When they described the resurrected Savior, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery drew on biblical metaphors of natural phenomena, many of them from the book of Revelation. (See Doctrine and Covenants 110:3, Revelation 1:13-16).
His eyes were as a flame of fire.
The Savior’s glance is piercing (Jacob 2:10). He knows everything about you, and that must be terrifyingly evident when He looks at you. John the Revelator compared the resurrected Savior’s eyes to “a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14; 2:18; 19:12), borrowing Moses’ description of the burning bush (Exodus 3:2; Acts 7:30) and recalling Daniel’s description of “eyes as lamps of fire” (Daniel 10:6). Joseph and Oliver made the same comparison.
A flame can be purifying, or it can be consuming. As Moroni warned, our extreme self-awareness when we stand in the presence of God “will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon [us]” (Mormon 9:5). But Moroni also described an alternative ending, in which we “deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness” and are “sanctified in Christ by the grace of God” (Moroni 10:32-33).
The hair of his head was white like the pure snow.
John compared the resurrected Savior’s hair to wool or snow (Revelation 1:14), echoing Daniel’s description of the Ancient of days (Daniel 7:9). Joseph and Oliver made the same comparison, calling it “white like the pure snow” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:3).
Snow can represent purity. Mud or filth contrast sharply and are easily visible. Perhaps that’s why Nephi described the tree from his father’s vision using the same metaphor: “the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow” (1 Nephi 11:8).
His countenance shone above the brightness of the sun.
Luke says that on the mount of Transfiguration, “the fashion of [the Savior’s] countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering” (Luke 9:29). During His post-mortal ministry recorded in the Book of Mormon, He blessed the people, “and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them” (3 Nephi 19:25).
The sun is an apt comparison, because the Savior is a source of light. John said, “his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Revelation 1:16). But Joseph and Oliver preferred Paul’s version of the metaphor: “I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun” (Acts 26:13). As bright as the sun may be, the Savior shines brighter still!
His voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters.
Rivers and rapids are powerful, often more powerful than they look. John compared the Savior’s voice to “the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:15), borrowing Ezekiel’s description of God’s voice (Ezekiel 43:2).
Joseph and Oliver added the word “rushing” to this description, evoking Isaiah 17:12-13 and suggesting energy and intensity in the Savior’s voice.
I’m grateful for Joseph’s and Oliver’s description of the resurrected Savior and for the scriptural antecedents to those descriptions. Today, as I ponder this description, I’ll remember the Savior’s attributes which are symbolized by these metaphors: He sees me perfectly, He is pure and holy, He radiates light and warmth, and He speaks with power.
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