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Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants
Seeing: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants
In this introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, Media Studies scholar Mason Kamana Allred focuses our vision on practices and principles of seeing. He looks at how looking itself is a unique devotional mode in Latter-day Saint belief. His reading of the Doctrine and Covenants collects theological statements about and experiences of spiritual vision and emphasizes how they are often activated through natural vision and earthly commitment in ways that illuminate how to navigate our modern circumstances.
By looking for truth with our whole bodies, we can be better equipped to develop spiritually in our media saturated world. As the early Church members did then, we can today avoid deception and gain revelation. Enhancing our vision through learning to not only look at but truly see nature, others, our covenants, and even the Lord, we can get our eye single to the glory of God and see things as they really are.
By looking for truth with our whole bodies, we can be better equipped to develop spiritually in our media saturated world. As the early Church members did then, we can today avoid deception and gain revelation. Enhancing our vision through learning to not only look at but truly see nature, others, our covenants, and even the Lord, we can get our eye single to the glory of God and see things as they really are.
- GenresReligion
136 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 4, 2025
Maxwell Institute Publications are my drug of choice.
February 18, 2025
The seventh and final book out of the Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants series that I read is the one by Mason Kamana Allred on Seeing. This one and Philip Barlow’s entry on Time seemed like the most strange or esoteric topics in the series, but like Barlow’s book, Allred’s offers interesting insight and ideas that can help individuals live the gospel.
Throughout the book, Allred is focused on discussing what the Doctrine and Covenants teaches about seeing things as they truly are. Within our faith, there is a lot of material aspect both to that seeing and what is being seen. As Allred puts it, “The Doctrine and Covenants is then visionary, not just because it contains heavenly visions, but more especially because it teaches us to see the spiritual in the temporal” (p. 32) and “getting to the spiritual is achieved for Latter-day Saints through the material, not by running from it” (p. 100). He also discusses how truly seeing into the nature of things involves more than eyesight alone, noting that the interesting instructions in section 129 offer “a call to see with our whole bodies, hearts, and minds. This is key to seeing things as they really are and eventually seeing the Lord. This is what the Doctrine and Covenants, as a whole, challenges us to learn” (p. 95).
Allred also offers timely warnings about the need to be aware of the extent to which we can be caught up in the digital world. “The introduction of mobile screens in the twenty-first century also exponentially increases our time spent in the visions of others … and these visions are often not healthy or beneficial despite their reach and popularity. We can end up living inside someone else’s imagination, bias, and worldview when we take on and inhabit their vision” (p. 70). I was quite surprised that he didn’t draw on David A. Bednar’s talks about “Things as They Really Are” during this discussion, though that’s not a necessity for the topic. Regardless, for me, this was an important reminder that will probably be the most lasting impact in my life from reading the book.
There is also some interesting discussion about seer stones and how they might have worked. Allred wrote that descriptions of those close to Joseph Smith described him “looking at a seer stone placed in his hat to gain spiritual vision. The setup was important because the stone(s) would reportedly shine forth in the darkness of the hat and allow Joseph Smith to see on the stone’s surface or in his mind what he should dictate as translation” (p. 67). He added: “Whether Joseph Smith literally saw the exact text on the surface of the stone to read out loud to his scribes, as David Whitmer asserted, or Joseph Smith ‘saw’ the translation as concepts to capture in his mind’s eye, the process of translation was rooted in looking” (pp. 68–69). I found it significant because it was a discussion that allowed for different ways in which the seer stones might have functioned rather than trying to force people into understanding the process in a specific way when we don’t have enough information to do so.
Both Mason Kamana Allred’s Seeing: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants and the series as a whole have been worthwhile to read. I recommend them to Latter-day Saints looking for a devotional analysis of the Doctrine and Covenants against a scholarly backdrop.
Throughout the book, Allred is focused on discussing what the Doctrine and Covenants teaches about seeing things as they truly are. Within our faith, there is a lot of material aspect both to that seeing and what is being seen. As Allred puts it, “The Doctrine and Covenants is then visionary, not just because it contains heavenly visions, but more especially because it teaches us to see the spiritual in the temporal” (p. 32) and “getting to the spiritual is achieved for Latter-day Saints through the material, not by running from it” (p. 100). He also discusses how truly seeing into the nature of things involves more than eyesight alone, noting that the interesting instructions in section 129 offer “a call to see with our whole bodies, hearts, and minds. This is key to seeing things as they really are and eventually seeing the Lord. This is what the Doctrine and Covenants, as a whole, challenges us to learn” (p. 95).
