Below is a listing of the known personages who appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith or who were seen by him in vision. We know from the prophet that he knew so much more then he was able to reveal to the saints. In fact, this is one thing that pained him very much. he yeared to give the saints more then what they had but the saints were unprepared to receive it.

We hear many times that we are to prepare for the second coming, but what exactly are we preparing for? The Book of Mormon gives us an insight into the answer to this question.

Alma 13:24

For behold, ^aangels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

Alma 16:16

And there was ^ano inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their ^bhearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—

Alma 39:16

And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their ^achildren to hear the word at the time of his coming.

As we can see, we are to prepare our minds for the further light and knowledge that has been promised to be sent to us. we know the pattern in the book of Mormon is the same for our day. We are to prepare in the same Way they were to prepare. It is our charge to prepare out minds and the minds of our children for further light and knowledge when the savior comes. So how do we prepare our minds? through obedience to his commandments, we learn from section 93 that as we are obedient we receive further light and truth into our spirits. Thus giving us greater capacity to receive more light and knowledge. remember the words from Alma 12.

9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to ^aknow the ^bmysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart ^conly according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

10 And therefore, he that will ^aharden his heart, the same receiveth the ^blesser portion of the word; and he that will ^cnot harden his heart, to him is ^dgiven the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser ^aportion of the word until they ^bknow nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the ^cchains of ^dhell.

# Personage References

1. God the Father JS-H 1:17; HC 1:5; D&C 76:20

2. Jesus Christ JS-H 1:17; HC 1:5-6; D&C 76:20-24; D&C 110:2-10

3. Moroni JS-H 1:30-49; JD 17:374

4. Elijah D&C 110:13-16; JD 23:48

5. John the Baptist D&C 13; HC 1:39-40

6-8. Peter, James, John D&C 27:12; D&C 128:20; HC 1:40-42;
JD 18:326
9. Adam (Michael) HC 3:388; D&C 128:21; HC 2:380; JD 18:326

10. Noah (Gabriel) D&C 128:21; JD 21:94

11. Raphael D&C 128:21

12. Moses D&C 110:11; JD 21:65

13. Elias D&C 110:12; D&C 27:6; JD 23:48

14. Joseph, son of Jacob D&C 27:10

15. Abraham D&C 27:10; JD 21:94

16. Isaac D&C 27:10; JD 21:94

17. Jacob D&C 27:10; JD 21:94


18. Enoch JD 21:65

19-27. Twelve Jewish Apostles JD 21:94
(Peter, James, and John already counted above.) (Names are in Matt 10:1-4 & Luke 6:13-16)

28-39. Twelve Nephite Apostles JD 21:94
(Including Three Nephites; names are recorded in 3 Nephi 19:4)

40. Nephi JD 21:161; Orson Pratt Letter Box 3/11/1876 (CHO)


41. Seth JD 21:94; HC 3:388; D&C 107:53-57


42. Methuselah JD 21:94; HC 3:388; D&C 107:53-57

43. Enos JD 21:94; HC 3:388; D&C 107:53-57

44. Mahalaleel JD 21:94; HC 3:388; D&C 107:53-57


45. Jared (Bible) HC 3:388; D&C 107:53-57


46. Lamech JD 18:325

47. Abel JD 18:325; HC 3:388

48. Cainan HC 3:388; D&C 107:53-57

49. Zelph the Lamanite T&S 6:788

50. Alvin Smith HC 2:380

51. Mormon JD 17:374

52. Paul TPJS 180

53. Eve Oliver B. Huntington Diary, Part 2, 214, BYU Library

54. Alma JD 13:47

55. Unnamed Angel D&C 27 (Concerning wine in Sacrament) HC 1:106
56. Unnamed Angel Sent to accept dedication of Temple. Life of Heber C.
Kimball, 106; Temples of the Most High, 159
57. Unnamed angel Visited Joseph Smith three different times
and commanded him to practice polygamy-
Eliza R. Snow, Biography and Family Records of Lorenzo
Snow 69-70
58. "I saw many angels" Warren Cowdery's Account of the First Vision.
Joseph Smith's First Vision, 159
59. Satan, as an angel of Light (and his associates) D&C 128:20; JD 3:229-30

(Susan Easton Black and Charles D. Tate, Jr., eds., Joseph Smith: The Prophet, The Man, p.184-186)

