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HARDKNOCK - in the book of mormon 3 nephi ch.15 vs 21-24.CHRIST'S own words puts Joseph Smith's vision to question?
also in scriptures when the LORD speaks(or his angels)don't they begin with"BEHOLD"?
JOEL - Here are the scriptures in question:
21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there
shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
22 And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching.
23 And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not
manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.
24 But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me. (3 Nep 15:21-24)
If I understand your question correctly you are saying that these scriptures say that Jesus should not appear to any Gentile, which would include Joseph Smith.
It was Peter, Paul and the other disciples who took the gospel to the Gentiles after Christ left them. The reality of Christ's resurrection and the truthfulness of his gospel
were not established among Gentiles by His ministry or appearance but rather as the gospel was preached to them by Christ's apostles and accepted through the Holy
Ghost (Acts 10:45) . So it is true that Christ is saying that He would not appear in person to the Gentiles to bring his gospel. However, in the case of His appearance to Joseph Smith; Joseph already believed in Jesus through his upbringing and scripture study. He already knew about Him through the same teachings from Christ's Apostles as recorded in the New Testament, which he studied daily. Christ had already manifested Himself "by the Holy Ghost" to Joseph Smith, the same way the saints in the New Testament had received it. He was already "converted through their preaching" through scripture study. Therefore Joseph was already a believer and should not be considered a "Gentile" in the same sense that Jesus used in the above scriptures. Because of his belief Joseph is considered adopted into the house of Israel as explained by Paul (Romans 9:4-8), and therefore not a Gentile.
Sometimes God or angels preface their pronouncements with "behold" sometimes they don't. "Behold" is just an attention getting word that God, angels, or prophets use to emphasize the importance of what they are about to say. It is used 1500 times in the Book of Mormon by both prophets and angels and 470 times in the Doctrine and Covenants where God reveals His word through Joseph Smith. There are some New Testament events where the word "Behold" is not used at the beginning of an announcement by angels.
When Jesus left His apostles Paul records:
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye
have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11)
In the above scripture, Paul said "behold" but the angels did not.
"And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him."
(Mark 16:4-6)
In this scripture the angels do not begin with "Behold", but only use it later for a different reason.
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