ANOTHER TESTIMONY OF PHILO DIBBLE OF "THE VISION"

On a subsequent visit to Hiram I arrived at Father Johnson's just as Joseph and Sidney were coming out of the vision alluded to in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, in which mention is made of the three glories. Joseph wore black clothes but at this time seemed to be dressed in an element of glorious white, and his face shown as if it were transparent, but I did not see the same glory attending Sidney. Joseph appeared as strong as a lion but Sidney seemed as weak as water, and Joseph noticing his condition

smiled and said: "Brother Sidney is not as used to it as I am."

(Ref.) "The Vision or The Degrees of Glory" by N.B. Lundwall, p 11; and also "Eighth Book of Faith-Promoting Series", pp 80-8l.

PHILO DIBBLE TELLS OF AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH

Mrs. Sarah N. Williams Reynolds, of Salt Lake City, dictated the following highly important statement to the Compiler of this book: "I was a close neighbor of Philo Dibble who visited me very often. He had been very familiar and intimately acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and took great delight in rehearsing his wealth of information concerning this acquaintance. Brother Dibble stated to me that the Prophet Joseph told him in connection with the others who were present in Father Johnson's home at

the time the Vision was given to the Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon, that (the Prophet speaking): 'My whole body was full of light and I could see even out at the ends of my fingers and toes'."

(Ref.) "The Vision or The Degrees of Glory" by N.B. Lundwall, p 11.

PHILO DIBBLE SR.

An unparalleled spritual drama, revealing for the first time, as far as it is recorded, the three kingdoms of glory - telestial, terrestrial, and celestial was then unfolded before the vision of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.

"The vision which is recorded in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants," reports Elder Philo Dibble, a close friend of the Prophet, "Was given at the house of 'Father Johnson’s in Hiram, Ohio; and during the time that Joseph and Sidney were in the spirit and the heavens open, there were other men in the room, perhaps twelve, among whom I was one during part of the time--probably two-thirds of the time. I saw the glory and felt the power, but did not see the vision."

"The events and conversations, while they were seeing what is written (and many things were seen and related that are not written) I will relate as is necessary."

"Joseph would, at intervals, say, 'What do I see?' as one might say while looking out the window and beholding what all in the room could not see. Then he would relate what he had seen or what he was looking at. Then Sidney replied, 'I see the same.'"

"Presently Sidney would say, 'What do I see?' and would repeat what he had seen or was seeing, and Joseph would reply, 'I see the same.'"

"This manner of conversation was repeated at short intervals to the end of the vision; and during the whole time not a word was spoken by any other person. Not a sound nor motion made by anyone but Joseph and Sidney, and it seemed to me that they never moved a joint or limb during the time I was there, which I think was over an hour, and to the end of the vision."

"Joseph sat firmly and calmly all the time, in the midst of a magnificent glory, but Sidney sat limp and pale, apparently as limp as a rag. Observing such at the close of the vision Joseph remarked smilingly, 'Sidney is not as used to it as I am.'"

(See also Juvenile Instructor, 15 May 1892, pp.303-4.)