Joseph Smith/Early Smith family history/Early work as a farmhand/Further Reading

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Further reading

FAIR wiki articles

Joseph Smith, Jr.

Character of Joseph Smith

  • Early Smith family history (Link)
  • Character—
    Critics claim that Joseph Smith was a disreputable person. (Link)
  • Con man—
    Some claim that Joseph was a con man. Yet, his behavior does not match the typical behavior of those consciously deceiving others for gain. Some of this claim relies on a misrepresentation of a 1826 court hearing. (Link)
  • The Hurlbut affidavits—
    Many critics cite a collection of affidavits from Joseph Smith’s neighbors which claim that the Smith family possessed a number of character flaws. Many of Joseph Smith’s friends and neighbors signed affidavits that accused him and his family of being lazy, indolent, undependable treasure-seekers. (Link)
  • "Amusing recitals" and "Tall Tales?"—
    Joseph Smith's mother reported that he told "amusing recitals" about the ancient inhabitants of the American continent well before he translated the Book of Mormon. Does this indicate that Joseph was simply a teller of "tall tales?" (Link)
  • Land speculation in Nauvoo—
    Did Joseph Smith engage in "land speculation" in Nauvoo? (Link)
  • Personality and temperament—
    Critics point to what they perceive as personal failings of Joseph Smith, such as his allegedly short temper, as evidence that he was not a true prophet of God. (Link)
  • Boastful about the Church?—
    Why did Joseph Smith say that he had "more to boast of than ever any man had" and that he was the only man who had been "able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam?" (Link)
  • Joseph taught Porter Rockwell 'it was right to steal'?—
    Did Joseph really teach Orrin Porter Rockwell that "it was right to steal?" (Link)
  • Psychobiographical analysis—
    Is it possible to deduce Joseph Smith's thoughts and dreams years after his death? Some critics think so. (Link)
  • Joseph Smith's alleged narcissism—
    Critics quote Joseph Smith as saying such things as: "I am learned, and know more than all the world put together," "I combat the errors of ages; I meet the violence of mobs; I cope with illegal proceedings from executive authority; I cut the Gordian knot of powers, and I solve mathematical problems of universities, with truth . . . diamond truth; and God is my ‘right hand man.’” They use these quotes to portray Joseph as egomaniacal, proud, and narcissistic. (Link)

Treasure seeking, money digging and Joseph Smith, Jr.

  • Treasure seeking—
    Was Joseph Smith's engagement in "money digging" or looking for buried treasure a blot on his character? (Link)
  • Practitioner of occultism and magic?—
    Critics claim that Joseph Smith's spiritual experiences began as products of "magic," the "occult," or "treasure seeking," and that only later did Joseph describe his experiences in Christian, religious terms: speaking of God, angels, and prophethood. (Link)
  • Joseph's early work as a farmhand—
    Critics wish to prioritize the role that treasure-seeking played in Joseph's like by claiming that it took precedence over any other work that he may have done, such as working as a hired farmhand. (Link)

Joseph Smith's First Vision

Joseph Smith, occultism and magic

Joseph Smith as a translator

  • Joseph as a translator—
    Critics claim that Joseph Smith claimed to translate other texts or items, which can be checked against modern academic translations. They claim that this "cross-checking" proves that Joseph could not have translated the Book of Mormon or other ancient texts. (Link)
  • Joseph as seer and his use of seer stones—
    What do we know about Joseph's seer stone? What is its relation to the "Urim and Thummim"? Did Joseph place his seer stone in his hat while he was translating the Book of Mormon? (Link)
  • Joseph and the Greek psalter—
    Did Joseph Smith misidentify an ancient text of Greek psalms (a "psalter") as containing "reformed" Egyptian hieroglyphics? (Link)
  • Book of Abraham (Link)
  • The Joseph Smith "translation" of the Bible and its relationship to the Book of Mormon—
    Some passages from the Bible (parts of Isaiah, for example) were included in the Book of Mormon text. However, the same passages were later revised for the Joseph Smith Translation of the Holy Bible. In some cases these passages are not rendered identically. Critics claim that if the JST was an accurate translation, it would match the supposedly more 'pure' Isaiah text possessed by the Nephites. (Link)

