Mormonism and Wikipedia/First Vision/Recorded accounts of the vision


The vision
A FairMormon Analysis of Wikipedia: Mormonism and Wikipedia/First Vision
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An analysis of the Wikipedia article "First Vision" (Version September 2009)

I'm certain that I hold the high ground here.
—Wikipedia editor "John Foxe," quoting Edward Everett Hale, during an edit battle on the "First Vision" article (16 May 2007)

∗       ∗       ∗

How the vision story has been presented

- Wikipedia Main Article: First Vision–How_the_vision_story_has_been_presented Wikipedia Footnotes: First Vision–Notes A FAIR Opinion
1A

The importance of the First Vision within the Latter Day Saint movement evolved over time. There is little evidence that Smith discussed the First Vision publicly prior to 1830.

  • "The earliest allusion, oral or written, to the first vision is the brief mention that was transcribed in June 1830 and originally printed in the Book of Commandments." Palmer, 235.
  •  Correct, per cited sources
1B

Mormon historian James B. Allen notes that:

The fact that none of the available contemporary writings about Joseph Smith in the 1830s, none of the publications of the Church in that decade, and no contemporary journal or correspondence yet discovered mentions the story of the first vision is convincing evidence that at best it received only limited circulation in those early days.

  • James B. Allen, “The Significance of Joseph Smith's First Vision in Mormon Thought,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 1 (Autumn 1966), 30. off-site
  •  Citation abuse (Corrected)— The meaning of a source quotation was originally altered, but was later caught by other editors.
    Violated by John "Foxe" —Diff: off-site
    Wiki editor "John Foxe" originally transcribed the quote from James B. Allen as follows:

"...none of the available contemporary writings about Joseph Smith in the 1830s, none of the Church publications in that decade and no contemporary journal or correspondence yet discovered mentions the story in convincing fashion." (emphasis added)

  • When the altered text was noted by two LDS wiki editors, the quote was corrected and the missing portions were added. "Foxe" responded: "I apologize for what was almost certainly my transcription error. But I think if there's any change of meaning, it's trifling."--John Foxe 10:25, 13 October 2007 (UTC) off-site
  • The meaning was indeed changed in the original transcription—it was written in a way that it made LDS scholar James B. Allen appear to say that he found none of the allusions to the First Vision convincing. In reality, he was stating that there is convincing evidence that it only received a limited circulation. One would expect history professors to check their quotes more thoroughly, and include enough of the quote to convey the proper context. This is inexcusable for an editor who teaches historical writing, quotes the "Chicago Manual of Style" and repeatedly claims that "truth is truth regardless of its origin." off-site
  • This section also ignores that by the early 1830s, secular newspapers were reporting that Joseph claimed to have seen God:
LDS missionaries were teaching that Joseph Smith had seen God "personally" and received a commission from Him to teach true religion (The Reflector, vol. 2, no. 13, 14 February 1831).
1C

Smith said that he made an oblique reference to the vision in 1820 to his mother, telling her the day it happened that he had "learned for [him]self that Presbyterianism is not true."

  • Roberts (1902)
  •  Correct, per cited sources
1D

Lucy did not mention this conversation in her memoirs.

  • Lucy Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, first published in Liverpool in 1853. EMD, 1: 227.
  •  Correct, per cited sources
    Lucy's 1845 draft mentions Moroni's visit without discussing the First Vision.
  •  References not included in the Wikipedia article
    Lucy also mentioned Moroni's visit in a letter written in 1831 (well before her memoirs) which alluded to the events of the First Vision.

"Joseph, after repenting of his sins and humbling himself before God, was visited by an holy angel whose countenance was as lightning and whose garments were white above all whiteness, who gave unto him commandments which inspired him from on high; and who gave unto him, by the means of which was before prepared, that he should translate this book." (Lucy Smith letter, found in Benjamin E. Rich, ed., Scrapbook of Mormon Literature (Chicago: Henry C. Etten and Co., 1913), 1:543–46.) (emphasis added)

  • An alternate argument used by critics is that in her 1831 letter, Lucy claimed that the First Vision was of an angel. The letter says absolutely nothing about Joseph Smith's encounter with the Book of Mormon "angel" being his FIRST spiritual manifestation.
  • See: Prophet's mother said First Vision was of an "angel"
1E

In the oldest known account of the First Vision, Joseph Smith, Jr., said he "could find none that would believe" his experience.

