Vision

    Visions are gifts from God, a form of revelation that allows for deeper communication through symbols and images. It is therefore a gift that we have to work for since we need to interpret. Visions require(and are intricately connected to) service, faith, desire, obedience, and the Spirit. Where there are visions, there is always faith and the Holy Ghost. Visions(and the Spirit) help you discern. Visions are a protection, a witness, a guidance, for "where there are no visions, the people perish." Visions are gifts given for many purposes: knowledge/revelation, witnesses, communication, protection, physical help, miracles, comfort, power, faith, and repentance. Believe in visions, pray for visions, look to the prophets for visions. If you do not deny your visions, if you act on them, you will continue to have more.

*Gen 15:1 - The Lord speaks through visions - Get 46:2, Psalms 89:19

*Num 12:6 - God makes himself known through visions, speaks through dreams

*Num 24:4 - Vision of the Almighty: falling into a trance with your eyes open

*1 Sam 3:1 - There have been periods on earth with no open visions, closed to all but prophets

*1 Sam 3:15 - Samuel is afraid to show Eli vision, do not be afraid of visions

*2 Sam 7:17, 1 Chron 17:15 - Nathan fulfilled visions by speaking to David

*2 Chron 26:5 - Some people have the gift of understanding visions

*Job 4:13 - Sometimes you can have thoughts, impressions, from the visions of the night.

*Job 7:14 - Job was haunted by dreams and visions

*Job 33:15-16 - "in a dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbering upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction."

*2 Nephi 27:3 - Those who fight against Zion will live as though in a dream - empty (eat or drink in a dream and awake still hungry and thirsty)

*Proverbs 29:18 - "WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH."

*Isaiah 1:1 - Isaiah had no visions

*Isaiah 22:1 - "burden of the valley of vision" are messages of doom(footnote)

*Isaiah 28:7 - Religious leaders can err in vision when they are swallowed in strong drink(pride, vanity, etc.)

*Isaiah 29:11 - Vision of the Book of Mormon, learned saying "I cannot, for it is sealed."

*Jerimiah 1:11 - The Lord gives us visions, but asks us to interpret

*Jer 14:14, 23:16 - Some prophecy of false visions, 'visions of their own heart' - be wary

*Lam 2:9 - Where there is destruction there is loss of vision(vision=revelation)

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW VISIONS, READ EZEKIEL

*Ezek 1:1, 8:3, 11:24 - Ezekiel was a man of visions

*Ezek 7:26 - When destruction comes, people will seek visions from prophets

*Ezek 12:22-25 - Some men will say the time has come and all visions have failed(were true because they did not happen), but the Lord will fulfill every righteous vision

*Ezek 13:7 - Beware of vain visions

*Ezek 40 - Visions of city with temple, Ezek 43 - more visions of city

*Dan 1:17 - Daniel "had understanding in all visions and dreams."

*Dan 2:19 - Secrets revealed to Daniel through night visions, Dan 7:2, 8:1, 8:26

*Dan 9:24 - Time is required to "seal up" a vision

*Dan 10:7 - Daniel saw the vision alone, other men fled

*Hos 12:10 - The Lord speaks through visions

*Joel 2:28(Acts 2:17) - In the last days, the Lord will pour out His spirit and we will have visions

*Micah 3:6 - false priests and prophets will have no visions

*Obadiah+Nahum - books based on visions of authors

*Hab 2:2 - Write down your visions, make them clear

*Zech 13:4-5 - In the last days, simple men will have visions - some will be ashamed

*Matt 17:9 - There is a time and place for sharing visions, they are sacred.

*Luke 1:22 - Effects of vision on Zacharias - speechless

*Luke 24:22 - The Resurrection was accompanied by visions of angels

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW VISIONS, READ ACTS

*Acts 7:55 - Stephen has a vision of God and Jesus while being persecuted

*Acts 9:10-22 - Ananias has a vision because Paul had a vision, sometimes visions go against our own judgements - Ananias did not want to heal Paul because of his evil persecutions

*Acts 10 - God sent visions to both Cornelius and Peter to get them to meet

*Acts 11:5 - Peter recounts his vision, acts on it, NOTHING DOUBTING

*Acts 12:9 - A vision of an angel frees Peter from prison

*Acts 16:9-10 - Paul had a vision, acted on it immediately (Acts 26:19 - obedience and visions) 

