NOTES.

1. Doctrinal Dominating Influence of Joseph Smith's First Vision: Any exposition of Mormon views of Deity must necessarily begin with this vision, as it is the very beginning and foundation of the Mormon doctrine of God. It establishes the great truth that God is a person, in the sense that he is an individual, in whose likeness man was made. It clearly sets forth that Jesus is also a person in the same sense and distinct from the Father. And it follows that the "oneness" of God must be a moral and spiritual oneness, not a physical identity. (See note 1, part v). The facts set forth in this vision or deducible from it must dominate all Mormon ideas upon the subject of God, and be present in all interpretations of Doctrine and Covenant passages. (See Mormon Doctrine of Deity, chapter 1.) Hence, although this great revelation, so fundamental to Mormon Doctrine, is not given a place in the Doctrine and Covenants (and why has always been a mystery to the writer), it is given in the references that it may stand in its place of first importance among our doctrines.

2. The Literary Style of the Doctrine and Covenants: The literary style of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants is wholly unique. From the nature of some of the revelations, the style necessarily is purely didactic, but even in such revelations the style is particularly striking and impressive. In some of the great doctrinal revelations the style rises to sublimity worthy of the psalms or of St. John. What could be more impressively beautiful, for example, than the opening paragraphs of section 76:

"Hear O ye heavens, and give ear O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior: Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out; his purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand; from eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail. For thus said the Lord, I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end; great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory." (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 76.)

The language and imagery of the whole revelation is surpassingly beautiful. Prophets quite universally are conceded to be akin to poets, and very naturally the language of inspiration takes on the poetic spirit, and examples of this are frequent in the revelations. Take for instance, the following passage, as an example both of sublime poetry and the literature of power. (See note 7, p. 45.)

"I the Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations, to scourge them for their wickedness:

"And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness;

"Until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest;

"And shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song, saying:

"The Lord hath brought again Zion;
The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel,
According to the election of grace,
Which was brought to pass by the faith
And covenant of their fathers.

"The Lord hath redeemed his people,
And Satan is bound and time is no longer:
The Lord hath gathered all things in one;
The Lord hath brought down Zion from above.
The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath.

"The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength:
And truth is established in her bowels:
And the heavens have smiled upon her:
And she is clothed with the glory of her God:
For he stands in the midst of his people:

"Glory, and honor, and power, and might,
Be ascribed to our God; for he is full of mercy,
Justice, grace and truth, and peace,
For ever and ever, Amen."
(Section 84.)