  • Smith (1832) , p. 2
  • From Joseph's 1832 account:

...but [I] could find none that would believe the hevnly vision nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart... off-site

1F

He said that shortly after the experience, he told the story of his revelation to a Methodist minister

  • According to Mormon apologist Larry C. Porter, the Methodist minister, George Lane, may have passed very near the Smith home and preached at a camp meeting along the way in July of 1820. "In the pursuit of his ministerial duties Rev. Lane was in the geographical proximity of Joseph Smith on a number of occasions between the years 1819-1825. The nature degree or indeed the actuality of their acquaintanceship during this interval poses a number of interesting possibilities... In July 1820 Lane would have had to pass through the greater Palmyra-Manchester vicinity..unless he went by an extremely circuitous route. Present records do not specify Lane's itinerary or exact route... but they do for Lane's friend, Rev. George Peck... [Peck's] conference route took him north to Ithaca, then on to a camp meeting in the Holland Purchase, subsequently passing along the Ridge Road to Rochester... As Rev. Peck, [Lane] may even have stopped at a camp meeting somewhere along the way. A preacher of his standing would always be a welcome guest." off-site Smith never mentions the name of the minister.
  • The reference is missing and the link to Larry Porter's article is broken. The correct reference and link are: Larry Porter, "Reverend George Lane—Good Gifts Much Grace and Marked Usefulness," BYU Studies, Vol. 9, No. 3 (1969) pp. 321-340. off-site
  •  References not included in the Wikipedia article
    None of Porter's citations are included in the wiki article. The more compelling material from the cited source is not included in the wiki article:

The presence of some 110 ministers and their bishop, Bishop R. R. Roberts at the Genesee Conference meetings representing the New York, Pennsylvania and the Upper and Lower Canada districts must have created at least a moderate stir in the immediate neighborhood. [42] This places Reverend George Lane within a fifteen mile vicinity of Manchester attending the largest Methodist meeting of the year in Western New York among a great number of Methodist ministers at a time when Joseph Smith was aware of "an unusual excitement on the subject of religion" ("some time in the second year [1819] after our removal to Manchester").
Whether or not Joseph attended some of these meetings cannot be determined from any records presently available, but the opportunity cannot be denied—if only to sell confectioneries. [43] To think that the Smiths would not have heard of the gathering is hardly believable.
[42]Minutes of the Annual Conference, 1819, pp. 50-52.
[43]Pomery Tucker, Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism (Palmyra, 1867), p. 12.

  • Although Joseph does not mention the name in his 1832 account, Oliver Cowdery's first installment of Joseph's history in 1834 does mention the name of the minister. Oliver stated when he began writing Joseph's history that he had records in his possession from Joseph himself. This would include his 1832 First Vision account. The following details are mentioned by Oliver, which are entirely consistent with the events described as leading up to the First Vision as described in the account that Joseph wrote four years later in 1838:
  • "...I come to the 15th year of his life..."
  • "...One Mr. Lane, a presiding Elder of the Methodist church, visited Palmyra, and vicinity. Elder Lane was a tallented [talented] man possessing a good share of literary endowments, and apparent humility."
  • "There was a great awakening, or excitement raised on the subject of religion, and much enquiry for the word of life. Large additions were made to the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches."
  • "In this general strife for followers, his mother, one sister, and two of his natural brothers, were persuaded to unite with the Presbyterians."
  • Source text is available here: Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 3/LETTER III
  • In the next installment of Oliver's history, he claimed that there had been a typographical error and that he would talk about Joseph's 17th year, bringing the date to 1823. He then proceeded to describe the visit of Moroni. For more detail on this, see Oliver Cowdery not aware of First Vision in 1834-35?
1G

who responded "with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there was no such thing as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the apostles, and that there never would be any more of them."