*Acts 18:9-10, 23:11(more visions of comfort) - Vision to Paul: don't be afraid, speak, the Lord is with thee

*Acts 27:23-25, Acts 26:19, 16: 9-10, 2 Cor 12:1 - Paul was a man of visions because 1) He was a servant of God("God, whose I am, and whom I serve") 2) He was a man of faith ("for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me") and 3) He was obedient 

*Rev 9: John's visions of second coming

*1 Nephi 1:8, 2 Nephi 1:4 - Lehi was a man of visions, 1 Nephi 8:2, 1 Nephi 5:4

*1 Nephi 5:4 - Visions testify of the goodness of God

*1 Nephi 10:17 - Nephi asks for testimony of Lehi's visions, "was desirous also that I might see, and hear and know of the these things by the power of the Holy Ghost" Visions require faith, desire, and the Holy Ghost.

*2 Nephi 4:23 - Knowledge is transferred through visions(many purposed to visions: knowledge, witness, communication, protection, miracles, power, faith, repentance)

*Alma 8:20 - Amulek receives vision to help Alma, Alma has vision to return

*Alma 19:16 - Abish converted due to vision of her father

*Alma 38:7 - Alma had vision to repent

*D&C 76:14, 50 - Joseph Smith saw and conversed with Jesus in heavenly visions

*D&C 76:47 - The Lord shows many by visions

*D&C 76:80, 137:1, 138:60 - Revelations of principles and doctrine given through visions, whether they are given inside or outside of the body, it matters not (doctrine by vision: redemption of dead, kingdoms, celestial glory)

*D&C 110:11 - Jesus visits Kirtland temple, then Moses, Elias, and Elijah

*Moses 1:2 - When Moses had a vision and saw and spoke with God face to face, he needed to separate strength/Spirit/glory to have power to endure His presence.

*Moses 1:27 - Moses had a vision of the earth - discerning every particle by the Spirit. (With the Spirit I think you can have "visions" of people, discerning all their particles - all the things that make them who they are)

*Moses 7:23 - Enoch's vision of Zion ascending to heaven and all the nations of earth

*Abraham 1:15 - A vision came as an answer to prayer, filling Abraham so that he could escape, an angel unloosed his bands and saved his life.

*JSH 1:17, 21, 24, 33, 72 - Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in a vision, he communicated with them. He could never deny the vision. He continued to have more. Verse 24: The best! Acts 22:6 - Paul's vision

*Article of Faith 7 - We believe in visions.

Jerusalem

 Jerusalem is a symbolic city representing the individual - both the city of righteousness and the city of harlots. The city, like the individual, goes through a continuous cycle of destruction and salvation - the living Atonement. Like us, Jerusalem will be ultimately saved, made the throne of the Lord, a gathering place, a city of truth, the Lord will fight for it(us) until it shall be redeemed. Remember that during the hard times that the Lord will defend you and fight for you and because to him you are like the city that shall not be forgotten. *Christ's lineage is through Jerusalem, so in His blood runs the history of the fallen/lost/destroyed and found/redeemed/renewed.

*Gen 14:8 - Melchizedek was king, brought bread and wine

*Josh 15:63, Jed 1:21 - The Jebusites dwell in Jerusalem, they could not be driven out

*Judges 1:8 - Children of Judah fought Jerusalem and took it

*2 Sam 5:6 - Jerusalem is the City of David

*1 Chron 1:11 - Jerusalem comes from Jebus, Jebusites dwell there

*2 Kings 18:17(Isa 36:2, 2 Kings 24:10, 25:6, 2 Chron 36:19, Jer 52:14) Great armies come against Jerusalem(Nebuchanezzar, Chaldees, Lehulstime)

*2 Chron 36:22 - Go up to the house at Jerusalem

*Ezra 1:2 - Built by Cyrus

*Neh 2:17 - When you are in distress and you've been burned, rebuild your walls.

*Psalms 51:18 - "Do good in thy pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jews."

