Analysis of [Mosiah] Hancock Vision

2007-12-1 13:40:00

One of the problems on the path for many seekers is their over reliance on authoritative sources. This problem begins with the scriptures themselves. Even though a scripture may be true it is still subject to many interpretations. Many will thus look at a true scripture and receive from it an erroneous interpretation and cling to that interpretation because it is "the infallible word of God" and is not to be questioned.

The wise seeker will not automatically accept a common interpretation to scripture or even that which at first appears obvious. The only way to know if you are on the right track is to see the principle behind the words and then see that your interpretation aligns up with true principles.

This problem is extended, especially among the LDS, to early Mormon figures who are considered an authoritative source. Many will read a statement, revelation or vision from them and accept it without question. Even if part of the material is obviously incorrect this does not challenge belief in any way.

I've seen this vision by Mosiah Hancock and others quoted as if we are to accept them without question because it was given by one of the early brethren. The first problem though is that there are several things that are obviously incorrect so the true seeker should question it immediately, but I do not see this happening among Mormon believers.

The truth is that most visions contain some seeds of truth, but few are literally true. An intuitive connection with the higher spheres wherein true principles lie will bring forth much more accurate truth than a literal study of the scriptures, visions, authorities etc. These should be used as seed thoughts to elevate the mind to the world of principles rather than literal truth that can wind up having a hundred different interpretations.

Many visions come because a person is seeking an answer over a period of time. The question is that if the person is sincere why would he get a vision that is not 100 percent accurate?

The answer is simple. Few are capable of receiving a vision that is 100 percent accurate. Each person will receive truth from a higher source that is filtered through his belief system.

Mosiah's vision was no exception. He was given the highest he could receive without shattering his belief system. The vision he received made him feel like continuing the good fight and it thus served its purpose.

The errors in it are not the fault of God but of the many filters constructed that the answer must pass through.

That said let us examine this vision in the light of day without preconceived notions.

There are several things that do not make sense here and I'm surprised that no one has ever, to my knowledge, pointed them out.

We are told that the female companions of the followers of Satan were not cast down and would be given to the faithful warriors. The vision says that one third did not take sides and these will only have one mate. Doing the math here this means that there should be 50 percent more females allotted to the earth than males.

Problem: There have never been 50 percent more females on the earth than males. Birth has always been close to 50-50.

Those who refused to participate in the war in heaven were to be a "race of servants." Notice that he says "race" and not "races." In Mosiah's day the race of servants was interpreted to be the black race. The vision says these are a third of the hosts of heaven. That would mean that half the people born on earth should be black - and this is not the case -- by far.

Do you really believe that every black man here refused to go to war in the pre-existence whereas all the others did? This does not add up.

"The females were taught to weave, to knit, to sew and to work in everything in their departments."

I think my wife skipped class here. She neither weaves, nor knits or sews and few do in this age. Even in Mosiah's age a woman could learn to weave, knit and sew without previously knowing how to do it. It seems to be a great cosmic waste of time for all the females to spend an eternity learning this knowledge which is not required from this age forward.

Besides, in the higher spheres our clothing can be created by the power of thought. No weaving is necessary.

"No females took part against the Father and the Son, but all took sides in their favor, except the. neutral ones already mentioned."

"I never saw a female leave her place in the class assigned her by the Heavenly powers."

This does not make sense at all. If you believe that there were billions upon billions of females there who had their agency and not one single one rebelled with the billions of males who rebelled then I have some green cheese to sell you from the moon.

What makes this even more unbelievable is that one third of the females took their male companions by the arm and made them not participate in the war. So billions of females resisted going to war but none rebelled with their mates?

Does not compute.

I'll tell you this. If you have known some of the females I have known you would know with crystal clarity that many of them are just as capable of rebelling against a plan as are the males.

Spirits were sworn to commitments that they would have no memory of when they came to earth.

They were asked:

"Will you obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, when you go to that earth?"

"Will you obey that higher law?"

"Again the question would be asked of the males, If you will not join the Church of Christ, what do you wish to be?"

"Will you sustain the laws of God and also the rights of all mankind?' and the answer in every instance was, yes."

Now let us look at the situation here as accepted by traditional Mormonism. In the pre-existence we were told we were being sent to the earth, but we will lose our entire memory of our previous existence as well as any intentions we had then. Then, before we take off to earth we are supposed to promise God what we will do when we get there.

In this circumstance if I were asked of I would "obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ" I would answer something like this.

"Well, it looks like I am going to start with a blank slate when I am born on earth. I would hope that I will chose right when I get there but I do not see where I have the power to commit to something I will not remember. Why would you require this of me? Just send me down and see what happens. Then you will know if I will choose right or not."

The rebellion.

The first thinking that seems strange about this is that even before the rebellion Lucifer is described as being "a very high military officer."

This tells us that in this supposedly peaceful pre-mortal state that God had a military composed of various ranks and orders. Why would an omnipotent God have a military composed of spirits that cannot hurt each other?

Then when the war of rebellion was fought we are told:

"At last I saw, as it were, a platform extended where the contest could be decided. I was indignant at the opposition as we fought with our opponents."

This seems an odd way to fight a battle in heaven. It is also interesting that no one seems to have a clue as to how the battle was fought. They were all spirits so they could not kill each other. What did they do then have a big shouting match? Were the third just pushed off the platform so they fell to earth.

Much is missing from the picture here.

That said then what is the truth of the matter here? Was Mosiah's vision pure folly?

No.

He was given some basic truth given through the filters of his belief system but those who read it literally will greatly miss the mark. The core truths must be seen and interpreted through the spirit. The vision was helpful to Mosiah's progress at the time but not helpful to many in this age.