  • Smith (1842c) , p. 748
  • Roberts (1902)
  •  An attempt was made to suppress a fact as "Mormon POV" A wiki editor attempted to suppress a fact from a primary source because he believes that it supports a "Mormon point-of-view."
    Violated by John "Foxe" —Diff: [off-site off-site]
    It is interesting to note that an attempt was made by the evangelical editor John "Foxe" to remove this section, in which Joseph describes his interaction with a Methodist minister, as “unattested Mormon POV.”
  • The word “unattested” means “not bearing the signature of a witness.” Although there is no witness to the conversation between Joseph and the minister, there is a witness that proves that Joseph related the story to others. The following entry from the “Alexander Neibaur Diary” (cited elsewhere in the article) recalls a conversation that Neibaur had with Joseph:

Mr. [Joseph] Smith then asked, "Must I join the Methodist Church?" "No, they are not my people. [They] have gone astray; there is none that doeth good, not one, but this is my Beloved Son, harken ye him." The fire drew nigher, rested upon the tree, enveloped him. Comforted, I endeavored to arise but felt uncommon feeble. [I] got into the house and told the Methodist priest [who] said this was not an age for God to reveal himself in vision. Revelation has ceased with the New Testament.

  • The wiki author’s reason for attempting to remove Joseph’s statement was that “Smith claimed he spoke to a Methodist minister and said he got a reply that no Methodist minister would have given in 1820. That's simple Mormon apologetics because there's no independent confirmation of Smith's improbable story.”—John Foxe (10 September 2007). off-site
  • This is an interesting attitude for this particular editor to take however, since Bob Jones University history professor John Matzko has documented that there was at least one Presybterian minister in the Palmyra area that did "not fit the stereotype." If a Presbyterian minister was in the area that did "not fit the stereotype," then how can one assume that there might not have been a Methodist minister who didn't fit the stereotype as well? [1]
  • We fail to understand how simply repeating what Joseph said becomes "Mormon apologetics." It is a fact that Joseph made this statement.
  • Although wiki editor John "Foxe" is indeed a professor of history, it is an exercise in mind reading to make an assumption regarding what reply a 19th-century Methodist minister “would have given” to a 14-year-old who had claimed to have seen a vision of God, and then impose that "fact" upon the wiki article.
1H

He also said that the telling of his vision story "excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase."

  • Roberts (1902) .
1I

There is no contemporary evidence for this persecution beyond Smith's testimony.

  • James B. Allen, “The Significance of Joseph Smith's First Vision in Mormon Thought,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 1 (Autumn 1966), 30. [2] "According to Joseph Smith, he told the story of the vision immediately after it happened in the early spring of 1820. As a result, he said, he received immediate criticism in the community. There is little if any evidence, however, that by the early 1830's Joseph Smith was telling the story in public. At least if he were telling it, no one seemed to consider it important enough to have recorded it at the time, and no one was criticizing him for it."
  • The Wiki link is incomplete—the correct link is James B. Allen, “The Significance of Joseph Smith's First Vision in Mormon Thought,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 1 (Autumn 1966), 30 off-site
  •  Insufficient Citation— The citation does not include sufficient material to make the author's meaning clear.
    Violated by John "Foxe" —Diff: off-site
    It is deceptive to use Allen’s statement as support for the assertion that there is no evidence that Joseph was persecuted in the 1820’s for telling others about his vision. Whether or not contemporary evidence exists of persecution in the 1820s, Allen's statement cannot be used to support the idea. It should be noted that Allen is talking about the lack of persecution for the First Vision in the 1830’s, rather than denying that it could have occurred in 1820. Adding a few lines to what is quoted in the wiki article, this becomes clear:

…no one seemed to consider it important enough to have recorded it at the time, and no one was criticizing him for it. Not even in his own history did Joseph Smith mention being criticized in this period for telling the story of the first vision. The interest, rather, was in the Book of Mormon and the various angelic visitations connected with its origin…the young prophet said that he had been severely rebuffed the first time he told the story in 1820; and since it represented one of his most profound spiritual experiences, he could well have decided to circulate it only privately until he could feel certain that in relating it he would not receive again the general ridicule of friends. (Allen, p. 30, 34)

  •  Violates Wikipedia: Citing sources off-site— There is either no citation to support the statement or the citation given is incorrect.
    Violated by John "Foxe" —Diff: off-site
    There are contemporary sources that are not written by Joseph himself that mention persecution. What the wiki editor is really saying is that there is no non-believer who confirms such persecution. One would wonder why any non-believer would find such persecution notable.
  • 1845 Wandle Mace Autobiography, typescript, BYU Special Collections, 45-6 [File Diary Wandle Mace] [dictated to his wife, ends with departure from Nauvoo, 1846] [Born Feb. 19, 1809]

Almost as soon as the father [Joseph Smith, Sr.] and mother [Lucy Smith] of the Prophet Joseph Smith set their feet upon the hospitable shore of Illinois, I became acquainted with them. I frequently visited them and listened with intense interest as they related the history of the rise of the Church in every detail.

