The two unpublished accounts, recorded in Joseph Smith’s earliest autobiography and a later journal, were generally forgotten until historians working for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rediscovered and published them in the 1960s. In addition to the firsthand accounts, there are also five descriptions of Joseph Smith’s vision recorded by his contemporaries. The two unpublished accounts, recorded in Joseph Smith’s earliest autobiography and a later journal, were generally forgotten until historians working for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter … FairMormon is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here. . The detail in Alger’s report of God the Father appearing first and then the Son directly afterwards is consistent with other secondhand reports of the First Vision, as well as one … Scripture James 1:5 278ff.) Two of Joseph Smith's November 1835 diary entries make reference to the First Vision: a pillar of fire appeared above my head, it presently rested down upon me head, and filled me with Joy unspeakable, 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 testifyed unto me that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; I was about 14 years old when I received this first communication; When I was about 17 years old I saw another vision of angels in the night season after I had retired to bed.[1]. “An Analysis of the Accounts Relating Joseph Smith’s Early Visions.” Master’s thesis, Brigham Young University, 1965. ministered unto him. Cheesman, Paul Robert. Smith described it as a vision in which he received instruction from … Joseph Smith recorded that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in a grove of trees near his parents’ home in western New York State when he was about 14 years old. The 14 November 1835 First Vision diary reference is connected with an interview that the Prophet conducted with an investigator named Erastus Holmes. Williams, Joseph Smith 1835 Warren B. Cowdery 1839 Official, Pearl of Great Price I … Joseph Smith published two accounts of the First Vision during his lifetime. Furthermore, about 1832 Joseph Smith, Jr. began an account of the origin of the Mormon Church (the only one written in his own hand) that contradicts the official First Vision story he dictated some six years later. Since the Prophet's 14 November 1835 diary entry does indeed refer to his "first visitation of Angels" (which took place during the First Vision) the anti-Mormon characterization cannot be applied to Elder Roberts' editorial clarification in any legitimate sense. “Ask of God: Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” history.lds.org. First Vision Accounts videos, josephsmithpapers.org. (Deseret News, Vol. The appearance of the Lord to him, like that to Saul of Tarsus, was attended by a shining light from heaven . Related Topics: Awakenings and Revivals, Palmyra and Manchester, Sacred Grove and Smith Family Farm, Primary Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision of Deity, Ask of God: Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Criticisms related to Joseph Smith's 9 November 1835 account of the First Vision. (Verses 1–20.) Question: Does the use of the capitalized word "Angel" in the 14 November 1835 account refer to Deity? 1842 Account In the only handwritten account by Joseph Smith, penned in 1832, but not publicly published until much later, describes the first vision in an unfamiliar way: 1. Circa 1838 History. American Legal and Political Institutions, Christian Churches in Joseph Smith’s Day, Daily Life of First-Generation Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith’s 1844 Campaign for United States President, Lectures on Theology (“Lectures on Faith”), Martin Harris’s Consultations with Scholars, Printing and Publishing the Book of Mormon, Religious Beliefs in Joseph Smith’s Day, Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood, Temple Dedications and Dedicatory Prayers, “Joseph Smith’s First Vision Accounts,” Church History Topics, “Joseph Smith’s First Vision Accounts”. “In April of 1820, Joseph Smith, a young man from a local farming family experienced a holy vision in a grove near the small village of Palmyra in western New York,” the citation notes. ", Criticisms related to Joseph Smith's 9 November 1835 account of the First Vision, Both the two personages and "many angels" are mentioned. The account was never finished. A careful examination of the diary entries for the 9th and 14th of November indicates that the "Angels" of the 14th are the very same "angels" mentioned on the 9th. It is not always clear whether a specific event reported by Joseph Smith should be classified as a vision or a visitation. The examples of the usage of the words "angel" and "Angel" clearly show that, although the capitalized version of the word can be used to refer to Deity, it is not exclusively used in this manner. When members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints refer to Joseph Smith’s First Vision, they are referring to the miraculous encounter Joseph Smith had with God the Father and God the Son. In spring 1820, 14-year-old Joseph Smith prayed in faith and was answered by God and Jesus Christ in person. “Joseph Smith’s First Vision” stained glass in the Palmyra New York Temple. Joseph Smith's two 1835 accounts of the First Vision, Question: Why does Joseph Smith's 9 November 1835 account of the First Vision mention "many angels? In a vision, the heavenly beings are understood not to have made a literal physical visit to the visionary. We invite you to give back. He claims that his study of the Scriptures led him to understand that all of the denominations … FairMormon™ is controlled and operated by the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), Joseph's 14 November 1835 diary entry morphs as it is copied into subsequent records, It was B.H. Some have mistakenly argued that any variation in the retelling of the story is evidence of fabrication. Concerned by his sins and unsure which spiritual path to follow, Joseph sought guidance by attending meetings, reading scripture, and praying. It includes such elements as angels, the light depicted as fire, and the Father and Son at staggered positions, suggesting that They didn’t appear at the same time. The Prophet Joseph Smith had his first vision at the age of fourteen while praying in a grove of trees in western New York (see First Vision). A look at Joseph Smith's multiple First Vision accounts along with the problems and apologetic responses regarding the Mormon church's claims about this miraculous event. The First Vision. “First Vision Accounts,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org. In answer, he received a heavenly manifestation. 