First Vision - Joseph Smith Experience with Satan

[dberrie2000]

On 2/20/2017 at 5:50 PM, JLHPROF said:

Why do we assume the being walking towards Joseph was the adversary?

BEFORE he hears the footsteps he says

• I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon <and> severely tempted by some power of darkness which entirely endeavored to overcome me.
  The adversary benighted my mind with doubts, and brought to my soul all kinds of improper pictures and tried to hinder me in my efforts and accomplishment of my goal, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue.  My tongue seemed to be swollen in my mouth so that I could not speak.
  I heard a noise behind me like some person walking towards me.  I strove again to pray, but could not.  The noise of walking seemed to draw nearer.  I sprang upon my feet and looked round, but saw no person or thing that was calculated to produce the noise of walking.

But the sentence continues

• " saw no person or thing that was calculated to produce the noise of walking, I kneeled again my mouth was opened and my tongue liberated, and I called on the Lord in mighty prayer, a pillar of fire appeared above my head.

Perhaps the footsteps heard were of a resurrected angel coming to his aid and casting out the adversary since immediately after hearing the footsteps draw nearer he was able to pray and his tongue was liberated.  Perhaps the footsteps were guarding the young prophet and driving out the adversary prior to the arrival of the Father and the Son.
Why assume the footsteps belong to the power of darkness?

Hi JL:

I'll leave it to speculation as to what caused the sounds--and who produced them--or if they were real or imagined.

But there is a thought that does occur to me--fear is of satan--as the scriptures state, especially as to the spiritual revelations we receive, or the spiritual things of life.

What a great way to distract Joseph--or anyone else-- from the vision he was to experience--and throw it off course--fear. IMO--that could definitely be an effective way to break the lines of communication between God and man--as Moses also discovered in his panoramic vision.