Allred also offers timely warnings about the need to be aware of the extent to which we can be caught up in the digital world. “The introduction of mobile screens in the twenty-first century also exponentially increases our time spent in the visions of others … and these visions are often not healthy or beneficial despite their reach and popularity. We can end up living inside someone else’s imagination, bias, and worldview when we take on and inhabit their vision” (p. 70). I was quite surprised that he didn’t draw on David A. Bednar’s talks about “Things as They Really Are” during this discussion, though that’s not a necessity for the topic. Regardless, for me, this was an important reminder that will probably be the most lasting impact in my life from reading the book.
There is also some interesting discussion about seer stones and how they might have worked. Allred wrote that descriptions of those close to Joseph Smith described him “looking at a seer stone placed in his hat to gain spiritual vision. The setup was important because the stone(s) would reportedly shine forth in the darkness of the hat and allow Joseph Smith to see on the stone’s surface or in his mind what he should dictate as translation” (p. 67). He added: “Whether Joseph Smith literally saw the exact text on the surface of the stone to read out loud to his scribes, as David Whitmer asserted, or Joseph Smith ‘saw’ the translation as concepts to capture in his mind’s eye, the process of translation was rooted in looking” (pp. 68–69). I found it significant because it was a discussion that allowed for different ways in which the seer stones might have functioned rather than trying to force people into understanding the process in a specific way when we don’t have enough information to do so.
Both Mason Kamana Allred’s Seeing: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants and the series as a whole have been worthwhile to read. I recommend them to Latter-day Saints looking for a devotional analysis of the Doctrine and Covenants against a scholarly backdrop.
March 5, 2025
Embodied vision. That’s what the Doctrine and Covenants is all about. Seeing, not looking. Seeing with not only our eyes, but our bodies. Seeing the world not for what it conventionally appears as but how God sees it. Seeing God in everything. Seeing is active. Seeing is grounded in our material existence. Spirituality is not divorced from materiality. Spirituality is the proper understanding of materiality.
It reminds me of a portion of the famous Mahayana scripture, the Vimalakirti Sutra, where the Buddha’s disciple, Sariputra, questions the Buddha by essentially asking him if this world, which is supposed to be the Buddha’s pure land or paradise (all Buddhas have a paradise) then why is there still evil and suffering? The Buddha answers that Sariputra is still viewing the world incorrectly. If only he saw the world correctly, then he would see the paradise!
As it is with Allred’s argument. At least twice he mentions that various thinkers have argued that we don’t see the world as it is but as we are. Our own biases and backgrounds influence our worldview. Do we ever truly see the world as it really is, in all of its godly glory? “Instead of yearning to see the great beyond,” Allred states, “we must first learn to properly see the great present, right in front of us” (16).
Interestingly, he brings up the idea of viewing through screens such as cell phones. Unfortunately, we are conditioned to look at screens, and as we know through social media usage, these screens give us only a curated version of what one wants to portray. “Because what we look at is often curated, represented, and delivered to flatten authentic experience into a standardized product and series of stimulations, we require the lessons of the Doctrine and Covenants with urgency” (31). And so our perception of everything, not just perception via screens, is intrinsically biased. Fighting against the bias is incredibly difficult, but this is precisely what we must do! It’s what the Buddha taught (I study Buddhism, in case you couldn’t tell. Allred doesn’t mention Buddhism, though I’d love to talk with him about it!)
“… seeing Him (Christ) means seeing things as they really are, comprehending their meaning and discerning their true nature. Seeing the Lord means literally seeing him as a being of flesh and bone, but it can also mean opening ourselves to more of His light, which then enables us to see ourselves and everyone else in the best light. And that formulation becomes a compounding cycle, because He enlightens our understanding. Taking full advantage of that cycle means seeing / understanding things as they really are. We are told to ‘look unto [God] in every thought,’ and looking is often a mental, spiritual, and physical exertion. Seeing correctly is connected to thinking correctly and acting upon it.” (62-3).
