“Their Brightness Did Exceed That of the Stars”

Alan C. Miner

In Lehi’s vision, he saw “one descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament” (1 Nephi 1:9-10). It is interesting that if the glory of the Twelve “did exceed” the brightness of the stars, then they were brighter than the stars. And if we use the LDS comparisons made to the three kingdoms of heaven (sun, moon, & stars--see 1 Corinthians 15:41), then their glory would have been of a terrestrial nature. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]

According to John Welch, a book as a symbol in the revelatory experience is also found in 1 Enoch and the Vision of Hermas. [John W. Welch, “The Book of Mormon and the Heavenly Book Motif,” in Reexploring the Book of Mormon, pp. 26-28]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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