Mormon Handbook
A REFERENCE TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
“Joseph Smith’s First Vision stands today as the greatest event in world history since the birth, ministry, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
— "The First Vision"
churchofjesuschrist.org
Early 1800’s | 1820, Spring | 1829, May 15 | 1832, Sept. | 1832, Nov. | 1835 | 1842 |
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Visionary tales common in New England | First Vision | Joseph claims to receive Aaronic Priesthood | Joseph, “no man can see God without priesthood” | Earliest account of First Vision | Diary version | Official version published |
In the official version promoted by his church, Mormons are taught that a local revival motivated a teenage Joseph Smith to pray about which church to join. While praying, Joseph claims he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, who told him not to join any church “for they were all wrong”.
No man hath seen God at any time. | |
— Apostle John
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[God] which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see. | |
— Apostle Paul
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No man hath seen God at any time. | |
— Apostle John
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Our whole strength rests on the validity of that [first] vision. It either occurred or it did not occur. If it did not, then this work is a fraud. | |
— Gordon B. Hinckley
15th Mormon prophet |
Joseph Smith claimed to have received this visitation “in the spring of 1820”, but it wasn’t until 22-years after this event, in 1842, that he published it.
It would appear that the general Church membership did not receive information about the First Vision until the 1840s. | |
— James B. Allen
Assistant Church Historian |
Furthermore, Joseph appears to have evolved his story over time. His earliest accounts differ from the published version on several key details:
Handwritten Version (1832) |
Diary Version (1835) |
Official Version (1842) |
|
---|---|---|---|
Age of vision |
In the 16th year of my age |
I was about 14 years old |
I was at this time in my fifteenth year |
Local revivals |
— |
— |
Local revivals prompt Joseph to seek what church to join. |
Reason for praying |
Here, Joseph had already decided all churches were wrong before praying.
|
Looking at the different systems taught the children of men, I knew not who was right or who was wrong and I considering it of the first importance that I should be right. |
My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join…. for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong. |
Heard noises |
— |
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 sprung up on my feet and looked around but saw no person or thing that was calculated to produce the noise of walking. |
— |
Overcome by a dark force |
— |
— |
Immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me.... Thick darkness gathered around me. |
Has difficulty praying |
— |
I made a fruitless attempt to pray, my tongue seemed to be swollen in my mouth, so that I could not utter…. I strove again to pray but could not. |
I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. |
Who appeared |
Only Jesus Christ, implied:
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Many angels, one testifies about Jesus Christ. Joseph summarized the first as:
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Two personages, God the Father and Jesus Christ, implied. One introduces the other:
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Sins forgiven |
I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph my son thy sins are forgiven thee. |
He said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testifyed unto me that Jesus Christ is the son of God. |
— |
At about the age of twelve years my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all important concerns of for the welfare of my immortal Soul, which led me to searching the scriptures. Believing as I was taught, that they contained the word of God. Thus applying myself to them, and my intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations, led me to marvel exceedingly. For I discovered that they did not adorn their profession by a holy walk and Godly conversation, agreeable to what I found contained in that sacred depository. This was a grief to my Soul.
| |
— Joseph Smith
Mormonism founder |
I commenced giving him a relation of the circumstances connected with the coming forth of the book of Mormon, as follows—being wrought up in my mind, respecting the subject of religion and looking at the different systems taught the children of men, I knew not who was right or who was wrong and considering it of the first importance that I should be right, in matters that involved eternal consequences.
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— Joseph Smith
Mormonism founder |
A Gentleman called this after noon by the name of Erastus Holmes of Newbury, Clermont Co., Ohio. He called to make inquiry about the establishment of the Church of the latter-day Saints and to be instructed more perfectly in our doctrine, etc.
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— Joseph Smith
Mormonism founder |
I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My father’s family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namely, my mother, Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia.
| |
— Joseph Smith
Mormonism founder |
For well over a century, the church presented a consistent version to its members: