The Early Accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision

Transcription

1 BYU Sudies Quael Volume 9 Issue 3 Aicle The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision Dean C. Jessee Follow his and addiional woks a: hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq Recommended Ciaion Jessee, Dean C. (1969) "The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision," BYU Sudies Quael: Vol. 9 : Iss. 3, Aicle 4. Available a: hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 This Aicle is bough o ou fo fee and open access b he All Jounals a BYU ScholasAchive. I has been acceped fo inclusion in BYU Sudies Quael b an auhoized edio of BYU ScholasAchive. Fo moe infomaion, please conac scholasachive@bu.edu.

2 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision he eal accouns of joseph smihs fis vision dean C jessee on june less han wo monhs afe his aival in illinois fom confinemen in a missoui jail and one monh afe moving his famil ino a small log house nea commece illinois joseph smih commenced dicaing his hiso o his clek james mulholland 1 a ha ime some nineeen eas had elapsed since joseph s fis vision 2 and nine eas had passed since he evelaion commanding him o keep a hiso among he causes of his dela wee he fusaing cicumsances ha confoned he pophe in wiing his hiso cicumsances ha did no end in june of 1839 b ocobe 29 of ha ea when joseph lef nauvoo fo washingon DC o pesen he missoui gievances of his m jessee is a membe of he saff a he LDS chuch hisoians office in sal lake ci joseph smih hiso of he chuch MS LDS hisoian s liba C 1 p 954 see also joseph smih hiso of he chuch of jesus chis of lae da sains ed B H obes sal lake ci 1948 vol 3 p 375 cied heeafe as DHC on his poin ciics have quesioned he eliabili of he fis vision accoun on he gound ha he lae sa on he hiso combined wih he lack of efeence o he vision in eal momon publicaions indicaes an uleio moive on he pa of joseph smih in pesening lng he vision o he wold fawn bodie in he biogaph of he pophe suggess ha he awesome vision he descibed in lae eas ma have been shee invenion ceaed some ime afe 1834 when he need aose fo a magnificen adiion no man knows m hiso new ok 1963 p 25 ohes have asseed ha lack of efeence o he fa f1 fis vision in eal momon publicaions efues he so ha he fahe and he son appeaed o joseph smih in 1820 and absoluel poves ha he eal membes of he momon chuch had no knowledge of a vision jeald and sanda anne joseph smihs sange accoun of he fis vision sal lake ci nd p 3 see also wesle P wales new ligh on momon oigins fom palma NY evival bullein of evangelical heological socie vol 10 fall 1967 p 228 he opening wods of he evelaion given o joseph smih a he oganizaion of he chuch on apil wee behold hee shall be a ecod kep among ou docine and covenans Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

3 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A people befoe he fedeal govenmen onl fif nine pages of his hiso had been wien and six das afe his depaue his scibe james mulholland died 4 when joseph euned o nauvoo in mach 1840 he lamened he passing of his faihful scibe and expessed disappoinmen ha an adequae ecod of his washingon ip had no been kep 1 I depended on d fose o keep m dail jounal duing his joune bu he has failed me 15 obe B hompson who was appoined geneal chuch clek on ocobe coninued wiing he hiso whee mulholland lef off howeve his unimel deah on augus saw onl sixeen pages added o he manuscipg manuscips b he ime willad ichads was appoined pivae secea o he pophe and geneal chuch clek in decembe 1841 a mee 157 pages of a hiso ha evenuall numbeed moe han wo housand had been wien 7 such wee he condiions he pophe joseph faced in wiing a conneced chonicle of his pas ha wo and a half eas befoe his deah he apologeicall explained since I1 have been engaged in laing he foundaion of he chuch of jesus chis of lae da sains I1 have been pevened in vaious was fom coninuing m jounal and he hiso in a manne saisfaco o mself o in jusice o he cause long impisonmens vexaious and long coninued law suis he eache of some of m cleks he deah of ohes and he pove of mself and behen fom coninued plunde and diving have pevened m handing down o posei a conneced memoandum of evens desi 8 able o all loves of uh DHC vol 4 pp ap smih hiso C 1 p 1023 see also DHC vol 4 p 89 DHC vol 4 p 89 ibid vol 4 p 470 he manuscip of he hiso shows ha he fis 59 pages wee wien b james mulholland ha obe B hompson woe a leas pa of he nex 16 and ha wa w1 william iliam W phelps had bad wien 82 page befoe willad ichads began wiing i was no unil afe ichads appoin men in decembe 1841 ha an significan pogess was made on he wien hiso smih hiso C 1 p 1260 see also DHC vol 4 p 470 speaking o he newl appoined welve in febua 1835 joseph smih emaked if I1 now had in m n possession eve decision which has been had bad upon impoan iems of docine and duies since he commencemen of his wok I1 would no pa wih hem fo an sum of mone bu we have negleced o ake minues o of such hings hinking pehaps ha he would neve benefi us afewads and now we canno bea ecod o he chuch and o he wold of he gea and gloious manifesaions which have been made o us wih ha degee of powe and auhoi we ohewise could if we now had hese hings o publish aboad smih hiso B 1 p 575 hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 2

4 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 277 he facos ha eaded joseph smih sinih s pogess on his hiso did no peven peiodic beginnings he pophe added I1 have coninued o keep up a jounal in he bes manne m cicumsances would allow and dicae fo m hiso fom ime o ime as I1 have had oppouni so ha he labos and suffeings of he fis eldes and sains of his las kingdom migh no wholl be los o he wold f on a leas hee occasions pio o 1839 joseph smih began wiing his hiso 10 he ealies of hese is a six page accoun ecoded on hee leaves of a ledge book wien beween he summe of 1831 and novembe 1832 an analsis of he handwiing shows ha he naaive was penned b fedeick G williams scibe o he pophe and counselo in he fis pesidenc inasmuch as williams was conveed o momonism in he fall of 1830 and immediael lef on a mission o missoui he wiing of his hiso could no have peceded his meeing eaing wih joseph smih in mid 1831 no was he hiso wien afe novembe since on ha dae he ledge book in which i was wien was conveed o a lee book fo ecoding impoan hisoical chuch documens hee ae man evidences fo his asseion fis alhough he wee lae cu fom he volume he hee leaves conaining he hiso mach he cu edges and quali and makings of he pape of he page ends he eminal lees of wods seveed when he pages wee emoved also mach he cu page subs immediael pecede he novembe lee en on he fis of he emaining pages second he numbeing sequences indicae his aangemen he pages of he hiso wee numbeed one hough six and he novembe 27 lee begins on page la ia boh he hiso and he lee ae in williams handwiing he would no have needed o begin he lee page wih la ia had hee zw ibid he pophe did ve lile wiing himself on jul he ecods 1 I was dicaing hiso I 1 sa dicaing fo I1 seldom use he pen mself I1 alwas dicae all m communicaions bu emplo a scibe o wie hem hiso cl C l 1 p 963 see also DHC vol 4 p 1 he exeme scaci of hologaphic maeial among he documens oiginaed b joseph smih confims his saemen joseph smih s auhoship of he hee biso hisoical cai accouns poaed in hese pages mus be egaded wihin his famewok Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

5 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A no been ohe numbeed pages peceding i his bings up he hid poin in addiion o he commencemen of he lee book on novembe joseph smih also saed a dail jounal on ha da he ecods having puchased a book fo he pupose of keeping a minue accoun of all hings ha come unde m obsevaion 11 he beginning of he jounal and lee book on he same da is of moe han coincidenal significance i no onl povides he eminal poin in daing he ealies known hisoical naaive of he pophe s life bu esablishes he sa of an impoan peceden in peseving he hiso of he chuch b ecoding impoan hisoical chuch documens in he lee book and his own life s evens in he jounal he pophe se a peceden ha coninued houghou he emainde of his life onl he failue of his scibes o he inusion of ohe cicumsances beond his conol ineuped he coninuaion of his peceden significanl hese ecods povided impoan souces fo he lae wiing of joseph s official hiso 12 he hiso anslieaed hee conains he ealies known accoun of joseph smih s fis vision 13 A hiso of he life of joseph smih j an accoun of his macilous mavilous expeience and of all he migh acs which he doeh boeh in he name of jesus chis he son of he living god of whom he beaeh beae ecod and also an accoun of he ise of he chuch of chis in he eve of ime accoding as he lod fisl bough foh and esablished b his handahe handshe eceiving he esamon fom on high secondl he miniseing of angels amon esimon hidl he ecepion of he hol pieshood b he mini sing of aangels aangelo o adminse he lee of he gospel he law and commandmens as he wee given uno him and he odinencs fohl dohl a confimaion and ecepion of he high pieshood afe he hol ode of he son of he living god powe and odinance odinence fom on high o peach he gospel in he adminisaion and demonsaion of he spii he kees joseph smih jounal MS LDS hisoian s liba p 1 12 hese ecods wee he basic souces fo he lae official hiso kiland lee book MS LDS hisoian s liba pp ap 16 oiginal his accoun has been misakenl daed nea 1833 because of he addiion of a loose page wih wa w1 williams signaue unde he dae of 1833 his page which is no of he same pape sock as he ohe pages of he ledge was added a a lae dae 1 6 his accoun is pesened hee wih he puncuaion and spelling of he hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 4

6 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 279 of he kingdom of god conf ceneed eed upon him and he coninuaion of he blessings of god o him &c ac sae I1 was bon in he own of chaon in heaon vemon noh ameica on he wen hid da of decembe A D 1805 of goodl paens who spaed no pains o insucing me he in heaof inachisian ina eligion a he age of abou en eas m fahe joseph smih siegnio slegnio moved o palma onaio coun in he sae of new ok and being in indigen cicumsances wee obliged o labou had fo he suppo of a lage famil having nine chilldes chillden and as i equied he exeions of all ha wee able o ende an assisance fo he suppo of he famil heefoe we wee depived of he bennifi of an educaion suffice i o sa I1 was meal insuced in eading ules and und wiing and he goundaof aihmaic aihmeic Aihmaic which consued m whole liea acquiemens a abou he age of welve eas m mind became seiousl impes wih egad o he all impomen impoen concens fo he wellfae of m immoal soul which led me o seaching he scipues believeing as I1 was augh ha he conained he wod of god hus appling mself o hem and m inimae acquainance wih hose of diffean diffeen denominaions led me o mavel excedingl exceedingl fo I1 he did no egoa adon egea discoveed haainsea4 insead of adoniqg adoniflg adoning hei pofession b a hol walk and godl convesaion ageeable o wha I1 found conained in ha saced deposio his was a gief o m soul hus fom he age of welve eas o fifeen I1 pondeed man hings in m hea concening he siuaion of he ang wad wold of mankind he conenions and divions bivions he wickedness wickeness and abominaions and he dakness which pevaded he of ef b minds emin of mankind m mind become excedingl exceedingl disessed fo I1 became conviced of m sins and b seaching he mankind scipues I1 found ha 4n4pd maa mandadid dadid no come uno he lod bu ha he had aposaised fom he ue and liveing laveing faih and hee was no socie o denominaion ha buil upon he gospel of jesus chis as ecoded in he new esamen and I1 fel o moun fo m own sins and fo he sins of he wold fo I1 leaned in he scipues ha god was he same eseda o da and foeve ha he was no espece o pesons fo he was god fo I1 looked upon he sun he gloious lumina of he eah and also he moon olling in hei mages magesk hough he heavens and also he sas shining in hei couses and he eah also upon which I1 sood and he beas of he field and he fowls of heaven and he fish of he waes and also man walking foh upon he face of he eah in mages magesk and in he sengh of beau whose powe and iniligence in govening he hings which ae so exceding gea and macilous mavilous even in he likeness of him Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

7 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A who ceaed him hem and when I1 consideed upon hese hings i is a heafool m hea exclaimed well hah he wise man said bhea h&afool hea ha asaih asmih in his hea hee is no god m hea exclained explained all all hese bea esimon and bespeak an omnipoen and omnipeasan powe a being who madih makih laws and de ceeeh cedeh and bindeh bendeh all hings in hei bounds who filleh falleh eeni who was and is and will be fon all eeni o ha eeni and when I1 consideed all hese hings and haa being seebeh seekeh such o woship him as woship him in spii and in uh heefoe I1 cied uno he lod fo mec fo hee was none else o whom I1 could go and o obain mec and he lod head m c in he wildeness and he in he 16h l6h lah ea of m age while ina lna inaaiude A aiude of calling upon he lodaa lodia A a pli pille of flee fie piee plee ligh above he bighness of he sun a noon da come down fom above and esed upon me and I1 was filld field wih he lod spii of god and heaopened he heavens upon me and I1 m son saw he lod and he spake uno me saing josephah Josep hah wa sins ae fogiven hee go hawalk in m saues and keep m commandmens behold I1 am he lod of glo I1 was cucif cucifed cucified fo he wold ha all hose who believe on m behold name ma have eenal li feahe wold lieh in sin and hed aad had aed a his ime and none boeh doeh good no no one he have uned asside noacommandmens he daw nea o me wih hei lips while hei heas ae fa fom me and mine ange is kindling agains he inhabians of he eah o visi hem acoding accoding o his ungodliness hah and o bing o pass ha whichabeen Abeen spoken b he mouh of he pophes and aposles behold and lo 10 I1 come quickl adside fom he gospel and keep noa clohed as i wien of me in he cloudain cloudaina he glo of m fahe and m soul was filled wih love and fo man das I1 could ejoice wih gea jo and he lod was wih me bu could find none ha would believe he hevenl hevel vision in ocobe 1834 olive cowde he edio of he messenge and advocae inoduced he fis published hiso of he chuch his wok was pesened in he fom of coespondence beween cowde and william W phelps and was anicipaed as a full hiso of he ise of he chuch of he lae da sains and he mos ineesing pas of is pogess o he pesen ime i was fuhe announced b he m hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 6

8 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision i EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 281 iff if a i C c iiii IL lanlcn J akesas me 11ll a&3 T A zag az zz as zafe z7fe - a c ov o v ac&2x 73 S ka ke 1 S GAG gm a 6 1 a ga gae v ag la 303 o XZSSX bbs iii i ai li azi f cii vv i L f e g S z af saf af f V kio ko aio A A lii i 1 l i i T i elf dc cdc ccc w 4 A u sa i 7 GH v ai gnp f uneif v v il gs iczc XT m i ceifsc f dlf adfaf a ifsc f V z A ia i fui a ac a al alaa klaz ml 1 S ai cleav cea csi asi f i CT adf au7u clee a gi alai akem aked m T i cf ives vdf o- v cif li n&z c& ace ivei aza mza as fs f fce liff jis ca awa aa oma a fa ffi nan2 J sa A f oifl lui lua ii uifl f e f C eoll doll & v i 7v av ief zee cde i as fs a en eln gln 7 en n s cwa mi maui zdi adzai OT OT A ujce Ce fc z c ln agi ogi f cui si l ATHIS nfii noii i K i iz iz iz Z cin in cig SC f f w X iitlim i i c a fl n wc v T c ff afu aau jce uj f f c ff f A ffu c f f i jb jau isal isl b eb n ail age za M VC c clus jadj& Z f- aae il av ss CAC a 2 clms a c i 7 S a zahzfh j 0 pi cc cdc cla ICL veww aw dew ia a K ki ei ff U c w 412 is afi egi 2zfi az f i efe ff f anz sf cain ciin A U a l CM ci ci in affm i a 7 7 vid ai7i e caa cma lg vie chafc s ac k a lf o waf wf aw6 awa A o lma os laa i a cf eais mlls iis eiis ai 7i i f da aa- 1 fcff nc i i i X zhi Z H i 2 ij ic C S af fnn c ZC l f i hn 2 1 i- ciu cig iu an ss flc f i anc wei We c ai U n alc fc ec 7 g SS ap zp IL i e fce i Z 5a A 2 i 4 aa cffaf X i n sif sig jc f ic f a 7 zg A A x 1 gia ggs is f l c q m sa s3 il i of oo oz oz od7 Z e S 7 3 z c c o aa&a s & f bsjsj fi d f VC lc fc 1 page hee of he accoun of joseph smih s fis vision as ecoded b fedeick G williams b coues of he chuch hisoian Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

