FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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[[Image:Emanuel_Swedenborg_full_portrait.jpg|frame|right|Some believe that Joseph Smith borrowed the concept of three degrees of glory from Swedish philosopher and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772). This portrait shows him at age 75. Original from en.wikipedia.org.]] | [[Image:Emanuel_Swedenborg_full_portrait.jpg|frame|right|Some believe that Joseph Smith borrowed the concept of three degrees of glory from Swedish philosopher and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772). This portrait shows him at age 75. Original from en.wikipedia.org.]] | ||
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Revision as of 21:55, 9 February 2010
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Contents
Criticism
- Critics claim that Joseph Smith derived the idea of "three degrees of glory" in the afterlife from Emanuel Swedenborg's book, Heaven and its Wonders and Hell From Things Heard and Seen (1758).[1]
- Critics claim that Joseph Smith's practice of plural marriage was similar to Swedenborg's philosophy of "spiritual wifery."
Some believe that Joseph Smith borrowed the concept of three degrees of glory from Swedish philosopher and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772). This portrait shows him at age 75. Original from en.wikipedia.org.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
Response
Not original to Swedenborg
It is important to realize that Swedenborg was hardly the first theologian or thinker to suggest that heavenly rewards were not all identical, but graduated into degrees of glory.
The discussion and debate about the fate of the righteous in heaven goes back to the earliest Christian centuries.
Non-LDS scholar Emma Disley indicates that the primary sources for the idea of different degrees of glory are Matthew 5; John 14꞉2 ("in my Father's house are many mansions"); Matt 5; John 14.2 (‘many mansions’); 1 Corinithians 15꞉41 (stars differ in glory from one another); Matthew 20꞉1-4 (parable of the Vineyard).
Thus, the "raw material" for such ideas is Biblical, and noted long before Joseph or Swedenborg. Joseph received the vision of the three degrees of glory on 16 February 1832. Joseph had been involved in his translation/revision of the Bible, and indicates that this effort was what led to the reflections which preceded the vision. Joseph indicated that the vision came after reading John 5꞉29: "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."[2]
Conclusion
Endnotes
- [note] The Latin title of the original was De Caelo et Ejus Mirabilibus et de inferno, ex Auditis et Visis. An on-line version is available as translated by J.C. Ager, off-site
- [note] See D&C 76; see also Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 volumes, edited by Brigham H. Roberts, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1957), 1:245–252. Volume 1 link
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
Joseph Smith: Other visionary experiences
Topics
Moroni's visit (summary)
Joseph Smith's early conception of God
Personages who appeared to Joseph Smith
Swedenborg and three degrees of glory
FAIR web site
External links
- Craig Miller, Did Emanuel Swedenborg Influence LDS Doctrine?, Sunstone Symposium August 7-10, 2002