How could Joseph see God before priesthood was restored?

We don’t know the exact date Peter, James, and John appeared, so maybe Joseph had the priesthood in the grove.

The exact date is uncertain. Joseph’s history still places the promise of a later conferral after the First Vision, at John the Baptist’s visit in 1829.

Joseph dates the First Vision to 1820. He places his Aaronic Priesthood ordination in May 1829 and says the Melchizedek Priesthood would come later.

You state the chronology directly. Now the question is how section 84 applies to the earlier vision.

Verse 22 says no one can see the Father without this. That means a person has to hold the priesthood.

Read what comes before and after verse 22. The revelation includes ordinances and the power of godliness, then describes Moses trying to sanctify Israel to enter God’s rest.

It ties the power of godliness to ordinances and priesthood authority, then says “without this” no one can see the Father and live. We have to ask what condition the whole passage describes.

You account for both ordinances and authority. Verses 23–24 explain the aim of sanctifying Israel so the people could endure God’s presence.

The manual distinguishes God temporarily enabling someone to see Him from ordinances and covenants preparing someone to endure His presence.

You address why a prior ordinance can matter for lasting sanctification while God can still enable a temporary vision.

Women receive the benefits of priesthood ordinances without being ordained, so that alone explains Joseph’s vision.

That example separates receiving power from holding office. Joseph’s case raises a further question because the vision also preceded his ordinances. The manual’s discussion of temporary transfiguration addresses that question.

Moses describes his transfiguration, so we can say Joseph’s experience worked in exactly the same way.

Moses gives a scriptural example of God enabling a vision. Joseph describes his own experience without giving the same explanation of how it occurred.

Moses 1 and section 67 show how God can enable a person to see Him. That helps me read Joseph’s account alongside section 84, even though Joseph gives few details about how the vision worked.

You give a scriptural basis for reading both accounts together and keep the claim within the detail Joseph gives.