9 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A. 4 jj 00 hisoian chuch kae he kao kwa X of coues b janua on nin ZII nun ak 1k 11 williams G fedeick b wien license A hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 8

10 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 283 edio ha ou bohe J smih j has offeed o assis us indeed hee ae man iems conneced wih he foe pa of his subjec ha ende his labo indispensible indispensable wih his labo and wih auhenic documens now in ou possession we hope o ende 14 his a pleasing and ageeable naaive in a seies of eigh lees ha followed cowde pesened andom hisoical evens beginning in he ocobe 1834 issue of he pape wih an accoun of he pieshood esoaion and e- minaing in he ocobe 1835 issue wih he visi of mooni o joseph smih A cop of he eigh lees was anscibed ino he pophe s jounal in 1835 on ocobe 29 joseph ecoded ha he wen wih his newl appoined scibe waen paish o obain his lage jounal fom fedeick G williams lae ha same da paish began wiing a hiso of joseph s life b concluding pesiden cowde s second lee o W W phelps which pesiden williams had begun 15 A check of he handwiing in he jounal eveals he poin a which paish commenced coping he second cowde lee o phelps i also shows ha paish coninued wiing o he end of he eighh lee a his poin howeve unlike he published accoun he jounal naaive does no end bu coninues in a diffeen sle he ansiion is maked b a change in handwiing fom waen paish o ha of waen A cowde and is pefaced wih he following inoducion hee he eade will obseve ha he naaive assumes a diffeen fom he subjec of i becoming dail moe and moe noed he wie deemed i pope o give a plain simple and faihful naaive of eve impoan iem in his eve da occuences 16 hen follows 142 pages of dail jounal pe enies wien in he hid peson singula commencing wih sepembe and coninuing o janua in his jounal unde he dae of novembe an ineview wih a jewish minise is ecoded in which joseph smih again elaes he accoun of his fis vision17 vision 17 messenge and advocae kiland ohio ocobe 1834 p 13 smih hiso bl B l 1 p 631 see also DHC vol 2 p 293 smih hiso al A l 1 p 105 numbeing fom he back of he book 17 17ibid pp ap quoed wih he puncuaion and spelling of he oiginal Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

11 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A monda nov gih while siing in his house his moning beween he hous of en an eleven a man came in and inoduced himself o him calling himself joshua he jewish minise his appeaance was somehing singula having a bead abou hee inches in lengh which is quie ge his hai was also long and consideabl silveed wih age he had he appeaance of a man abou 50 o 55 eas old he was all and saigh slende fame blue ees hin visage and fai complexion he woe a geen fock coa and panaloons of he same colo he had on a black fu ha wih a naow bim when speaking he fequenl shus his ees and exhibis a kind of scowl upon his counenance he joseph made some inqui afe his name bu eceived no definie answe he convesaion soon uned upon he subjec of eligion and afe he subjec of his naaive had made some emaks concening he bible he commenced giving him a elaion of he cicumsances conneced wih he coming foh of he book of momon which wee neal as follows being wough up in m mind especing he subjec of eligion and looking a he diffeen ssems augh he childen of men I1 knew no who was igh o who was wong bu consideed i of he fis impoance o me ha I1 should be igh in maes of so much momen mae involving eenal consequences being hus peplexed in mind I1 eied o he silen gove and hee bowed down befoe he lod unde a ealizing sense if he bible be ue ask and ou shall eceive knock and i shall be opened seek and ou shall find and again if an man lack wisdom le of god who giveh o all men libeall & upbaideh no infomaion was wha I1 mos desied a his ime and wih a fixed dee- minaion o obain i I1 called on he lod fo he fis ime in he place above saed o in ohe wods I1 made a fuiless aemp o pa m ongue seemed o be swoolen swollen in m mouh so ha I1 could no ue I1 head a noise behind me like some one walking owads me 1I sove again o pa bu could no he noise of walking seemed o daw neae I1 spang upon m fee and looked ound bu saw no peson o hing ha was calculaed o poduce he noise of walking I1 kneeled again m mouh was opened and m ongue loosed I1 called on he lod in migh pae A pilla of fie appeaed above m head which pesenl esed down upon me and filled me wih unspeakable jo A pesonage appeaed in he mids of his pilla of flame which was spead all aound and e nohing consumed anohe pesonage soon appeaed like uno he fis he said uno me h sins ae fogiven hee he esified also uno me ha jesus chis is he son of god I1 saw man angels in his vision I1 was abou 14 eas old when I1 eceived his fis communicaion hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 10