With tears they could not withhold, they narrated the story of the persecution of their boy, Joseph, which commenced when he was about fourteen years old, or from the time the angel first visited him. Not only was the boy, Joseph, persecuted but the aged father was harassed and imprisoned on false charges. (emphasis added)

1J

None of the earliest anti-Mormon literature mentioned the First Vision.

  • James B. Allen, “The Significance of Joseph Smith's First Vision in Mormon Thought,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 1 (Autumn 1966), 31. [3]. "Apparently not until 1843, when the New York Spectator printed a reporter's account of an interview with Joseph Smith, did a non-Mormon source publish any reference to the story of the first vision."
  •  References not included in the Wikipedia article
    Interesting that the statement says "anti-Mormon" rather than "non-Mormon" literature. The statement may be formulated that way because there actually were some possible references in local newspapers.
  • LDS missionaries were teaching with regard to Joseph Smith: "Having repented of his sins, but not attached himself to any party of Christians, owing to the numerous divisions among them, and being in doubt what his duty was, he had recourse [to] prayer" (The Fredonia Censor, vol. 11, no. 50, 7 March 1832).
  • In Richard Abanes' anti-Mormon book Becoming Gods, p. 338 note 71, the author states:

It should be noted that in one 1831 newspaper article about the activities of LDS missionaries (i.e., Oliver Cowdery and three others) there is a vague reference to Smith seeing God. The journalist wrote, "Smith (they affirmed) had seen God frequently and personally" ("God bible No. 4: Book of Mormon," Palmyra Reflector, Feb. 14, 1831). This remark indicates that as early as 1831 Smith might have been starting to privately tell select persons that he had at some point seen God. (emphasis in original)

1K

Smith also said he told others about the vision during the 1820s, and some family members said that they had heard him mention it, but none prior to 1823, when Smith said he had his second vision.

  •  Violates Wikipedia: Citing sources off-site— There is either no citation to support the statement or the citation given is incorrect.
    Violated by John "Foxe" —Diff: off-site

Joseph Smith's 1832 account

- Wikipedia Main Article: First Vision–Joseph_Smith's_1832_account Wikipedia Footnotes: First Vision–Notes A FAIR Opinion
3A

The earliest extant account of the First Vision was handwritten by Joseph Smith in 1832, but it was not published until 1965.

  • "One of the most significant documents of that period yet discovered was brought to light in 1965 by Paul R. Cheesman, a graduate student at Brigham Young University. This is a handwritten manuscript apparently composed about 1833 and either written or dictated by Joseph Smith. It contains an account of the early experiences of the Mormon prophet and includes the story of the first vision. While the story varies in some details from the version presently accepted, enough is there to indicate that at least as early as 1833 Joseph Smith contemplated writing and perhaps publishing it. The manuscript has apparently lain in the L.D.S. Church Historian’s office for many years, and yet few if any who saw it realized its profound historical significance." James B. Allen, “The Significance of Joseph Smith's First Vision in Mormon Thought,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 1 (Autumn 1966). [4].
3B

[T]he Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in <the> attitude of calling upon the Lord <in the 16th year of my age> a pillar of fire light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the <Lord> opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph <my son> thy sins are forgiven thee. go thy <way> walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucifyed for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life <behold> the world lieth in sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned aside from the gospel and keep not <my> commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them according to th[e]ir ungodliness and to bring to pass that which <hath> been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and Ap[o]stles behold and lo I come quickly as it [is] written of me in the cloud <clothed> in the glory of my Father . . . ."
  • Smith (1832) , p. 2. Angle brackets indicate insertions by Smith.
  • For some reason, the wiki editors ignore the strikeouts within the source text. Thus, we get "fire light" instead of noting that Joseph wrote the word "fire," then crossed it out and replaced it with the word "light."

the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age a piller of fire light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph my son thy sins are forgiven thee. go thy way walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucifyed for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life behold the world lieth in Sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned asside from the gospel and keep not my commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them acording to th[e]ir ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and Ap[o]stles behold and lo I come quickly as it [is] written of me in the cloud clothed in the glory of my Father...