3. 31 July 1832 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams], September–November 1832 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams], 4 January 1833 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams], 19 December 1833 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams], 16 August 1834 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams], 7 October 1835 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams], 29 October 1835 [handwriting of Warren Parish], 9 November 1835 [handwriting of Warren Parish], 14 November 1835 [handwriting of Warren Parish], 16 November 1835 [handwriting of Frederick G. Williams], 29 March 1838 [handwriting of George W. Robinson], 2 May 1838 [handwriting of James Mullholland], 21 March 1839 [handwriting of Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin], 4 April 1839 [handwriting of Joseph Smith], 16, 23 August 1842 [handwriting of William Clayton], [These texts can be found in Dean C. Jessee, ed., The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, revised edition]. The capitalized word "Angels" in Joseph Smith's diary entry for 14 November 1835 has given rise to two distinct criticisms by detractors of the faith, and one misguided conclusion by some Latter-day Saints. If the editor of the seven History of the Church volumes (Brigham H. Roberts) was not drawing information directly from the original Joseph Smith diary then he may have felt that a previous editor had made an error in description - and took it upon himself to correct it. The first of these, known today as Joseph Smith—History, was canonized in the Pearl of Great Price and thus became the best-known account. We review the 1832, 1825, 1838, and 1842 versions and address the contradictions and official LDS essay. The exact wording of this version of the First Vision from Smith’s diary was later faithfully published, word for word, in the Church newspaper. Joel Tiffany published an interview he had with Martin Harris in Tiffany’s Monthly, pgs 163 – 170 in 1859 with details of Smith’s first vision, how he came into possession of the plates and why he founded Mormonism. (Joseph Smith Journal) 14 Years Old – Joseph said he was about 14 years old and referred to the First Vision as a visitation of angels. 3 In another retelling, Joseph informed Erastus Holmes that he was “about 14 years old” when he received “the first visitation of Angels.” 4 No mention of two beings. This is the only account which mentions other personages in the vision other than the Father and Son. James B. Allen and John W. Welch, “The Appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith in 1820,” in Opening the Heavens, 35–75. Joseph Smith prepared four accounts of his First Vision, recorded in 1832, 1835, 1838 (now in the Pearl of Great Price), and 1842. And on at least one occasion Joseph Smith himself used the capitalized word “Angels” to do the same (see below). “He was visited constantly by angels,” Elder George Q. Cannon said of Joseph Smith. No portion of this site may be reproduced without the express written consent of The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. Any opinions expressed, implied, or included in or with the goods and services offered by FairMormon are solely those of FairMormon and not those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Question: Does the 14 November 1835 account reference to the "first vision of Angels" mean that Joseph Smith did not see Deity? In the two tables below, all visitations and visions are to Joseph Smith alone, unless stated otherwise. Therefore, the capitalized “Angels” of the 14 November 1835 statement - which was also penned by Warren Parish - cannot be exclusively applied to Deity. Former assistant Church Historian, James B. Allen, observed, “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…the general membership of the Church knew little, if anything, about it.” In 1839, Orson Pratt created a proselytizing pamphlet in Scotland, wh… 1832 Handwritten Account 2. 2. Andrew Cuomo recently issued an executive citation to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Published under this title as a pamphlet in 1966 by Deseret Book Co. 2. Note that the additional detail that there were "many angels" was inserted into the text as a clarification. Question: What are the two 1835 First Vision accounts that refer to angels? In his 1835 and 1842 accounts of the First Vision, Joseph identified himself as being, respectively, “about 14. years old” and “about fourteen years of age” when he experienced his vision. New York Gov. The Visions of Joseph Smith & Solomon Chamberlain. 2. In this version Joseph presents himself between the ages of 12 and 15 as being a committed and perceptive reader of the Bible. All four of the Prophet’s written recitals of the First Vision along with contemporary accounts given by others can be found in Backman, Joseph Smith’s First Vision… “Primary Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision of Deity,” josephsmithpapers.org. “These various angels, the heads of dispensations, . He said unto me, “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” He testified unto me that Jesus Christ is the son of God. In this brief paper we'll discover that God and Christ were not the only divine beings present at the First Vision and clues left by Joseph Smith point us to a more ancient Old Testament-mode Prophetic Call or Divine Assembly where the plans and purposes of the Almighty were discussed and resolved.. Angels – The context is how the First Vision related to Joseph Smith’s subsequent visions, in which angels restored the true priesthood and gave Joseph Smith the gold plates. Steven C. Harper, Joseph Smith’s First Vision: A Guide to the Historical Accounts (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012). The various accounts of the First Vision tell a consistent story, though naturally they differ in emphasis and detail. A depiction of Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove. We are a volunteer organization. . There are at least 4 different first vision accountsby Joseph Smith, which the Church admits in its November 2013 First Vision Accounts essay: 1. Roberts that modified the diary entry in. 15, Saturday, 29 May 1852). Age is 15-years-old (“16th year of … The capitalized word "Angels" in Joseph Smith's diary entry for 14 November 1835 has given rise to two distinct criticisms by detractors of the faith, and one misguided conclusion by some Latter-day Saints. 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