Plan of salvation/Three degrees of glory/Swedenborg

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Questions

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• 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

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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]

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Answer

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== Notes ==

1. [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
2. [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

Joseph Smith: Other visionary experiences

Topics

Moroni's visit (summary)

• • Nephi or Moroni in 1823? (Click here for full article)
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  • Moroni as an "angel of Satan" (Click here for full article)
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External links

• Craig Miller, Did Emanuel Swedenborg Influence LDS Doctrine?, Sunstone Symposium August 7-10, 2002