Joseph Smith and miracles

Joseph Smith as a priesthood holder

  • Date of the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood—
    Critics claim that the restoration of the priesthood was "back dated" later by Joseph Smith to justify his desire to dominate the Church. Critics claim that no one seems to know "when or how" Joseph Smith received the Melchizedek priesthood. (Link)

Joseph Smith as a prophet

  • No more prophets after Christ?—
    Most of Christianity today claim that there are not supposed to be any more prophets after Christ's day. (Link)
  • Alleged false prophecies—
    Critics claim that Joseph Smith was not a true prophet, and that he made "false prophecies." (Link)
  • Personages who appeared to Joseph Smith—
    A list of known personages who appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith or who were seen by him in vision. The list does not include instances where he only heard supernatural voices. (Link)
  • Joseph Smith: Status in LDS belief—
    Do members worship Joseph Smith or treat him as more than a man? Critics charge that since Joseph claimed (or it was claimed in his behalf) the right to "approve whether or not someone gets into heaven," this arrogates to a mortal a right properly reserved for God and Jesus Christ. Some critics have even charged that "Mormons worship Joseph Smith." (Link)

Joseph Smith and legal issues

  • Legal issues—
    What can you tell me about Joseph Smith's problems with the law? (Link)

Joseph Smith and finance

  • Kirtland Safety Society—
    Joseph established the Kirtland Safety Society, which later failed. Many left the Church because they thought that Joseph's involvement and his calling as a prophet would guarantee its success. When the bank failed, many thought that Joseph was a fallen prophet. (Link)

Joseph Smith, politics and government

  • Politics—
    Critics charge that Joseph Smith's decision to run for President of the United States in 1844 shows him to be either a megalomaniac bent on amassing ever more power, or a fanatic with delusions of grandeur. (Link)
  • City of Nauvoo (Link)

Joseph Smith and polygamy

Death of Joseph Smith

  • Martyrdom (Link)
    • Joseph fired a gun—Was Joseph Smith actually not a martyr because, while in jail, he had a gun and he had the temerity to defend himself? Did Joseph kill two men by firing at the mob? (Link)

Other critical claims related to Joseph Smith


Summary conclusion

Concluded one author at a FAIR conference:

Joseph Smith was persecuted in courts of law as much as anyone I know. But he was never found guilty of any crime, and his name cannot be tarnished in that way.[1]

Joseph Smith legal issues

  • D&C 98 teaches Saints to disobey secular law?—
    According to historian D. Michael Quinn, Joseph received a revelation which "established the primacy of religious law over secular law...and not only authorized but commanded Mormons to disobey secular law and civil leaders not conforming to the commandments of God." This interpretation, however, is Quinn's own. The revelation is not telling the Saints to "disobey secular law and civil leaders"—it is telling them to "befriend" the law of the land, and seek to support "honest men and wise men" as leaders. (Link)
  • Joseph Smith and legal trials (Link)
    • 1826 trial for "glasslooking"—Joseph Smith was brought to trial in 1826 for "glasslooking." Didn't Hugh Nibley claim that if this trial record existed that it would be "the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith?" (Link)
  • Kirtland Safety Society—
    Critics attack Joseph Smith over the Kirtland Safety Society (KSS) on multiple grounds: 1) they claim the KSS was a "wildcat bank," 2) they claim that the bank was illegal, and that the Church broke the law by founding it, 3) they claim it was a money-making scheme for Joseph, and 4) they claim its failure proves Joseph was not a prophet (Link)
    • False charges against Warren Parrish?—Critics claim that Joseph Smith lied about Warren Parrish, falsely charging him with financial misconduct, and trying to shift the blame. An examination of surviving Kirtland Safety Society notes provides concrete evidence for Joseph's charge. (Link)
    • Money boxes filled with sand?—Critics claim that Joseph Smith misled investors in the Kirtland Safety Society by collecting boxes full of sand with money placed on top, in order to make it appear that the bank had more hard money than it did. (Link)
    • Notes from KSS to be "as good as gold"?—Critics make light of Joseph Smith's claim that Kirtland Safety Society notes would be "as good as gold." (Link)
  • Nauvoo city charter—
    What was unique about the city of Nauvoo's charter? Why did it anger some non-Mormons? (Link)
    • Habeas corpus—This writ is a judicial order “to a prison official ordering that an inmate be brought to the court so it can be determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he should be released from custody.” Thus, one obtains such a writ so that a local judge can rule on whether or not an arrest warrant is legal or appropriate. The purpose of habeas corpus is to prevent prisoners from being transported long distances on insufficient charges, or held for long periods without trial. (Link)
    • Usurpation of power?—Critics charge that the Mormon's use of the Nauvoo city charter to invalidate writs from other jurisdictions was improper. Carlin, the governor of Illinois at the time, characterized it as an "extraordinary assumption of power….most absurd and ridiculous…[a] gross usurpation of power that cannot be tolerated." (Link)
  • Nauvoo Expositor—
    Did Joseph violate the law by ordering the Nauvoo Expositor destroyed? Critics claim that Joseph "could not allow the Expositor to publish the secret international negotiations masterminded by Mormonism’s earthly king." (Link)
    • Nauvoo Expositor Full Text—The Nauvoo Expositor had a single issue published. The events surrounding its publication lead to the martyrdom. The full text is provided for study. (Link)