12 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 285 obel vfwfw &ffi 2 f T fi C 6 7Z cu 12 l i 2 zu zinzize zizi ZiTzix Zi &i Z A41 zaa ZAL azl aal L 2s2 A i la a s X L zi azlzl l i z H 2 i ios iss i nv i ii s i a 6 c a i l l edi asa a 2 Lal los aia f LT f f LA L A ucaj c l z JZ esi dds e af f li iv vf I1 f fi J is i i 1 i i 7 zza s i & uza insiss ai ic a i lom CM a 4 7 A c zab za 7 i LJ i j3lll i SS bla a Jujfs aa ima dla wi mia ILA a 7 ll sf la ldai A A l ai3i az ei cad i & j aj j A 3 20 Jzowd 0 f sia ka kea si& J 1iz az sasui fj A if ff ii dnn i IL A A 4 ffl7 cli i zoo zz 2 o maaz axaa A fc A ja j2 fz fc L iz ac aa a& su i C & A i f f J LAZ 2 f fi a a iffaiffj i c AA A a a2 M aica i m M LA Z n i i ciz lazi ank 0 zai aai ai A i mizi mizl 3 i c mi A 7 ZLS cik LL 7 id i a& iv i v ij chiu C ciu & fj 2 T 7 a faj A z ff i isi1i ald eli sli s a & A L & 1 3 Z ldu c alz lf L pi pik li ai7i f ajl7jl l 4 Z i 0 Led1 a aa ala & c s S i 1 iok 7 2 lok log i icadi idi asi naj nsj Ci acid i i 3 zax cna N i Js a 1 & i Lleesi e f A dam daw za i z3 lsiji uc 1 za u f z a odi zdi fi cs asla & sm v iji as fs zig lil L fl i ei ee TCI afla 22 j gf A ew kec lac lae ild jw aj eilf lele A A 6a 1 aa alz ald i 597 oele sjs bucl bscl uilf A & A ala J L 16 ijlj alm aka A bs Cl bluif CL j &cli cuia CU 1 buia ia li za- i Z n oji ji i 5 AS 4 gele gece ge A le e XA mu fa 3 f7 ul 6 af 5f lc&4 n 7 efc qaw efa A page of he 1835 accoun of joseph smihs fis vision as ecoded b waen A cowde he boom secion is pa of an indenue wien b him on novembe A disincive feaue of cowdes Cowdes handwiing is he sweeping flouish of his eminal ds b coues of he chuch hisoian Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

13 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A on novembe five das afe he foegoing naaive waen A cowde also ecoded he visi of easus holmes of newbu ohio who inquied of joseph smih abou he esablishmen of he chuch and was given a bief elaion of his expeience while in his ouhful das sa fom he age of six eas up o he ime he eceived he fis visiaion of angels which was when he be was abou 14 eas old he also gave him an accoun of he evelaions he afewad eceived concening he coming foh of he book of momon 18 he wiing of he manuscip of joseph smih s hiso of he chuch of jesus chis of lae da sains as edied b B H obes and published in 1902 was begun on june when joseph commenced dicaing o his clek james mulholland he pophe s jounal conaining he 1835 hiso was uned ove and uilized as book al A l 1 of he ensuing mulivolumed wok evidence in he opening pages of he hiso shows ha mulholland began wiing fom a ecod ha had been wien he pevious ea his is obvious fom he efeences in he hiso on page one o he eighh ea since he oganizaion of said chuch 19 and page eigh o his da being he second da of ma one housand eigh 20 hunded and hi eigh fuhemoe on apil joseph ecods spending he da wiing a hiso of his chuch fom he ealies peiod of is exisence up o his 21 dae and on ma he ecods ha he fis pesidenc wee engaged in wiing chuch hiso 22 his las efeence compaed wih he saemen on page eigh of he hiso confims ha his was he naaive being wien on ma ha he beginning pages of he pesen manuscip volume al A l 1 wee incopoaed ino joseph smih s hiso I1 b james mulholland in 1839 fom he accoun wien he pevious ea is plain fom he following facs fis he iniial 59 pages of he book ae in he handwiing of mulholland who did no begin wiing fo joseph smih unil sepembe he disconinued wiing duing he mis ibid p 129 compae DHC vol 1 p 2 ibid pp ap smih hiso bl B l 1 p 791 see also DHC vol 3 p ibid bl B l 1 p 794 DHC vol 3 p 26 hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 12

14 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 287 soui incaceaion of he pophe and did no ecommence unil apil second on uesda june joseph ecods 1 I commenced dicaing m hiso fo m clek james mulholland o wie 24 hid mulholland subsaniaes joseph smih s june 11 en in his own jounal wih a noe on ha da saing ha he was wiing &c ac fo chuch hiso he following is he well known accoun of he fis vision as i is ecoded in his hiso b mulholland in 1839 ha he died on novembe pecludes his having wien he accoun afe ha dae26 owing o he man epos which have been pu in ciculaion b evil disposed and designing pesons in e jesus chis of laion o he ise and pogess of he chuch ofalae ofa da sains all of which have been designed b he auhos heeof o miliae agains is chaace as a chuch and is pogess in he wold I1 have been induced o wie his hiso so as o disabuse he publick mind and pu all enquies afe uh ino possession of he facs as he have anspied in elaion boh o mself and he chuch as fa as I1 have such facs in possession in his hiso I1 will pesen he vaious evens in elaion o his chuch in uh and igheousness as he have anspied o as he a pesen exis being now he eighh ea since he oganisaion oganizaion of said chuch I1 was bon in he ea of ou lod one housand eigh hunded and five on he wen hid da of decembe in he own of shaon noe A windso coun sae of vemonam VemonAM A m fahe joseph see noe E page 2 adenda addenda m fahe smih senioalef SenioAlef he sae of vemon and moved o palma onaio now wane coun in he sae of new oa wheeabou heeabou ok when I1 was in m enh ea in abou fou eas afe m fahe s aival a palma he moved wih his famil ino manchese in he same coun of onaio his famil consising of eleven souls namel m fahe joseph smih m mohe luc smih whose name pevious o he maiage was mack daughe died nov 19h 1823 in he 25 ea of his age of solomon mack m bohes alvin who i dd ud fdh ZJ james mulholland jounal MS LDS hisoian s liba unde daes indicaed 21see foonoe 1 25mu mulholland jounal june on seveal occasions beginning on june 11 he ecods wiing he hiso of he chuch smih hiso al A l 1 pp ap puncuaion and spelling of he oiginal Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

