Review
Title: I Saw a Pillar of Light: Sacred, Saving Truths from Joseph Smith’s First Vision
Author: Robert L. Millet
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Religious Non-fiction
Year Published: 2020
Number of Pages: 164
Binding: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook (MP3)
ISBN-13 Hardcover: 9781629727998
ISBN-10 Hardcover: 1629727997
Price: $19.99
Reviewed by Richard Ji for the Association for Mormon Letters
It has been said that one cannot judge a book by its cover. However, in this instance, I feel that the cover of Robert L. Millet’s latest book, I Saw A Pillar of Light: Sacred, Saving Truths from Joseph Smith’s First Vision, conveys great meaning as to its contents. It features a painting of the First Vision by Michael Albrechtsen, in which he depicts a seemingly ordinary and tranquil forest scene that is infused from the heavens by dramatic power, fire, and light. Such words describe that foundational event of the Restoration. Such words describe the feelings I experienced while reading this book.
Millet starts Pillar of Light by calling attention to the significance of this event in 1820. He states in the preface that “beginnings are vital.” (p. ix) That while the Savior “is and will forever be the center of our faith,” (p. ix) the implications of this theophany are crucial to the story of the Latter-Day Saints. President Gordon B. Hinckley is quoted as saying that the First Vision:
is the pivotal thing of our story. Every claim that we make concerning divine authority, every truth that we offer concerning the validity of this work, all finds its root in the First Vision of the boy prophet. Without it we would not have anything much to say…That it is the great keystone of our faith and testimony.” (p. x, Italics in original)
There are nine chapters in the Pillar of Light. Chapters 1-2 (“How It All Began” and “The Winds of Revivalism”) take the reader through enlightening contextual information. Chapters 3-7 (“Entering the Grove”, “The Appearance”, “Their Hearts Are Far From Me,” “All Their Creeds,” and “After The Vision”) examine key elements of the First Vision. The final chapters, 8-9 (“What Joseph Learned” and “Formative and Foundational to Our Faith”), discuss, as the names imply, what Joseph learned and how this experience is formative and foundational to our faith. The contextual information brings us back to the 18th century and through the beginning of the 19th century. Millet expertly paints a picture of the cultural and religious dynamics of this time. Pillar is well notated and draws from several sources from within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days saints as well as sources from without. In his writing, Brother Millet weaves in personal experiences along with interesting history, scripture, and doctrine to convey his message.
In Pillar of Light, Millet confronts the challenges with the multiple and sometimes contradictory accounts of the First Vision. Millet focuses on primary accounts by Joseph Smith as well as some of the secondary accounts. These are published in full (updated for spelling, punctuation, and modernization) in the Appendix. Millet provides both personal and Biblical examples to provide some explanation into the different accounts. However, those seeking a more exhaustive treatment will come away wanting. But this was not Millet’s intent for the book. His intent is to focus “on the truths, doctrines, precepts, and guiding principles that derive from the vision.” (p. x)
Brother Millet alludes to experiences in Joseph’s day where ‘fiery rhetoric and unchristian behavior’ (p. 20) prevailed. For me, I could not help but see the parallels with what Joseph Smith saw and what we see today. While in Joseph Smith’s time, there was much excitement over religion with those crying ‘lo, here!’ and others ’lo, there!’ (p. 19) For us, we see such great excitement over social and racial matters where similarly, we hear those crying lo here and lo there. We may find ourselves on either end of the spectrum. Or perhaps, we may be like Joseph Smith who had some persuasion but yet felt there was something more.
Like Joseph, we can take it upon ourselves to embrace James 1:5 and seek for wisdom with the Lord who upbraideth not. We may seek our own sacred spaces in soliciting Heaven’s response. This privilege of being able to speak to Deity directly and receive replies is fundamentally the truth we learn from the First Vision – that the Heavens are open. That the Lord is not without parts or passions. And that He knows us by name. While we may not have a theophany, we can in fact receive other manifestations to help us know the truth of all things…whether they be faith, social, racial, or other deeply personal challenges…the Heavens are open for us as they were for Joseph.
For those who have faith or sincerely want faith, I Saw A Pillar of Light: Sacred, Saving Truths from Joseph Smith’s First Vision will serve as a salve to soothe and strengthen one’s soul. And as the cover suggests, one’s experience can be quite dramatic.