*Isa 1:26 - Jerusalem is the city of righteousness, the faithful city

*Isa 4:3 - If you're left in Jerusalem, you are called holy or saved by the approval of the Messiah(see footnote)

*Isa 48:2 - Some people call themselves holy and pretend to call on God(1 Nephi 20:2)

*Isa 52:1 - Jerusalem shall be redeemed(it is a symbol for ourselves)

*Isa 62:7-12 - Jerusalem shall be praised, redeemed, sought out, made holy, "a city not forgotten"

*Jer 3:17 - One day, Jerusalem will be called the throne of the Lord, all nations will gather to it.

*Jer 26:18, Micah 3:12 - Jerusalem shall become heaps

*Jer 39:1 - Jerusalem captured by king of Babylon

*Ezekiel 16 - Jerusalem is a metaphor for us - has become a harlot, worshipping fake gods, taken on sins of the nations around her but she will repent and renew covenants with the Lord.

*Ezekiel 26:2 - Do not rejoice in the fall of others

*Dan 9:16 - Prophets plead for Jerusalem

*Joel 2:32 - Whoever calls on the Lord, like Jerusalem, shall be saved

*Joel 3:17 - Jerusalem shall be made holy and "no strangers pass through her anymore" *What strangers do we have in our heart?

*Micah 4:2 - The word will come out of Jerusalem, the law out of Zion

*Zech 8:3 - Jerusalem is the city of truth, the Lord will return to His holy mountain

*Zech 12:6-8 - The Lord will defend Jerusalem. It shall be redeemed. All those that are weak will be like David.

*Zech 14 - In the last days, the Lord will fight for Jerusalem.

Israel, Bondage of, In Other Lands

The history of Israel in bondage and scattered is a symbolic history for the pattern of obedience and faith leading to salvation, and disobedience and disunity leading to destruction. But even worse than destruction is to be scattered or lost. The symbol of the olive branch means peace because it is a chance to be reunited with the tree. God always lays paths before you and ALWAYS gives you the choice of which path to take: salvation or destruction. Christ's heritage includes ancestors who were captives of Babylon, so in His literal blood is the symbolic message of captivity/lost, redemption, and inheritance.

*2 Kings 15:29 - Captive of Assyria

*2 Kings 24:15, 25:7, 2 Chronicles 36:10,20 - Captive of Babylon

*Isaiah 48:20, Jer 50:8, 1 Nephi 20:20 - Captive of Chaldeans/Babylon, flee with singing of redemption

*Jer 21:7-8 - The Lord delivers Jerusalem to Babylon, hence destruction. He sets before them the way of life and the way of death and they chose. 

*Jer 25:8-11 - Utter destruction/captivity/no fun - they didn't listen.

*Jer 32:5, 34:3 - They will not prosper in captivity until the Lord visits.

*Jer 52:11, Omni 1:15 - Zedekiah blinded, chained, imprisoned in Babylon

*Jer 34:3 - The Lord delivers Jerusalem to Babylon

*Ezek 1:1 - Ezekiel has visions while in bondage.

*Ezek 12:13-15 - When He scatters them, they will know He is the Lord.

*Ezek 17:15-20 - Those who rebelled died in Babylon - very symbolic

*Dan 1:2 - The Lord "gives" away the king of Judah

*Matt 1:1 - Part of Christ's heritage are those who were captive in Babylon, 1 Nephi 10:3 - Captivity was in "due time of the Lord" and they were brought back to their inheritance *within Christ's own heritage is the symbolic history of captivity, redemption, and inheritance - it's in His blood.

*Luke 21:24 - Jerusalem will be trodden down until the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled.

*1 Nephi 10:12 - Israel is like an olive tree, branches out and scattered. Olive branch is like the symbol of peace because it's coming home , it wants to be reunited

*1 Nephi 19:14 - They were scattered and bound 1st because their hearts were the same.

*2 Nephi 6:6-13 - Entire history and reasons why they're bound: hard hearts, stiff necks, no Messiah - come back because of prayers of faith.

*2 Nephi 10:6 - Step below destruction is to be scattered(shows you the importance of unity)

*2 Nephi 25:15 - Scattered by ALL nations

*Jacob 5:14 - Parable of the vineyard branches scattered

*D&C 33:26 - They will be remembered.

*1 Nephi 8:4 - Must repent or be destroyed/scattered