15 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A hum mself samuel Hhaison al william don caloss and m sises sophonia cahine and luc someime in he second ea afe ou emoval o manchese hee was in he place whee we lived an unusual exciemen on he subjec of eligion i commenced wih he mehodiss bu soon became geneal among all he secs in ha egion of coun indeed he whole disic of coun seemed affeced b i and gea muliudes unied hemselves o he diffeen eligious paies which ceaed no small si and and some 10 hee some wee conending fo he mehodis faih division among he people some cing 10lo hee lo some fo he pesbeian and some fo he bapis fo nowihsanding he gea love which he conves o hese diffeen faihs expessed a he ime of hei convesion and he gea zeal manifesed b he especive cleg who wee acive in geing up and pomoing his exaodina scene of eligious feeling in ode o have evebod conveed as he wee pleased o call i le hem join wha sec he pleased e when he conves began o file off some o one pa and some o anohe i was seen ha he seemingl good feelings of boh he piess and he conves wee ifg fg ifdez &0030 zdjz moe peended han eal fo a scene of gea confusion and bad feeling ensued pies conending agains pies and conve agains conve so ha all hei good feelings one fo anohe if he eve had an wee eniel los in a sife of wods and a cones abou opinions I1 in m fifeenh ea m fahes was a his ime in ee famil was poseled posele o he pesbeian faih and fou of hem joined ha chuch namel m mohe luc m bohes hum samuel haison and m sise sophonia duing his ime of gea exciemen m mind was called up o seious eflecion and gea uneasiness bu hough m feelings wee deep and ofen pungen sill I1 kep mself aloof fom all hese paies hough I1 aended as ofen hei seveal meeingsaas meeingsaasa occasion would pemi bu in pocess of ime m mind became somewha paial o he mehodis sec and I1 fel some desie o be unied wih hem bu so gea was he confusion and sife amongs he diffeen denominaions ha i was impossible fo a peson oung as I1 was and so unacquained wih men and hings o come o an ceain conclusion who was igh and who was wong m mind a diffeen imes was geal excied gol ol go f he c and umul wee so gea and incessan he pesbeians Pesbe ians wee mos decided agains he bapiss and mehodiss and used all hei powes of eihe eason o sophis o pove hei eos o a leas o make he people hink he wee in eo on he ohe hand he bapiss and hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 14

16 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 289 he mehodiss in hei un wee equall zealous in en- deavoing o esablish hei own enes and dispove all ohes in he mids of his wa of wods and umul of opinions I1 ofen said o mself wha is o be done who of all hese paies ae igh o ae he all wong ogehe and if an and how shall I1 know i one of hem be igh which is i while I1 was laboing unde he exeme difficulies caused b he coness of hese paies of eligioniss I1 was one da eading he episle of james fis chape and fifh vese which eads if an of ou lack wisdom le him ask of god ha giveh o all men libeall and upbaideh no and i shall be given him neve did an passage of scipue come wih moe powe o he hea of man ha his did a his ime o mine i seemed o ene wih gea foce ino eve feeling of m hea I1 efleced on i again and again knowing ha if an peson needed wisdom fom god I1 did fo how o ac I1 did no know and unless I1 could ge moe wisdom han I1 hen had would neve know fo he eaches of eligion of he diffeen secs undesood he same passage of scipue so dif- feenl as o deso all confidence in seling he quesion b an appeal o he bible a lengh I1 came o he conclusion ha I1 mus eihe emain in dakness and confusion o else I1 mus do as james diecs ha is ask of god I1 a las came o he deeminaion o ask of god concluding ha if he gave wisdom o hem ha lacked wisdom and would give libeall and no upbaid I1 migh venue so in accodance wih his m deeminaion o ask of god I1 eied o he woods o make he aemp i was on he moning of a beauiful clea da eal in he sping of eigheen hunded and wen was he fis ime in m life ha I1 m made hadasuch hada an aemp fo amids allaanxieies alla anxieies I1 had neve as e made he aemp o pa vocall afe I1 had eied ino he place whee I1 had peviousl designed o go having looked aound me and finding mself alone I1 kneeled down and began o offe up he desies of m hea o god I1 had scacel done so when immediael I1 siezed sieze wasaupon wasa upon b some powe which eniel ovecame had andasuch anda asonishing influence ove me as o bind m ongue so ha I1 could no speak hick dakness gaheed aound me and i seemed o me fo a ime as if I1 wee doomed o sudden desucion bu exeing all m powes o call upon god o delive me ou of he powe of his enem which had siezed sieze upon me and a he ve momen when I1 was ead o sink ino despai and abandon mself o desucion no o an imagina uin bu o he powe of some acual being fom i me Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