Many articles have been written by scholars showing the possible connections between volcanic eruptions and the massive destruction that took place among the nephits at Christs Crucifixion. In light of the massive volcanic eruption in Iceland this past week I could not help but think of 3 nephi 8-9 which describes this destruction. Here are some pictures that were taken of the volcanic eruption in Iceland, notice the think dark clouds and the massive lightning storms. It reminds me of the description of in 3 nephi 8-9. below is a list of the distruction that took place.

a great and terrible tempest (3 Nephi 8:6)
terrible thunder that shook the whole earth (3 Nephi 8:6)
exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land (3 Nephi 8:7)
earth being carried up upon the city of Moronihah (3 Nephi 8:10)3
whirlwinds (3 Nephi 8:12)
earthquakes which roughened many smooth places and caused some cities to sink, some to burn, and the buildings of some to collapse (3 Nephi 8:13–14)
destruction for about three hours (3 Nephi 8:19)4
cities sunk in the sea (3 Nephi 9:4, 6–7)
the burning of cities (3 Nephi 9:9–10)
darkness to such an extent that not a glimmer of light was seen for three days (3 Nephi 6:20–22); indeed, according to the prophecy of Helaman, "darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days" (Helaman 14:27)

If you are interested in learning more I have provided the links below to a few articles that make this point, they are very interesting.

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=3&num=1&id=54

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=2&num=1&id=22

http://byustudies.byu.edu/PDFLibrary/EntireJournals/1997-1998_v37_n03%205a819570-a002-4dc4-8213-d5637c08cd2e.pdf

for more images see the following links:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html?camp=localsearch:on:twit:bigpic

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36645958?GT1=43001

I was listening to a CES firside by Elder Nelson yesterday and he gave the following council regarding music. he talked about good uplifting music as a protection to us spiritually. he also gave us council as to what kinds of music to avoid. i hope you enjoy this counsel. i have placed the words and sentences in bold that stood out to me, also i put my thoughts in parentheses.

"Worthy music not only has power, but it can also provide protection. For many years President Boyd K. Packer has taught this concept. He has often quoted another statement issued by the First Presidency many years ago:
"Music can be used to exalt and inspire or to carry messages of degradation and destruction. It is therefore important that as Latter-day Saints we at all times apply the principles of the gospel and seek the guidance of the Spirit in selecting the music with which we surround ourselves.
"Brethren and sisters, wherever we are, we should carefully choose what we see and hear. Some of you would not knowingly tolerate pornography in your homes, yet you would allow music into your lives that can be just as devastating. (Elder Nelson makes the link between pornography and unworthy music. do we underestimate the power and influence music can have.)
"Many youth listen to music that can be described as loud and fast, becoming louder and faster. It aims to agitate, not to pacify; to excite more than to calm. Beware of that kind of music. (we can know if music is good by the effects it has on our minds and hearts. to pacify is means to "end war, fighting, or violence in; establish peace in." music should bring us peace, not hype us up.)
"As you know, continued exposure to loud sounds will, in time, damage delicate organs of hearing. In like manner, if you overindulge in loud music, you will more likely become spiritually deaf. You may not be able to hear the still, small voice. A scripture states:
The Lord your God . . . hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words. [1 Nephi 17:45] (this is the most important point of all the counsel. music can effect our sensitivity to the spirit. we need to do everything we can to protect that channel of spiritual communication. we can easily conclude that good music will put us in a state where we can hear the spirit more readily.)
"Do not degrade yourself with the numbing shabbiness and irreverence of music that is not worthy of you. Delete the rubbish from your minds and your iPods. Protect your own personal standards! Be selective! Be wise!
Do not allow unworthy, raucous music to enter your life. It is not harmless. It can weaken your defense and allow unworthy thoughts into your mind and pave the way to unworthy acts. Please remember:
That which [does] not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
That which is of God is light. [D&C 50:23–24]
Dear brothers and sisters, please fill your minds with worthy sights and sounds. Cultivate your precious gift of the Holy Ghost. Protect it as the priceless gift that it is. Carefully listen for its quiet communication. You will be spiritually stronger if you do. You know the proverb “As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). As you control your thoughts, you control your actions. Indeed, worthy music can provide power and protection for your soul. (the above is taken from a CES fireside given by Elder Nelson.)

as i read this i could not help but think of the influence music will have on my family, particularly my children. if bad music will have a negative impact on my children. then i must teach them to love good music, one way i can do that is by learning to love good music myself and exposing that to them. we must lead by example.

please share your thougth's and ideas