3C

Unlike later accounts of the vision, the emphasis of the 1832 account is on the young Joseph's quest for personal forgiveness. The account does not mention an appearance of God the Father, nor does it mention the phrase "This is my beloved Son, hear him." In the 1832 account, Smith also stated that before he experienced the First Vision, his own searching of the Scriptures had led him to the conclusion that mankind 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."

  • Joseph Smith History, 1832, EMD, 1:28.
  • The wiki authors fail to note that some of the later accounts continued to indicate that Joseph sought or received a forgiveness of sins.
  • From the 1832 account: "...another personage soon appeard like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee..." Diary of Joseph Smith, p. 23.
  • From Orson Pratt's account: "...and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in their features or likeness. He was informed that his sins were forgiven..." A Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, p. 5.

1834 account by Oliver Cowdery

- Wikipedia Main Article: First Vision–1834_account_by_Oliver_Cowdery Wikipedia Footnotes: First Vision–Notes A FAIR Opinion
4A

In several issues of the LDS periodical Messenger and Advocate (1834-35), Oliver Cowdery wrote an early biography of Joseph Smith, Jr. In one issue, Cowdery explained that Smith was confused by the different religions and local revivals during his "15th year" (1820), leading him to wonder which church was true. In the next issue of the biography, Cowdery explained that reference to Smith's "15th year" was a typographical error, and that actually the revivals and religious confusion took place in Smith's "17th year." However, Cowdery apparently confused Smith's "17th year" (1822) with Smith being "seventeen years old" (1823), and thus he gave the year as 1823.

  •  Violates Wikipedia: Synthesis off-site: Do not put together information from multiple sources to reach a conclusion that is not stated explicitly by any of the sources.
    Violated by COGDEN —Diff: off-site
    The wiki author moves beyond the sources when he synthesizes the conclusion that "Cowdery apparently confused Smith's "17th year" (1822) with Smith being "seventeen years old" (1823), and thus he gave the year as 1823." He is citing primary sources, none of which state that Oliver was "confused."
  • Oliver's account was split across two issues. In the first installment, he is clearly describing the events leading up to the First Vision, and he was in possession of Joseph's 1832 First Vision account. Here is what Oliver says in the first installment:
  • "...I come to the 15th year of his life..."
  • "...One Mr. Lane, a presiding Elder of the Methodist church, visited Palmyra, and vicinity. Elder Lane was a tallented [talented] man possessing a good share of literary endowments, and apparent humility."
  • "There was a great awakening, or excitement raised on the subject of religion, and much enquiry for the word of life. Large additions were made to the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches."
  • See: Primary source: Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 1/Number 3/LETTER III
  • See: Oliver Cowdery not aware of First Vision in 1834-35
4B

Therefore, according to Cowdery, the religious confusion led Smith to pray in his bedroom, late on the night of September 23 1823, after the others had gone to sleep, to know which of the competing denominations was correct and whether "a Supreme being did exist." In response, an angel appeared and granted him forgiveness of his sins. The remainder of the story roughly parallels Smith's later description of a visit by angel in 1823 who told him about the Golden Plates. Thus, Cowdery's account, containing a single vision, differs from Smith's 1832 account, which contains two separate visions, one in 1821 prompted by religious confusion (the First Vision) and a separate one regarding the plates on September 22 1822. Cowdery's account also differs from Smith's 1838 account, which includes a First Vision in 1820 and a second vision on September 22, 1823.

Joseph Smith's 1835 account

- Wikipedia Main Article: First Vision–Joseph_Smith's_1835_account Wikipedia Footnotes: First Vision–Notes A FAIR Opinion
5A

On November 9, 1835, Smith recorded an account of the First Vision in his diary that mentioned a vision of two unidentified personages and "many angels" when he was "about 14 years old." Jesus is identified as the Son of God, but neither "personage" is identified with Him. Smith also noted that he had another vision in his bedroom when he was 17.

  • Abanes, 16; the 1835 account.
  • In 1835, Smith approved the Lectures on Faith, an orderly presentation of Mormonism (probably by Sidney Rigdon) in which it was taught that although Jesus Christ had a tangible body of flesh, God the Father was a spiritual presence--a view not out of harmony with orthodox Christian belief. The Lectures on Faith were canonized as scripture by the LDS Church and included as part of the Doctrine and Covenants until de-canonized after 1921. (Bushman, 283-84.)

a personage appeard in the midst of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeard like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testified unto me that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; and I saw many angels in this vision I was about 14 years old when I received this first communication;
—Diary of Joseph Smith, Jr. (1835-1836)

5B

Unlike previous and subsequent accounts, there is no mention of all churches being condemned as corrupt.

  • From Joseph's 1835 diary:

...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 I considered it of the first importance that I should be right...

  • Joseph's account does indeed indicate that he was trying to determine which church was the correct one.
  • Contrary to the editor's assertion that Joseph said that "all churches" were corrupt, he never said that. He said that he was told that "their creeds were an abomination."

Commentary

Want the rest of the story? See: The "Angels" of the 1835 account

1838 Joseph Smith History (Section Version 1/3/2010)

- Wikipedia Main Article: First Vision–Joseph_Smith's_1838_Account Wikipedia Footnotes: First Vision–Notes A FAIR Opinion

In 1838, Joseph Smith began dictating the early history of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement.

  • The original 1838 manuscript has been lost, but the account was copied to manuscripts dating from 1839, which indicates that the year of writing was 1838, a fact also confirmed by Smith's journal entries. See Jessee (1969) , pp. 6-7.
  • This history included a new account of the First Vision, later published in three issues of the Times and Seasons journal.
  • Times and Seasons, March and April, v3 no9, and v3 no 11
  •  Correct, per cited sources
  •  Correct, per cited sources
  • This canonized version differs from the 1840 version because the canonized version includes the proclamation "This is my beloved son, hear him" from one of the personages, whereas the 1840 version does not. The canonized version says that in the spring of 1820, during a period of "confusion and strife among the different denominations" following an "unusual excitement on the subject of religion", he had debated which of the various Christian groups he should join. While in turmoil, he read from the Bible: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
  • James 1: 5; Joseph Smith's History, an account of his First Vision.
  • One morning, deeply impressed by this scripture, the fourteen-year-old Smith went to a grove of trees behind the family farm, knelt, and began his first vocal prayer. Almost immediately he was confronted by an evil power that prevented speech. A darkness gathered around him, and Smith believed that he would be destroyed. He continued the prayer silently, asking for God's assistance though still resigned to destruction. At this moment a light brighter than the sun descended towards him, and he was delivered from the evil power.
  • In the light, Smith "saw two personages standing in the air", identified as God the Father and Jesus Christ. One pointed to the other and said "This is My Beloved Son, hear Him." Smith asked which religious sect he should join and was told to join none of them because all existing religions had corrupted the teachings of Jesus Christ.

1840 Orson Pratt Version (Section Version 1/3/2010)

- Wikipedia Main Article: First Vision–Accounts_created_for_publication Wikipedia Footnotes: First Vision–Notes A FAIR Opinion
  • In September 1840, Orson Pratt published a version of the First Vision in England.
  • Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, Orson Pratt, Ballantyne and Huges publ, 1840 (reprinted in Jessee, v1 p 149-160)
  • This version states that after Smith saw the light, "his mind was caught away, from the natural objects with which he was surrounded; and he was enwrapped in a heavenly vision."
  • Pratt (1840) , p. 5
  • Pratt's account referred to "two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in their features or likeness",
  • Pratt 1840 5,
  • but this account does not include the proclamation by one of the personages "This is my beloved son, hear him", which is found in the canonized version.

1842 Wentworth Letter (Section Version 1/3/2010)

- Wikipedia Main Article: First Vision–Accounts_created_for_publication Wikipedia Footnotes: First Vision–Notes A FAIR Opinion
  • Smith (1842a) , pp. 706–710.
  • Smith said that he was "about fourteen years of age" when he had the First Vision.
  • Smith (1842a) , pp. 706
  • Like the Orson Pratt account, Smith's Wentworth letter said that his "mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision."
  • Smith (1842a) , pp. 706
  • This should be no surprise, since Joseph said that he was "in his fifteenth year" (i.e. fourteen years of age) in all of his accounts except for the one written in 1832.
  • In language paralleling that used two years earlier by Orson Pratt, Smith said that he "saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features, and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noon-day",
  • Smith (1842a) , pp. 707
  •  Violates Wikipedia: Neutral Point-of-View off-site— All Wikipedia articles and other encyclopedic content must be written from a neutral point of view, representing fairly, and as far as possible without bias, all significant views that have been published by reliable sources.

