God, Privilage of seeing:
I will open this topic with the scriptures many religionists use in defense that God does not appear to mankind.
Exodus 33:20: And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
(read v.11 in this same chapter; see also Genesis 32:30)
John 1:18: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the
Father, he hath declared him.
Who is a person to withstand God? If a person disbelieves that God shows Himself to others, does this strip God of His ability to do so? A man's disbelief in what God does and does not do, does not strip the Almighty of the power to act.
There are more passages of scripture that state the opposite. So, then why do people believe that God does not appear to His children, based on so few scriptural references?
Emanuel, another name for Christ, means "God with us".
Here are some other scripture references which denote quite the opposite of John 1:18:
Genesis 32:30: And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and
my life is preserved.
Exodus 3:6: Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
24:11: And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat
and drink.
33:11: And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned
again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of
the tabernacle.
Deuteronomy 34:10: And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord
knew face to face,
Judges 13:22-23: v.22: And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.
v. 23: But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have
received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he
have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things
as these.
1 Kings 11:9: And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of
Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
Isaiah 6:5: Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the
midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
Acts 7:2
Acts 7:55-56: v.55: But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the
glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
v.56: And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right
hand of God.
Revelation 1:17-18: v.17: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me,
saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
v.18: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death.
Book of Mormon References:
2 Nephi 11:2-3: Nephi and his brother have seen the Lord.
Alma 19:13: King Lamoni sees the Redeemer.
Ether 3:13-16: The brother of Jared sees the the pre-mortal Christ.
Doctrine and Covenants:
76:22-24: Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon see the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
110:1-4: Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery see the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ
Pearl of Great Price:
Moses 1:2: Moses saw God face to face.
1:11: Moses sees God, and tells us how it is possible to see God and remain living.
7:4: Moses sees the Lord after being "clothed upon with glory".
7:59: Enoch see the Lord ascending up to the Father.
Abraham 3:11:
Joseph Smith History:
1:17: The historical 1st vision of God and Christ appearing to the 14 year old boy, Joseph Smith. This is the event that started the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth, after the long, dark apostasy.