Without Disclosing My True Identity
not to do something is like giving him tacit permission to do it, as long as the parent doesn’t
find out about it—at least that is how it is perceived by the teenage mind that concentrates
more on the behavior than on the consequences of the behavior.
Joseph learned from early events during his training the consequences of not abiding
by the counsel he was given. Years later, he wrote about the experiences that he
encountered following his meeting with Christ (including those discussed previously):
Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one
of the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before mentioned
religious excitement; and, conversing with him on the subject of religion, I
took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was
greatly surprised at his behavior; he treated my communication not only
lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were
no such things as visions or revelations in these days;^5 that all such things
had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be any more of
them. I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great
deal of prejudice against me^6 among professors of religion, and was the cause
of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an
obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my
circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world,
yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public
mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common
among all the sects—all united to persecute me.^7The Heavy Ears and Fat Hearts of the People, Because They Desired It
It was increasingly apparent that there was no way anyone belonging to any
religious sect at the time would believe what Joseph was taught. And after seven years of
training, Joseph finally understood that he could never again reveal his true identity or
what he knew about the “mysteries of God.” The people didn’t want to know real truth.
Instead, they wanted religion, vagueness, and esoteric mystery that made their “ears heavy”
and their “hearts fat.”^8 The correct translation of a passage from Isaiah explains this
religious craving. (The bold italic indicates the difference from the King James translation):
Go, and tell this people, Ye hear indeed, but ye do not understand; and ye see
indeed, but perceive not that which ye see. Therefore thou shalt give unto them
that for which they seek, and those things which they do not understand, for
they seek to hear heavy things, and their hearts are full of excess because they
desire that which maketh their ears heavy, even that which they do not
understand. Preach unto them much and make their ears heavy with your
preaching; yea, make the heart of this people fat in that which they desire, but
shut their eyes to the truth that would heal them; For they are a fallen people
who seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness so that they see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert,
and be healed.^9