My cousin Todd Bushman reminded our family that today, September 21, 2023, marks the 200th anniversary of Angel Moroni’s first visits to Joseph Smith.
Here are Todd’s thoughts and insights:
200th anniversary of Moroni’s first visit to Joseph Smith is September 21 & 22, 1823
Ever since the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I’ve been excited to start going through the various milestones of the Restoration of the Gospel in their 200th anniversaries, and we are finally at the second fundamental milestone this month.
If you have trouble remembering the date of the first visit, listen to this song by Earth, Wind, and Fire called “September” and you hopefully will find it funny and always remember the date of Moroni’s first visit to Joseph Smith, “Do you remember, the 21st night of September?”
Back during COVID I did a post you can revisit entitled “Joseph Smith’s Visits to the Hill Cumorah”.
September 21, 1823, was a Sunday with sunset taking place at 6:12 p.m. in Manchester, New York, where Joseph and Lucy Mack Smith’s family lived. It would most likely have been after sunset that Joseph and his brothers would all be upstairs in bed that fateful night as Joseph stayed awake praying to know of his status before the Lord. So wherever you are on Thursday, September 21st, 2023, 200 years later take a minute to commemorate this experience sometime after sunset.
I have learned a couple of neat aspects of the dates of the Hill Cumorah visits.
September 21st and 22nd of 1823 were also the first two days of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles which commemorates God’s blessings providing sustenance for the children of Israel during the Exodus. It also is a look ahead to the Messianic Age (Millenium). It seems appropriate that the Lord would use this day to begin to bring his Church out of obscurity and out of the wilderness. The children of Israel experienced God’s sustaining influence during their 40 years of trials, tribulation, and training before they entered the promised land and Joseph would spend 4 years of testing, trial, and training from Moroni before the promised record would be delivered.
Correspondingly, the Exodus occurred after the Passover, which interestingly enough Passover season in the Spring of 1820 when the First Vision occurred was between March 29th and April 7th, so although we don’t know the exact date of the First Vision it is possible it occurred during Passover which seems appropriate that once again the Lord would appear bringing salvation to his people.
September 22, 1824, the date of Joseph and Moroni’s second visit to the Hill Cumorah, was also the Eve of Rosh Hashanah which is the Israelite New Year. Interesting that Joseph did not receive the record on the day before the New Year.
September 22, 1825, was Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement as sacrifice is done to atone for the sins of the people. Seems that if the first visit pointed to ancient Israel as they left Egypt, this visit could be a reminder of the meridian of time when Christ lived upon the Earth and wrought the Atonement.
September 22, 1826, did not have a corresponding Jewish holiday, which I wonder if that is symbolic of the Apostasy and the lack of the Church and authority of God being on the Earth after Christ and before the Restoration.
September 22, 1827, was the day Joseph finally received the plates. It also was the Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah or New Year. This day is also known as the Day of Trumpets, as the blowing of a trumpet symbolizes revelation and covenants (see Exodus 19:16,19). Prayers are also offered up on this day for the Lord to rebuild His temple wherein covenants are made.
John the Revelator prophesied of Moroni’s visit in Revelation 14:6-7 wherein it states
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
NOTE: v.7 talks about a loud voice while Exodus 19 describes the voice of the trumpet being loud. Why? For all to hear of course.
The Lord confirms that this event occurred in the latter days in Doctrine & Covenants 133:36 which states,
I have sent forth mine angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, who hath appeared unto some and hath committed it unto man.
President Hinckley declared, “That angel has come. His name is Moroni” (“Stay the Course—Keep the Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 70).
So, thinking about the day the sacred record is delivered to man by an Angel of God on the Day of Trumpets which also points to the temple it may seem a little more appropriate to you why many temples have an Angel Moroni blowing a trumpet loudly for all to hear to gather to the temple to partake of the sacred ordinances that the Restoration of the Gospel that began with The First Vision and the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon brought forth. Truly Moroni blowing a trumpet is symbolic of revelation and covenants which is what the Holy Temples are all about. How fitting that even the day the Book of Mormon is delivered is symbolic of the outcome of that event.
I hope you all take a moment on Sept 21st to celebrate this amazing 200th anniversary and that you too become a witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the events that led to its translation and publication.
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