Authentic Joseph Smith (No. 14)

Part of the Joseph Smith, Jr. Series

All blue quotes by Joseph Smith (unless otherwise noted).

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How Will I Look?

What is it like to be a resurrected being? How will I look once I’m resurrected?

Joseph Smith offers some brief glimpses into eternity. He uses words like “bloom” and “beauty.”

“They must rise just as they died—we can there hail our lovely infants with the same glory, the same loveliness in the celestial glory where they all enjoy alike—they differ in stature, in size—the same glorious spirit gives them the likeness of glory and bloom —the old man with his silvery hairs will glory in bloom & beauty —no man can describe it to you—no man can write it.” (Church History pp. 363-4)

bloom: the state or period of greatest beauty, freshness or vigor. “I am no longer in the bloom of youth”

According to his own account, Zebedee Coltrin saw with Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery a vision of the resurrected Adam and Eve. “They were the two most beautiful and perfect specimens of mankind [I have] ever seen.” “Their heads were white as snow, and their faces shone with youth.” (Zebedee Coltrin Papers ~ Church Archives.)

Maybe this explains the beautiful people they tend to select as actors to represent Adam and Eve in the temple movies.

Takeaway

It appears that some of us have a lot to look forward to in the resurrection. It makes sense that beauty is everywhere and in everyone as resurrected beings.

Author’s Notes

The Joseph Smith Series comes from, in part, a book called “The Words of Joseph Smith.”

Note: usually, the book costs a small fortune ($150-$250) because it is out of print. But I found it for free at the BYU Religious Studies Center. (Thank you, BYU)

(P.S. I receive no compensation for any recommendations – I like sharing.)