Sunday Thoughts: Stephens Vision, Acts 7

Today our primary lesson was on Acts chapter 7. I'm not really sure why the story of Stephen didn't ring a bell. I know that I have read it several times before, and yet I could not remember it. It was like reading it for the first time.

As Stephen is being stoned to death he looks up and being full of the Holy Ghost he sees Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God.

 55 But he, being full of the ^aHoly Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the ^bglory of ^cGod, and ^dJesus ^estanding on the^fright hand of God,

 56 And said, Behold, I ^asee the heavens ^bopened, and the ^cSon of man standing on the right ^dhand of ^eGod. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their ^aclothes at a ^byoung man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they ^astoned ^bStephen, ^ccalling upon ^dGod, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my ^espirit.

 60 And he kneeled down, and ^acried with a loud voice, ^bLord, lay not this sin to their ^ccharge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen sees God the Father and his son Jesus Christ standing next to each other.

 I know that many Christians have been taught their whole lives to believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are all the same, as in the Holy Trinity.

One major fundamental difference in the Doctrine taught by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that we believe that God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost are all separate personages; yet one in purpose.

I think that this chapter in the New Testament perfectly illustrates that they ARE separate beings.

Joseph Smith also had a vision. You can read about his vision {HERE}.

 I saw a pillar of ^clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the ^dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

When the light rested upon me I^bsaw two ^cPersonages, whose brightness and ^dglory defy all description, ^estanding above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My^fBeloved ^gSon. Hear Him!

The prophet Joseph Smith also saw both God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Here I have shared two witnesses of God and Jesus standing side by side; Distinctly different beings.

The Prophet Joseph smith also brought forth and translated The Book Of Mormon which you can read {HERE}. 

I feel so blessed and grateful that I have this knowledge. I am so grateful for my testimony of  a loving Heavenly Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

I feel that by understanding their true nature, I am able to know them more fully and exercise faith in them more strongly.

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I also wanted to include a video of Scott {my super cute and awesome husband...oh, and talented too} playing his violin at a fireside last night. The camera was discretely sat on my lap so ignore the blurriness.


Scott Peterson on the Violin from Erin Peteson on Vimeo.

Hope you enjoyed it. I have a love for violin music. It cuts me to the core!!!