From the Book "The Savior in Kirtland"
Visions at the Organization of the First Presidency Unprecedented visions came on March 18, 1833—the day Joseph ordained Sidney Rigdon and Fredrick G. Williams as his counselors in the First Presidency of the Church. The visions occurred during a meeting of the School of the Prophets in the Whitney store. Specific accounts identify that in addition to Joseph Smith, John Murdock and Zebedee Coltrin also saw the Savior that day. Beyond the vision of the Savior, Zebedee saw God the Father. Written accounts verify that he spoke of this vision on at least seven occasions. Joseph Smith said that many of the probable twenty or so persons who attended the school also saw the Savior and many other things. Therefore, it is possible to conjecture that at least three others also saw these visions. Joseph formally recorded the events of this meeting in which the visions took place:
Great joy and satisfaction continually beamed in the countenances of the School of the Prophets, and the Saints, on account of the things revealed, and our progress in the knowledge of God. The High Priests assembled in the school room of the Prophets, and were organized according to revelation; prayer by Sidney Rigdon. . .
. . . . I laid my hands on Brothers Sidney and Frederick, and ordained them to take part with me in holding the keys of this last kingdom, and to assist in the Presidency of the High Priesthood, as my Counselors; after which I . . . gave much instruction . . . with a promise that the pure in heart should see a heavenly vision; and after remaining a short time in secret prayer, the promise was verified; for many present had the eyes of their understanding opened by the Spirit of God, so as to behold many things. . . . Many of the brethren saw a heavenly vision of the Savior, and concourses of angels, and many other things, of which each one has a record of what he saw. That Joseph Smith saw the Savior on this stunning day of visions is demonstrated by his descriptive conversations. First, Joseph promised a vision of the Lord to those who could “humble” themselves and “exercise strong faith.” Second, after Christ appeared, Joseph asked if they saw Him. Third, Joseph then identified Him, saying, “That is Jesus.”
Zebedee Coltrin as a Witness
Another preserved record is that of Zebedee Coltrin. Zebedee was one of the initial seven presidents of the Seventy. He was blessed by the First Presidency to have “heavenly visions and the ministry of Angels.”34 Leaders of the Church have always held Zebedee in high regard. For example, President George Albert Smith paid tribute to Zebedee in the October 1934 general conference. He named him from the pulpit as one of forty-eight leaders in the first one hundred years who were “some of the greatest men that have ever lived upon the earth . . . who from this pulpit have instructed the Latter-day Saints in the years gone by . . . men that we love and venerate. . . . They were super-men that God called to lead . . . who have devoted themselves to the Church until the Lord summoned them home.”
On March 18, 1833, Zebedee saw the Savior in the School of the Prophets in the Whitney store and testified:
At one of these meetings after the organization of the school . . . when we were all together, Joseph having given instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, . . . each one praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, [I saw] a personage . . . Joseph asked if we saw him. I saw him and supposed the others did, and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother.
Then, speaking of seeing a vision of God the Father, Zebedee continued:
Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came . . . He was surrounded as with a flame of fire. I experienced a sensation that it might destroy the tabernacle as it was of consuming fire of great brightness. The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
President John Taylor, who knew Zebedee in Kirtland, invited him in 1883 to share his experiences with the School of the Prophets in Salt Lake City. Concluding his testimony to the General Authorities gathered in the school, Zebedee testified, “I saw Him.” The brethren asked Zebedee about the clothing the Father wore. Brother Coltrin said:
I did not discover His clothing for He was surrounded as with a flame of fire, which was so brilliant that I could not discover anything else but His person. I saw His hands, His legs, His feet, His eyes, nose, mouth, head and body in the shape and form of a perfect man. . . . This appearance was so grand and overwhelming that it seemed I should melt down in His presence, and the sensation was so powerful that it thrilled through my whole system and I felt it in the marrow of my bones.
Then, in October 1883 in Salt Lake City, Zebedee concluded his testimony by repeating the initial charge that Joseph Smith gave in 1833 to those at the Kirtland School of the Prophets, most of whom were later ordained as General Authorities. Joseph told them, “Brethren, now you are prepared to be the apostles of Jesus Christ, for you have seen both the Father and the Son and know that They exist and that They are two separate personages.”
That Joseph Smith also saw God the Father at this time is verified by Zebedee’s account of Joseph’s conversations. First, after the Savior appeared, Joseph told them to “resume our former position in prayer.” Next, after the Father appeared, Joseph identified whom they had seen. “Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Zebedee said. Finally, Joseph confirmed the vision of both members of the Godhead, “Brethren, . . . you have seen both the Father and the Son."
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