I believe that the appearance of God the Father and His Son, the

The words of James E. Faust carry a sacred resonance that stretches across both heaven and earth: “I believe that the appearance of God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in 1820 to Joseph Smith unlocked the heavens not only to the great spiritual knowledge revealed in this dispensation but also to secular knowledge.” Here, Elder Faust speaks as one who perceives the harmony between the divine and the human, between revelation and reason, between the light of faith and the illumination of the mind. His message reminds us that true progress—whether of the soul or of civilization—begins when the heavens are opened, and the human heart dares to listen.

To understand this sacred declaration, one must return to the spring of 1820, when a young boy named Joseph Smith entered a quiet grove in upstate New York to pray. The world of his time was restless with division and confusion; churches quarreled, men doubted, and faith seemed clouded by the dust of human pride. There, among the trees, Joseph sought truth—not from man, but from God Himself. And in that moment, the Father and the Son appeared, breaking the silence of centuries. It was not merely a personal vision, but what Faust calls the unlocking of the heavens—a divine signal that communication between God and humankind was open once again. The Restoration began, and with it flowed a torrent of spiritual and intellectual renewal that would sweep through the modern world.

Faust’s insight is that this opening was not confined to spiritual revelation alone. He perceives a parallel outpouring of secular knowledge, as though when the gates of heaven were opened to the prophet, they were opened to all of humanity. In the wake of the First Vision, the world entered an age of unprecedented discovery: the rise of electricity, the birth of modern medicine, the explosion of transportation, communication, and technology. The earth itself seemed to quicken as if touched by divine fire. Could it be mere coincidence that the Industrial Revolution, the scientific awakening, and the restoration of divine truth occurred in the same era? Faust suggests otherwise. He saw in these converging streams the grand design of Providence—a plan where spiritual truth and scientific advancement work together to uplift the human race.

This belief echoes the ancient principle that all truth is God’s truth, whether revealed through scripture or discovered through study. When God speaks, He not only enlightens the soul but awakens the mind. In this sense, Faust’s statement calls to remembrance the unity of the sacred and the secular. Just as the prophets of old were instructed to build temples with divine precision, so too are the inventors, scientists, and thinkers of our age guided—often unconsciously—by the same divine spark of intelligence. The same Creator who formed the stars also formed the intellect of man, and when He opened the heavens in 1820, the light of innovation, compassion, and understanding poured forth into the world.

History bears witness to this celestial symphony. Not long after Joseph Smith’s vision, men such as Faraday, Pasteur, and Edison emerged, transforming the physical world. The telegraph connected distant lands just as revelation reconnected heaven and earth. Steam and steel built cities, while the Book of Mormon built faith. The same century that witnessed the return of prophets also saw the rise of public education, the emancipation of slaves, and the awakening of human rights. Faust saw these not as separate revolutions, but as one—each a reflection of divine intelligence moving through human hands, each an echo of that moment when the veil between worlds was lifted.

The deeper meaning of Faust’s words is that the spiritual and temporal realms are not enemies but companions. To worship God is to honor truth wherever it is found; to seek knowledge is to praise the Creator who gave the mind its power. The Restoration was not the birth of a new church alone—it was the renewal of divine curiosity, the sanctification of learning itself. For when man learns truth, he draws nearer to God; and when he lives in righteousness, he sees farther into the mysteries of the universe. The scientist, the poet, the prophet, and the saint—all are pilgrims on the same road, walking toward the same light.

Let this be the teaching we carry: that faith and knowledge are twin flames, not rivals. Do not divide them, but let them burn together, illuminating both heart and mind. Seek learning, but temper it with humility; seek revelation, but ground it in reason. The heavens remain open to those who ask with pure intent—whether their questions concern the soul or the stars. Each discovery, each truth revealed, is a fragment of divine glory calling mankind upward.

Thus, in the spirit of James E. Faust, we remember that the First Vision was not an isolated miracle, but a dawn that brightened all creation. The world since that day has grown not only in faith but in understanding, not only in scripture but in science. Heaven and earth move together in harmony once more. And to those who seek truth in any form—spiritual or secular—the voice of the Almighty still whispers across the ages: “Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”