does the use of the capitalized word "Angel" in the 14 November 1835 account refer to Diety?
The capitalized "Angel" may be used to refer to Deity, but not exclusively
The examples of the usage of the words "angel" and "Angel" clearly show that, although the capitalized version of the word can be used to refer to Deity, it is not exclusively used in this manner.
The accounts are not, as one critic states, "all over the place" on this issue:
- 1832 Account by Joseph Smith/Frederic G. Williams—
....I saw the Lord - 1835 Account by Joseph Smith (9 Nov. 1835)—
....a personage appeard....another personage soon appeard....and I saw many angels in this vision.... - 1835 Account by Joseph Smith (14 Nov. 1835)—(This account is simply a one line summary of the detailed vision written five days earlier)
I received the first visitation of Angels which was when I was about 14. - 1838 Account by Joseph Smith (published in 1842)—
I saw two Personages.... - 1840 Account by Orson Pratt—
....saw two glorious personages.... - 1842 Account by Joseph Smith (Wentworth Letter)—
....saw two glorious personages.... - 1842 Account by Orson Hyde—
Two glorious heavenly personages stood before him.... - 1843 Account by The Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette—
....then a glorious personage in the light, and then another personage.... - 1843 Account by Levi Richards—
....he went into the grove & enquired of the Lord which of all the sects were right.... - 1844 Account by Daniel Rupp—
....saw two glorious personages.... - 1844 Account by Alexander Neibaur—
....saw a personage....a other person came to the side of the first....
Notes