17 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A he unseen wold who had such a mavelous powe as I1 had neve befoe fel in an being jus a his momen of gea of &gl alam I1 saw a pillaaligh Aligh exacl ove m head above he bighness of he sun which descended w gaduall unill i fell upon me i no soone appeaed han I1 found mself deliveed fom he enem which held me bound when he ligh esed upon me I1 saw wo pesonages whose bighness and glo def all descipion sanding above me in he ai one of hem spake uno me calling me b name and said poining o he ohe his is m beloved son hea him m objec in going o enquie of he lod was o know which of all he secs was igh ha I1 migh know which o join no soone heefoe did I1 ge possession of mself so as o be able o speak han I1 asked he pesonages who sood above me in he ligh which of all he secs was igh fo a his ime i had neve eneed ino m hea ha all wee wong and which I1 should join I1 was answeed ha I1 mus join none of hem fo he wee all wong and he pesonage who addessed me said ha all hei ceeds wee an abominaion in his sigh ha hose pofessos wee all coup ha he daw nea o me wih hei lips bu hei heas ae fa fom me he each fo docines he commandmens of men having a fom of godliness bu he den he powe heeof he again fobade me o join wih an of hem and man ohe hings did he sa uno me which I1 canno wie a his ime m when I1 came o mself again I1 found mself ling donaback looking up B noe P 132 ino heaven asome acome few das afe I1 had his vision I1 happened o be in compan wih one of he mehodis peaches who was ve acive in he befoe menioned eligious ex- ciemen and convesing wih him on he subjec of eligion I1 ook occasion o give him an accoun of he vision which I1 had had I1 was geal supised a his behavio he eaed m communicaion no onl lighl bu wih gea conemp saing i was all of he devil ha hee was no such hing as visions of evelaions in hese das ha all such hings had ceased wih he aposles and ha hee neve would be an moe of hem I1 soon found howeve ha m elling he so had excied a gea deal of pejudice agains me among pofessos of eligion and was he cause of gea pesecuion which coninued o incease and hough I1 was an obscue bo o heeabous onl beween foueen and fifeen eas of ageaand ageland m cicumsances in life such as o make a bo of no consequence in he wold e men of high sanding would ake noice sufficienl sufficienf o excie he public mind agains me and ceae hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 16

18 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 291 among a ho pesecuion and his was commonaall Aall he secs all unied o pesecue me i has ofen caused me seious eflecion boh hen and since how ve sange i was ha an obscue bo of a lile ove foueen eas of age and one oo who was doomed o he necessi of obaining a scan mainainance ance b his dail labo should be hough a chaace of sufficien impoance o aac he aenion of he gea ones of he mos popula secs of he da so as o ceae in hem a spii of he biees pesecuion and eviling bu sange o no so i was and was ofen cause of gea soow o mself howeve i was neveheless a fac ha I1 had had a vision I1 have hough since ha I1 fel much like paul 44 did when he made his defence befoe king aggippa Aggippa and elaed he accoun of he vision he had when he saw a ligh and head a voice bu sill hee wee bu few who beleived him some said he was dishones ohes said he was mad and he was idiculed and eviled bu all his did no deso he eali of his vision he had seen a vision he all andahe adahe pesecuion unde heaven could no knew he had make i ohewise and hough he should pesecue him uno deah e he knew and would know o his laes beah ha he had boh seen a ligh and head a voice speaking uno him and all he wold could no make him hink o believe ohewise so i was wih me I1 had acual acuall seen a ligh and in he mids of ha ligh I1 saw wo pesonages un and he did in eali speakao Ao me o one of hem did and hough I1 was haed and pesecued fo saing ha I1 had seen a vision e i was ue and while he wee pe- secuing me eviling me and speaking all manne of evil agains me falsel fo so saing I1 was led o sa in m hea me wh pesecueafo elling he uh I1 have acuall seen a vision and who am I1 ha I1 can wihsand god o wh does he wold hink o make me den wha I1 have acuall seen fo I1 had seen a vision I 1 knew i and I1 knew ha god knew i and I1 could no den i neihe dae I1 do i a I1 leas I1 knew ha b so doingawould offend god and come unde condemnaion I1 had now go m mind saisfied so fa as he secaian wold was concened ha i was no m du o join wih an of hem bu coninue as I1 was unill fuhe dieced aa f I1 had found he esimon of james o be ue ha a man who lacked wisdom migh ask of god and obain and no be upbaide upbaided hee noes ae inseed ino he ex of his accoun conaining infomaion added b joseph smih subsequen o he beginning of his hiso he fis of hese designaed noe A conains an accoun of he emoval of he Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

19 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A sad naj mad f aii sii 1.1 f z Vs 1I J is jf c jnj N vis S H& ks a i1 1 T ulda uld4 1 js s 1 jal lis is jfl i i hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 18

