The first things to note in the Book of Visions are the dates, as the events described fall on or around solstices, equinoxes, and other important days of the year (or ones that Latter-day Saints would recognize as important). Cross-culturally, solstices and equinoxes, are especially bound up in and venerated for their symbolism of light and dark; life, death, and rebirth; transition and change; etc., following the changes in solar movement throughout the year. Throughout the world, lunar phases also have become established measures of time and tied to ritual performances and observances. Jewish, Mesoamerican, and other calendrical systems combine the solar and lunar, and the most special of days are celebrated at the intersection of the two. For instance, the Jewish Passover begins on the night of the first full moon following the vernal equinox. (Christian Easter, then, is the Sunday after.)
Parallels exist in LDS history, as well. Moroni's visits to Joseph Smith prior to receiving the golden plates occurred at the fall equinox of each year, the first coinciding with a full moon. People have also pointed to the symbolic importance of Joseph Smith's birth at the winter solstice--light coming into the world--and death just after the summer solstice--light leaving. However, nothing has been spelled out in scripture or modern revelation as to why God would work in this manner, aside from the assumption of His participation with the underlying symbolism mentioned above. There is also the flip side of this coin, that there exists such a thing as "God's astrology", which has been corrupted or lost through the millennia of human history. Such a view fits tangentially with the "foreknowledge of God and His plan", where events in world history and even individual lives correlate with the surrounding world (and even universe)--seasons, astronomical alignments, signs in nature, etc. In any case, it's fun to note the connections.
That being said, Elisha Enoc receives his vision of the record he will translate on Sunday, June 22, 1986, when the summer solstice coincides with a full moon (a time of maximum light at both day and night). He is visiting family in Dagupan, a relatively large city (current population > 165K) on the northwest coast of the large northern Philippine island of Luzon, and is shown the copper plates and their location, similar to the recorded experience of Joseph Smith. He relates that he has been a devout, believing Catholic all his life but has never had an experience like this and seems to doubt its reality until his family (who seem to be practicing Catholics, as well) accept his story and believe its divinity. Keep in mind his self-identification and description as a lifelong Catholic, as the story he will relate and record he will translate are very not-Catholic and actually fit more closely to LDS experience and theology than anything else.
That being said, Elisha Enoc receives his vision of the record he will translate on Sunday, June 22, 1986, when the summer solstice coincides with a full moon (a time of maximum light at both day and night). He is visiting family in Dagupan, a relatively large city (current population > 165K) on the northwest coast of the large northern Philippine island of Luzon, and is shown the copper plates and their location, similar to the recorded experience of Joseph Smith. He relates that he has been a devout, believing Catholic all his life but has never had an experience like this and seems to doubt its reality until his family (who seem to be practicing Catholics, as well) accept his story and believe its divinity. Keep in mind his self-identification and description as a lifelong Catholic, as the story he will relate and record he will translate are very not-Catholic and actually fit more closely to LDS experience and theology than anything else.
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