Accusations of false prophecy

Specific accusations of Joseph Smith having uttered "false prophecy" are treated in the following wiki articles:

Fulfilled prophecies

Joseph Smith

  • Joseph Smith—
    Claims and questions about Joseph Smith, first prophet of the restoration (Link)

Post-Joseph Smith and non-Joseph Smith prophecies

Oliver Cowdery

Martin Harris

Parley P. Pratt

Joseph Smith, Sr.

Joseph Fielding Smith

David Whitmer

  • Brigham Young ordination blessing—
    FAIR has found no criticism about the blessing given to Brigham Young upon his ordination as an apostle. His blessing is referenced by at least one other blessing, however, and so is included here for reference. (Link)

Wilford Woodruff

  • Destruction of New York, Albany, and Boston—
    Wilford made a prophecy that included the destruction of New York by earthquake, Albany by fire, and Boston by flood. Brigham Young confirmed this as a true revelation. Since no earthquake, fire, or flood has yet destroyed them, does this make both Woodruff and Young guilty of false prophecy? (Link)

Others

Other related issues and claims

  • LDS prophets don't prophesy?—
    Some critics say that Latter-day Saint prophets aren't really "prophets" because they don't prophesy by foretelling unknown events. They commonly issue challenges such as, "If Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet, tell me one event that he's prophesied." Do LDS prophets "prophesy"? (Link)
  • Prophetic inerrancy?—
    Critics sometimes impose absolutist assumptions on the Church by holding inerrantist beliefs about scriptures or prophets, and assuming that the LDS have similar views. Critics therefore insist, based upon these assumptions, that any statement by any LDS Church leader represents LDS doctrine and is thus something that is secretly believed, or that should be believed, by Latter-day Saints. (Link)
  • Mormonism and prophets—
    Critics claim that General Authorities are very silent about some issues, and that the Maxwell Institute takes their place (Link)
  • False revelation or private matters—
    Statements by leaders of the Church on the propriety of Church members teaching new doctrines, or publicizing personal revelations, dreams, visions, etc. (Link)

Mormonism and doctrine

Sub-articles

"Essentials" or Core doctrine

  • Official or "core" doctrine—
    What constitutes official or "core" doctrine of the Church? Joseph Smith defined our fundamental core doctrine: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121.) (Link)

New doctrine

  • Establishing new doctrine—
    How is new doctrine established in the Church? (Link)
  • Changing doctrine—
    Is LDS doctrine constantly changing? Critics claim that Mormon doctrine is very elusive - very little is claimed to be official, which makes it easy to repudiate certain doctrines when they become unpleasant or unfashionable. (Link)
  • Church publications as doctrine—
    Are Church publications considered doctrine? Critics claim that anything that is, or ever was, officially published by the Church at any time ought to represent doctrine, thus define what Latter-day Saints really believe. However, just as Brigham Young taught principles that applied to the 19th-century saints, modern prophets teach us what we need for our particular time. (Link)
  • Official Church publications—
    Critics claim that some publications are official Church publications when in reality they are not. Conversely, some critics claim that some publications are not official Church publications when in reality they are. (Link)