20 Jessee: The Eal Accouns of Joseph Smih's Fis Vision EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST VISION 293 iueuili&u && cd c aa a& j ahl alihi jcifeq az&z cjwli la z ia q&j mi juszo saw sfw 0 cum cuu luu 14 bie iie j&fsa i u S j i O L u46 eieiuiaiuiizie &1ii&wii am S e ufiaqil w uiumicj luafk vo z& za a ca caz acil udi umi ufiacil 4 a jx A acaazc jpiijaucieeuifui edoiz2 21 ajj iza zda M A a A zeo zeu v iau ilchwi 11 a ju&aii a&uaccam anisx anislsx a 6 oba m liwjwl ffcce acu adu aan cd eisii i 27 ax6o3w el & wlili&i 7ifxuqiiulc&sl&f f ZA x A 1 u oifwcuqa pfw Aavuawe&ci ai&e2 i gen fcl&a Lof weniciak ac7c ccu &fv a mihic eihic Z Cna n6 i&w1 juxmsio cfiawvei cae ca fae & cicicia ici ielof iea aai744fb&2 l&iaiin bin big fien aden oien Oi lienw lienow cj&66 i alc&h A A ead cad calz eal eala eal7 &al7 V 4 7 i vf ia baze AA maucuv izac zzac xlez7aze alez 0 fa f2 dwin IWin iwinhil hil lail ulwlijicijwillfuaiii saiff wlifflailui avic fvic cafff mid afe a ie 2 i A al is ifs iff ds alfi ij ai b ca ew cwaak ow fvufuwliff e v bucu ia i a T e adesi &sx la aa enz aw w IS& e i a i Cs A zz i4 f wj laic Ui ff e aai&ffiicfl& j siff gf slfi i n awk & w iucu Cu a 7eeva edva kia aac wac ai gai gad xl e ef of e fi wieul cnff wi efi ulis is i W ac uii v c f fi 3 j fi 2iai2 a ji wmfiffifii fiiin j 41 1va v1l fa i xa wv ca za c e u i a c lcciif1 dali luchi luo zuo iifu lijif& f a f H 4 x1 cix M 1 i i c fufbm ufim a c j guawa as7s nfs fs 1 & ilc icccui cu cui i ia 4 ci ix aix 4 i v f & 77. kua I1 f &c&f o& oa w&h M i 1.1 C wah c J f f i I1 page hee of he 1838 accoun of joseph smihs fis vision as ecoded b james mulholland in he hiso of he chuch in 1839 b coues of he chuch hisoian he oue edges ae sill legible on he oiginal bu will no phoogaph dak enough o show up in epoducion ed Published b BYU ScholasAchive,

21 BYU Sudies Quael, Vol. 9, Iss. 3 [1969], A in summa a sud of he wiing of joseph smih sinih s hiso indicaes ha while he official accoun of his fis vision was no compiled unil elaivel lae in his life he appaen ime lag beween he vision and he ecoding of he even is moe pesumed han eal consideing he ouh of he pophe he fonie condiions in which he lived his lack of academic aining he absence of an fomal diecive o moivae him o wie and he anagonisic ecepion he eceived upon fis elaing he expeience i is no sange ha he failed o peseve an accoun of his fis vision duing he decade beween 1820 and 1830 howeve once dieced b an 1830 evelaion o keep a hiso joseph aced wih all he and fusaing dispach ha ime consuming esponsibiliies difficulies would allow his seems paiculal eviden when hese facos ae viewed wihin he famewok of he suviving fagmena beginnings of he hiso and he mass of hisoical daa peseved b he pophe duing he final foueen eas of his life on hee known occasions pio o 1839 when joseph smih undeook he official chonicle of he evens of his life he pesened his fis vision naaive as an inegal pa of he effo o keep a hiso fom vemon o new ok pio o he beginning of joseph s smih famil public minis which ma explain wh i was no included in he pined hiso noe B eads as follows and is conained in ou pesen pined ex when he ligh had depaed I1 had no sengh bu soon ecoveing in some degee I1 wen home & as I1 leaned up o he fie piece mohe enquied wha he mae was I1 eplied nee neve mind all is well I1 am well enough off I1 hen old m mohe I1 have leaned fo mself ha pesbeianism Pesbe nanism is no ue i seems as hough he advesa adesa was awae a a ve eal peiod of m life ha I1 was desined o pove a disubance & annoe of his kingdom o else wh should he powes of dakness combine agains me wh he oppession & pesecuion ha aose agains me almos in m infanc 5 hiso al A l 1 pp ap noe C which appeas lae in he ex conains joseph s qualificaion of his saemen ha he had been led ino dives empaions wheein he asses ha in making his con cession nession ession no one need suppose me guil of an 11 gea o malignan sins ibid p 133 since none of hese inseions appea in he fis published accoun of his hiso in he imes and seasons in 1842 bu he las wo ae included in he pesen pined ex ciics have hae egaded his as an example of ex ampeing i is doubful fom he conen of he noes ha he could have oiginaed fom anone ohe han joseph smih moe afoe dioe impoan howeve is he fac ha all hee of hem appea in book al A l 1 in willad ichads handwiing since his enue as scibe on he hiso did no begin unil decembe 1841 and was concluded in mach 1844 i is plain ha hese hee inseions wee included duing joseph s supevision of he hiso hps://scholasachive.bu.edu/busq/vol9/iss3/4 20