    For some reason, the author wishes to imply that Joseph copied Orson Pratt's account. It is more reasonable to assume that Joseph used words from his own earlier accounts.
  • but Smith did not identify the personages or note whether they were angels or deities. Smith said he was told that no religious denomination "was acknowledged of God as his church and kingdom" and that he was "expressly commanded to 'go not after them.'"
  • Smith (1842a) , pp. 707
  •  Violates Wikipedia: Neutral Point-of-View off-site— All Wikipedia articles and other encyclopedic content must be written from a neutral point of view, representing fairly, and as far as possible without bias, all significant views that have been published by reliable sources.

    Again, the implication is laughable. Joseph is writing an account in 1842, well after his 1838 account (which was eventually canonized), and it is again being pointed out that Joseph didn't identify the personages as angels or deities.
  • From the 1838 account:

When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

Smith's accounts found in later reminiscences (Section Version 1/3/2010)

- Wikipedia Main Article: First Vision–Smith's_accounts_found_in_later_reminiscences Wikipedia Footnotes: First Vision–Notes A FAIR Opinion
  • Late in his life, Smith's brother, William, gave two accounts of the First Vision, dating it to 1823,
  • Smith (1883) , pp. 6, 7–8
  • when William was twelve years old. William said the religious excitement in Palmyra had occurred in 1822-23 (rather than the actual date of 1824-25), that it was stimulated by the preaching of a Methodist, the Rev. George Lane, a "great revival preacher," and that his mother and some of his siblings had then joined the Presbyterian church.
  • Smith (1883) , p. 6
  •  Violates Wikipedia: No Original Research off-site— Do not use unpublished facts, arguments, speculation, and ideas; and any unpublished analysis or synthesis of published material that serves to advance a position.

    The wiki author has slipped in his own conclusion that "religious excitement" in Palmyra could only have occurred in 1824-1825 as if it were an indisputable fact. This is not supported by the source (William Smith, 1883)
  • An appropriate source to quote to support the statement would be the critical work David Persuitte, Joseph Smith and the Origins of The Book of Mormon (2nd edition), (McFarland & Company, October 2000), 26 ( Index of claims ). Persuitte uses as his source a critical work by Presbyterian minister Wesley P. Walters, who claims that there was no religious revival activity between 1819 and 1823 in Palmyra.
  • William Smith said he based his account on what Joseph had told William and the rest of his family the day after the First Vision:
  • Smith (1883) , pp. 6, 8–9
  • William also adds that, "A more elaborate and accurate description of [Joseph Smith's] vision, however, will be found in his own history" (William B. Smith, William Smith on Mormonism [Lamoni, IA: Herald Steam Book and Job Office, 1883], 9).

  • [A] light appeared in the heavens, and descended until it rested upon the trees where he was. It appeared like fire. But to his great astonishment, did not burn the trees. An angel then appeared to him and conversed with him upon many things. He told him that none of the sects were right; but that if he was faithful in keeping the commandments he should receive, the true way should be made known to him; that his sins were forgiven, etc.
  • Smith (1883) , pp. 6, 8–9
  • In an 1884 account, William also stated that when Joseph first saw the light above the trees in the grove, he fell unconscious for an undetermined amount of time, after which he awoke and heard "the personage whom he saw" speak to him.
  • Smith (1884)

Endnotes

  • [note] John A. Matzko, "The Encounter of Young Joseph Smith with Presbyterianism," Dialogue 40/3 (2007): 75.

References

Wikipedia references for "First Vision"
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  • Smith, Joseph, Jr., Jessee, Dean C (editor) (1832), Personal Writings of Joseph Smith , Salt Lake City: Deseret Book off-site .
  • Smith, Joseph, Jr., Jessee, Dean C (editor) (1835), Personal Writings of Joseph Smith , Salt Lake City: Deseret Book off-site .
  • Smith, Joseph, Jr., (1838), History of the Church , copied to Jessee, Dean C (editor) (1839–1843), Personal Writings of Joseph Smith Deseret Book .
  • Smith, Joseph, Jr., (1842a), Church History [Wentworth Letter] off-site .
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