Past doctrine

  • Statements by past prophets—
    Are statements of past prophets considered doctrine? Critics claim that anything that is, or ever was, officially published by the Church ought to represent doctrine. (Link)
  • Prophets are not infallible—
    Are prophets considered infallible? Critics sometimes impose absolutist assumptions on the Church and hold inerrantist beliefs about scriptures or prophets. Critics therefore insist that any statement by any LDS Church leader represents LDS doctrine and is thus something that is secretly believed, or that should be believed, by Latter-day Saints. (Link)
  • Repudiated concepts—
    Some teachings previously considered doctrinal have since been repudiated by the Church. (Link)

</noinclude>

Eschatology

Topics

Miscellaneous doctrinal issues

  • Obedience—
    Mormons believe in being obedient to God and His servants. Critics sometimes characterize such obedience as the product of authoritarianism, or intrusion of leaders into members' lives. This misunderstands the doctrines of agency and obedience. (Link)
  • 17 Points of the True Church (Link)
  • Angels—
    What is the LDS understanding of the nature of angels? (Link)
  • Animal sacrifice taught by Joseph?—
    Critics claim that Joseph Smith favored "Old Testament practices" including "teaching animal sacrifice." (Link)
  • Anti-Mormon—
    Some critics of the Church object to the use of the term "anti-Mormon." They do not like to be referred to as "anti-Mormons," and deny that their books, speeches, blogs or videos are "anti-Mormon." Such critics often insist that the term "anti-Mormon" is unfair because they are not "against" Mormons, but only write and act as they do because they "love" Mormons or Mormon investigators and want to bring them to the truth. (Link)
  • Apologetics—
    Many people are not familiar with "apologetics," and raise a variety of questions. (Link)
  • Mormon Church is a cult—
    Critics claim that the Church is "a cult." (Link)
  • Graven Images—
    Critics claim that the Church violates the Biblical command against "graven images" because it displays sculptures of Christ, statues of the angel Moroni on the spires of our temples, or paintings showing scriptural scenes, within temples, chapels, visitors' centers, and publications. (Link)
  • Deification of man / theosis—
    Critics claim that the doctrine of human deification is unbiblical, false, and arrogant. (Link)
    • Downplaying the King Follett Discourse—Critics claim that, in an effort to appear more "mainline" Christian, the Church is downplaying the importance of some doctrines taught late in Joseph Smith's lifetime. Prominent among these is the doctrine of human deification. To bolster their argument, critics usually quote from a 1997 Time magazine interview with President Gordon B. Hinckley. (Link)
  • Excommunication and Church discipline (Link) [needs work]
  • Sons of Perdition (Link)
    • Eventual fate—Today in our Sunday School class an individual expressed the belief that the sons of perdition would be given another chance to achieve celestial glory. Could you direct me to any specific reference on this topic? (Link)
    • Will Sons of Perdition be resurrected?—Will sons of perdition be resurrected? (Link)
    • Women as "sons of perdition"?—Are there women who would be among those cast into outer darkness? Are there female 'Sons of Perdition'? (Link)
  • Feelings and emotions as the basis of a testimony—
    Critics complain that the LDS appeal to "revelation" or a "burning in the bosom" is subjective, emotion-based, and thus unreliable and susceptible to self-deception. Sectarian critics also belittle appeals to spiritual experiences, comparing them to "warm fuzzies," or merely something "felt by simply watching a Hollywood movie." (Link)
  • Flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven—
    Critics attempt to use 1 Cor. 15:50 to demonstrate that a resurrected being with a physical body cannot enter into heaven, therefore excluding a God with a body as well as resurrected mortals. (Link)
  • Free will and science—
    Science demonstrates that all interactions of matter--including all events in the human brain--are sufficiently caused by previous events. If we know enough about the laws that govern these interactions and the current state of the universe, we would be able to exactly predict any future event. Does this mean that the doctrine of "agency" or "free will" is false, since all human choices are predetermined by the laws of physics? (Link)
  • Government during the Millennium—
    During the millennium, will there be a secular government in addition to Christ's reign? It seems that I had heard that there will be a "government headquarters" in a different location to the "church headquarters". Do we know where they will be located? (Link)
  • Location of Lost Ten Tribes?—
    Can you tell me something about the location of the lost ten tribes of Israel? I heard they might be under the polar ice cap. (Link) [needs work]
  • Myths about Mormons (Link)
  • Progression between kingdoms of glory—
    Is there progression between the three degrees of glory? (Link)
  • Prophets don't prophesy—
    Some critics say that Latter-day Saint prophets aren't really "prophets" because they don't prophesy by foretelling unknown events. They commonly issue challenges such as, "If Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet, tell me one event that he's prophesied." Do LDS prophets "prophesy"? (Link)
  • Sabbath changed to Sunday—
    The Old Testament commands men to rest on the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. Why do Mormons then follow the practice of most Christians by resting and worshiping on Sunday? (Link)
  • Satan's dominion over waters—
    I know I was told in the MTC that missionaries were not to ever swim because Satan had dominion over the waters. So what is the actual Church doctrine on this subject? (Link)
  • How is tithing calculated?—
    I've been told by critics of the Church that the Church expects or teaches its members to tithe on gross income. What can you tell me about how tithing it taught in the Church? (Link)

</noinclude> </noinclude>

Joseph Smith's First Vision

Primary sources

Wikipedia treatment of Joseph Smith's First Vision

Did the Church hide accounts of the First Vision?

The claim is sometimes made by critics that the LDS Church hides the various accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision that are not in its official canon. The following chronological database (compiled by FAIR volunteer Edward Jones) demonstrates conclusively that this is simply not the case. The various accounts of the First Vision have been widely acknowledged in LDS-authored sources throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

Events leading up to the First Vision

  • Early Smith family history (Link)
  • Methodist camp meetings in the Palmyra area—
    Critics claim that any association Joseph had with Methodism did not occur until the 1824-25 revival in Palmyra, and that his claim that the "unusual excitement" started with the Methodists in 1820 is therefore incorrect. (Link)
  • Joseph became "partial to the Methodist sect" in 1820—
    Critics claim that Joseph didn't become "partial to the Methodist sect" until at least 1823, after Alvin's death, or as late as 1838, rather than in 1820 as he claimed in his 1838 First Vision account. (Link)
  • Were there revivals in 1820?—
    Critics claim that there were no religious revivals in the Palmyra, New York area in 1820, contrary to Joseph Smith's claims that during that year there was "an unusual excitement on the subject of religion...indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it" (Link)
  • Smith family place of residence in 1820—
    Critics claim that there are discrepancies in Joseph's account of his family's early history, which make his 1820 and subsequent revelations impossible, and that there is no evidence that the Smith family was in the Palmyra area in 1820 for the religious excitement and First Vision which Joseph reported. (Link)

The Vision

  • Joseph's accounts of the First Vision—
    Joseph Smith gave several accounts of the First Vision. Critics charge that differences in the accounts show that he changed and embellished his story over time, and that he therefore had no such vision. (Link)
  • Discrepancies in Paul's account of his vision—
    Paul the apostle gave more than one account of his vision of the resurrected Lord while on the road to Damascus. Like Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision, Paul's accounts differ in some details but agree in the overall message. (Link)
  • Do Greek scholars solve the discrepancies in Paul's vision accounts?—
    The Church's sectarian critics accept Paul's account as true despite the Bible containing apparently frank contradictions in its accounts, while refusing to give Joseph Smith the same latitude. Members of the Church have long pointed out that this is a clear double standard, designed to bias the audience against Joseph from the beginning. Perhaps because of the force of this argument, some critics have begun to argue that no contradiction exists between the versions of Paul's vision. (Link)
  • D&C:84 says God cannot be seen without priesthood—
    Critics argue that Joseph Smith claimed that he saw God in 1820 and also claimed that he received the priesthood in 1829. But in a text which he produced in 1832 (DC 84:21-22) it is said that a person cannot see God without holding the priesthood. Therefore, critics claim that Joseph Smith contradicted himself and this counts as evidence against his calling as an authentic prophet of God. (Link)
  • Was Joseph Smith told that "all the churches of the day were an abomination?"—
    Some critics claim that Joseph Smith stated that during the First Vision that he was told that "all the churches of the day were an abomination." (Link)

Events occurring after the First Vision

  • Joseph Smith's early conception of God—
    Some critics claim that Joseph began his prophetic career with a "trinitarian" idea of God, and only later developed his theology of the Godhead. What do we know about Joseph and the early Saints' views on God? (Link)
  • No reference to First Vision in 1830s publications—
    Critics claim that there is no reference to the 1838 canonical First Vision story in any published material from the 1830s, and that nothing published in this period mentions that Joseph saw the Father and Son. They also assume that it would have been mentioned in the local newspapers at the time. (Link)
  • Seldom mentioned in LDS publications before 1877 (short version)—
    Critics charge, “Before the death of Brigham Young in 1877 the first vision was seldom mentioned in Mormon publications.” This evidence implies that the general membership of the LDS Church was not familiar with the First Vision story until late in the nineteenth century. (Link)
  • No mention in non-LDS literature before 1843?—
    There is no mention of the First Vision in non-Mormon literature before 1843. If the First Vision story had been known by the public before 1840 (when Orson Pratt published his pamphlet) the anti-Mormons “surely” would have seized upon it as an evidence of Joseph Smith’s imposture. (Link)
  • Missionaries 1830 statement about Joseph seeing "God"—
    Critics have claimed that just because LDS missionaries were teaching around 1 November 1830 that Joseph Smith had previously seen “God” personally it cannot be assumed that this was a reference to God the Father since the Book of Mormon (completed ca. 11 June 1829) refers to Jesus Christ as “the eternal God” (title page; 2 Nephi 26:12). The argument is made that since this evidence indicates that Joseph Smith understood Jesus Christ to be “God” the statement by the missionaries may have simply meant that Joseph Smith had seen the Savior; not necessarily the Father. (Link)
  • No published reference to Father and Son vision until 1838?—
    Critics claim that there is no mention of Joseph Smith seeing the Father and Son in any “contemporary” newspaper, diary, LDS publication, or writing of any kind until the year 1838. (Link)
  • Joseph Smith did not know if God existed in 1823?—
    Critics claim that according to a historical document published in Kirtland, Ohio in 1835 the Prophet Joseph Smith did not know if God existed in the year 1823. This text, therefore, provides evidence that Joseph Smith simply made up the story about the First Vision happening in the year 1820. (Link)
  • Lucy Mack Smith and the Presbyterians—
    Critics claim that since there was a religious revival in Palmyra, New York in 1824-25 which appears to match details of Joseph Smith's official Church history, he must have mistakenly mixed this event in with his narrative about what happened in 1820, and that the Prophet's mother joined the Presbyterian church after Alvin Smith died in late 1823. This contradicts Joseph's statement that she joined in 1820, thereby dating Joseph's First Vision to no earlier than 1823. (Link)
  • Did Joseph join other churches contrary to commandment in vision?—
    Critics charge that Joseph Smith joined the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches between 1820 and 1830—despite the claim made in his 1838 history that he was forbidden by Deity (during the 1820 First Vision experience) from joining any denomination. (Link)
  • Contradiction about knowing all churches were wrong—
    In his 1832 account of the First Vision, Joseph Smith said, “I found [by searching the scriptures] that mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith and there was no society or denomination that built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament.” But in the 1835 account he said, “I knew not who [of the denominations] was right or who was wrong.” Critics claim that thus counts as evidence that the First Vision story evolved over time. (Link)
  • First Vision fabricated to give "Godly authority?"—
    Critics claim that Joseph Smith decided after he released the Book of Mormon to the public that he needed 'authority from God' to justify his claims as a religious minister. Therefore, it is claimed that he fabricated the First Vision story in order to provide himself with a more prestigious line of authority than that of the "angel" who revealed the golden plates. (Link)
  • First Vision story became more detailed and colorful after 1832?—
    Some claim that Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision grew more detailed and more colorful after he first recorded it in 1832. (Link)
  • 1838 account modified to offset leadership crisis?—
    Critics claim that in 1838 Joseph Smith revised his personal history to say that his original call came from God the Father and Jesus Christ rather than an angel. His motive for doing this was to give himself a stronger leadership role because an authority crisis had recently taken place and large-scale apostasy was the result. (Link)
  • Persecution after the vision?—
    Some claim that there is no evidence that Joseph or his family were persecuted because of the First Vision. They argue that this means that Joseph invented the story later. (Link)

Additional First Vision issues

  • D&C 121:28 contradicts vision?—
    In 1839 Joseph Smith received a revelation from God in which it was stated that the time would come "in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods they shall be manifest" (D&C 121:28). This was an "unnecessary revelation," since according to the official LDS Church First Vision account Joseph Smith supposedly knew that there was more than one God since 1820. This information counts as evidence that the Prophet's story was fraudulent. (Link)
  • Father: Spirit vs. Embodied—
    When the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants was published in 1835 it portrayed God the Father as a personage of spirit whereas Jesus Christ was portrayed as a personage of tabernacle, or one having a physical body. Yet the official LDS First Vision story portrays the Father as a physical Being. (Link)
  • Personages seen by Joseph—
    A list of known personages who appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith or who were seen by him in vision. (Link)
  • Brigham Young and the First Vision—
    Critics claim either that Brigham never taught about the First Vision, or that he taught that the Lord did not appear to Joseph. Both claims are false. (Link)

FAIR web site

Joseph Smith FAIR articles on-line
  • FAIR Topical Guide: Joseph Smith FAIR link
    • FAIR Topical Guide: Character FAIR link
    • FAIR Topical Guide: Consent for others to enter heaven? FAIR link
    • FAIR Topical Guide: Family and Background FAIR link
    • FAIR Topical Guide: Status of Joseph Smith FAIR link
  • FAIR Topical Guide: Prophets: Infallibility FAIR link
Joseph Smith other visionary issues FAIR links
  • Craig Ray, "Joseph Smith's History Confirmed," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, August 2002) FAIR link

External links

Joseph Smith, Jr. on-line articles
  • Richard Lloyd Anderson, "Joseph Smith's New York Reputation Reappraised," Brigham Young University Studies 10 no. 3 (1970), 285. GL direct link
  • Richard Lloyd Anderson, "Review of Joseph Smith's New York Reputation Reexamined by Rodger I. Anderson," FARMS Review of Books 3/1 (1991): 52–80. off-site
  • Richard Lloyd Anderson, "The Reliability of the Early History of Lucy and Joseph Smith," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 4 no. 2 (Summer 1969), 16, 19.
  • Leonard J. Arrington, "The Human Qualities of Joseph Smith, the Prophet," Ensign 1 (January 1971), 35ff. off-site
  • Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith Miscellany," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 2005 FAIR Conference). FAIR link
  • Richard L. Bushman, Dean C. Jessee and Truman G. Madsen, "Smith, Joseph," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 3:1331–1348. off-site off-site off-site
  • Donald L. Enders, "The Joseph Smith, Sr., Family: Farmers of the Genesee," in Joseph Smith, The Prophet, The Man, edited by Susan Easton Black and Charles D. Tate, Jr., (Provo, UT: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1993), 213—25.
  • Alan Goff, "Dan Vogel's Family Romance and the Book of Mormon as Smith Family Allegory (Review of: Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet)," FARMS Review 17/2 (2005): 321–400. off-site PDF link
  • Alan Goff, "How Should We Then Read? Reading Mormon Scripture After the Fall," FARMS Review 21/1 (2009): 137–178. off-site PDF link wiki
  • Andrew H. Hedges and Dawson W. Hedges, "No, Dan, That's Still Not History (Review of: Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet, by Dan Vogel)," FARMS Review 17/1 (2005): 205–222. off-site PDF link
  • Louis Midgley, "Editor's Introduction: Knowing Brother Joseph Again," FARMS Review 18/1 (2006): xi–lxxiv. off-site PDF link wiki
  • Louis Midgley, "Two Stories—One Faith," FARMS Review 19/1 (2007): 55–79. off-site PDF link wiki
  • Larry E. Morris, "Joseph Smith and "Interpretive Biography", Review of Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet by Dan Vogel," FARMS Review 18/1 (2006): 321–374. off-site PDF link wiki
  • Daniel C. Peterson and Donald L. Enders, "Can the 1834 Affidavits Attacking the Smith Family Be Trusted?" in Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, ed. John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne (Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999), 286—87.

Printed material

Joseph Smith, Jr. printed materials
  • Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith's Family Background," in The Prophet Joseph: Essays on the Life and Mission of Joseph Smith, ed. Larry C. Porter and Susan Easton Black (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988), 1–18. ISBN 0875791778. GospeLink (requires subscrip.)
  • Richard L. Bushman, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (New York: Knopf, 2005), 1.
  • Mark L. McConkie, Remembering Joseph: Personal Recollections of Those Who Knew the Prophet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company, 2003).(print version) ISBN 978-1570089633 GospeLink (requires subscrip.) (Key source)

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