Rosh ha-shanah

Last night was the beginning of the Jewish holiday, Rosh ha-shanah. To begin the holiday, the Jews blow trumpets, one long blast, several short blasts, and another long. The first long blast is a symbol of hope. The short blasts are tears of repentance, and the last long blast is asking God for forgiveness. And they pray and read scriptures that specifically ask that God remember them.

On the night that Rosh ha-shanah began in 1827, three things were going on: The Jews were praying and blowing their trumpets. Joseph Smith Jr. received the gold plates from the angel Moroni. And Heber C. Kimball had a vision. Note: at this time, Heber C. Kimball did not know of the Restoration.

I had retired to bed, when John P. Greene, who was living within a hundred steps of my house, came and waked me up, calling upon me to come out and behold the scenery in the heavens. I woke up and called my wife and Sister Fanny Young, who was living with us, and we went out of doors.

It was one of the most beautiful starlight nights, so clear that we could see to pick up a pin. We looked to the eastern horizon, and beheld a white smoke arise toward the heavens; as it ascended it formed itself into a belt, and made a noise like the sound of a mighty wind, and continued southwest, forming a regular bow dipping in the western horizon. After the bow had formed, it began to widen out and grow clear and transparent, of a bluish cast; it grew wide enough for contain twelve men abreast.

In this bow an army moved, commencing from the east and marching to the west; they continued marching until they reached the western horizon. They moved in platoons, and walked so close that the rear ranks trod in the steps of their file leaders, until the whole bow was literally crowded with soldiers. We could distinctly see the muskets, bayonets ... and could discover the forms and features of the men.

The most profound order existed throughout the entire army; when the foremost man stepped, every man stepped at the same time; I could hear the steps. When the front rank reached the western horizon a battle ensued, as we could distinctly hear the report of arms and the rush.

No man could judge my feelings when I beheld that army of men, as plainly as ever I saw armies of men in the flesh; it seemed as though every hair of my head was alive. This scenery we gazed upon for hours, until it began to disappear.

After I became acquainted with Mormonism, I learned that this took place the same evening that Joseph Smith received the records of the Book of Mormon from the angel Moroni.

Isn't that pretty much the most awesome thing ever!! I'm not sure what it means, but it's cool.