Fifteen (1820)
they really are, while lacking real experience. Older teens have been foundationally
imprinted to the point that their course in life has already been largely determined; but
worst of all, they tend to be very inflexible and rebellious. This leaves the younger teenager,
whose mind is perfect! Not only is it becoming independent, but it is also still searching for
answers. A teenager has the mental skills necessary, without yet having a hardened,
permanent foundation, to understand new concepts and explore different possibilities.
A white, male teenager living in the most liberal country in the world at the time
was the obvious choice for the most significant task given to a human since Christ. John, in
his Apocalyptic “disclosure,” indicated that 1830 was the year that the period of time was to
begin wherein man would be given their final opportunity to prove their humanity.^6 The
year 1820 would begin a decade of training to prepare their young teenage true messenger.
To make the choice even more neutral, a youth was found (as planned) that had the most
common name available in his society—Joseph Smith. As mentioned in the preceding
chapters of this biography, there was some intervention in deriving Joseph’s given name, his
sibling affiliations, and his upbringing by his parents. The proper environment had been set
up so that Joseph could become the type of teenager who would serve the purposes of the
advanced human beings responsible for overseeing this solar system.
On April 6, 1820, an advanced human being appeared in person to Joseph Smith. For
the first time since Joseph made the claim, the details of this appearance will be given—what
actually happened, how it happened, why it happened, where it happened, and who was
present when and as it happened. Not at any time during his mortality was Joseph Smith
allowed to reveal his true identity or to give the full details of what truly happened to him in
the area of Palmyra and Manchester, New York on that profound and unique occasion. Until
this authorized and official biography, the full truth of that event has never been revealed.
The story Joseph did reveal gives an honest enough rendition of why he retired to a
secluded place^7 in a grove of trees near his home.^8 He had been confronted with the
conflicting religious views of his parents and the firm atheistic view of his older brother and
mentor. He had also observed the actions of hypocritical adults preaching the love of Jesus
but then treating each other poorly. As any teenager would, Joseph wanted to find the truth
for himself. Although, as he would later be mandated, Joseph presented what happened
with a strong religious overtone meant for a pious people who believed in God and Jesus,
there was nothing religious about the experience at all.
Giving Mortals One Last Chance to be True to Their Humanity
Before we delve into the experience Joseph had that April day in 1820, we need to
consider a few details regarding our existence. As discussed within this biography, there are
human beings living throughout the Universe in different stages of human development^9 —
some more advanced than those upon this earth, some not as advanced. Only the most
highly advanced societies have the knowledge, technology, and power to create new human
beings and the new solar systems in which these newly created humans will eventually live
forever in the Universe.
According to modern scientific observation, the Universe seems to be expanding or
spreading apart, because it is—but not from a so-called “big bang.”^10 It is expanding
(growing larger in number, and hence, in size) because of the continual creation of new solar
systems and galaxies that house the eternal increase of the human race throughout the
Universe—it is really that simple! The problem with this simplicity comes with the question