Seeing is not just looking. Embodied vision is seeing and doing. It requires action. It is interaction. We cannot see with spiritual eyes if we do not act compassionately and proactively in our material world.
I enjoyed this book. There are things I would have written from a different educational / academic perspective, but the message I would share is basically the same message.
It reminds me of a portion of the famous Mahayana scripture, the Vimalakirti Sutra, where the Buddha’s disciple, Sariputra, questions the Buddha by essentially asking him if this world, which is supposed to be the Buddha’s pure land or paradise (all Buddhas have a paradise) then why is there still evil and suffering? The Buddha answers that Sariputra is still viewing the world incorrectly. If only he saw the world correctly, then he would see the paradise!
As it is with Allred’s argument. At least twice he mentions that various thinkers have argued that we don’t see the world as it is but as we are. Our own biases and backgrounds influence our worldview. Do we ever truly see the world as it really is, in all of its godly glory? “Instead of yearning to see the great beyond,” Allred states, “we must first learn to properly see the great present, right in front of us” (16).
Interestingly, he brings up the idea of viewing through screens such as cell phones. Unfortunately, we are conditioned to look at screens, and as we know through social media usage, these screens give us only a curated version of what one wants to portray. “Because what we look at is often curated, represented, and delivered to flatten authentic experience into a standardized product and series of stimulations, we require the lessons of the Doctrine and Covenants with urgency” (31). And so our perception of everything, not just perception via screens, is intrinsically biased. Fighting against the bias is incredibly difficult, but this is precisely what we must do! It’s what the Buddha taught (I study Buddhism, in case you couldn’t tell. Allred doesn’t mention Buddhism, though I’d love to talk with him about it!)
“… seeing Him (Christ) means seeing things as they really are, comprehending their meaning and discerning their true nature. Seeing the Lord means literally seeing him as a being of flesh and bone, but it can also mean opening ourselves to more of His light, which then enables us to see ourselves and everyone else in the best light. And that formulation becomes a compounding cycle, because He enlightens our understanding. Taking full advantage of that cycle means seeing / understanding things as they really are. We are told to ‘look unto [God] in every thought,’ and looking is often a mental, spiritual, and physical exertion. Seeing correctly is connected to thinking correctly and acting upon it.” (62-3).
Seeing is not just looking. Embodied vision is seeing and doing. It requires action. It is interaction. We cannot see with spiritual eyes if we do not act compassionately and proactively in our material world.
I enjoyed this book. There are things I would have written from a different educational / academic perspective, but the message I would share is basically the same message.
April 16, 2025
This was most certainly a case of “when the student is ready, the teacher will come.” I have been on a quest this year and this fine book has hugely fulfilled my quest! I have loved reading and studying The Doctrine and Covenants this year, but nothing in my studies has shed more light on the topic than Seeing has for me this week! The book is part of a series and I am ready to start reading the one called Time next. I hope it is as good and inspiring as this one has been! I will love watching for the theme of “Seeing” in all of my study of The Doctrine and Covenants this year and indeed in all of my interactions with the world! Very, very worthwhile!!
While reading this I was reminded of another great little book, The Spyglass by Richard Paul Evans. I re-read that today in a whole new light.
While reading this I was reminded of another great little book, The Spyglass by Richard Paul Evans. I re-read that today in a whole new light.
September 5, 2025
I found this volume to be somewhat odd. Ir was a little bit of a chore to read in the sense that the prose lacked vitality and sharpness. Simultaneously though, I thought Allred's insights were particularly profound, if not entirely original: seeing God involved learning to notice the celestial embedded in the terrestrial and telestial around us now, on earth. It's a beautiful idea and one that can change our mortal experience by helping us manage in our media-saturated world without falling into the doomsday mindset so presently popular among both the religious and the areligious. All in all, this is a very worthwhile and important addition to the Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants series, even if I didn't enjoy it quite as much as some of the other volumes in the series.
January 19, 2025
Some fascinating ideas about what it means to “see.”
May 2, 2025
Read as a judge for the Association of Mormon Letters Nonfiction Award for 2024. Fantastic piece, unique take from someone who studies film.
June 27, 2025
Some interesting ideas in here. Excited to read the rest of these little books.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews