Why are there different accounts? Today s Take-aways. The Accounts of the First Vision 5/18/17. Hymn #26 Joseph Smith s First Prayer

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1 5/18/17 Hymn #26 Joseph Smith s First Prayer The Accounts of the First Vision Scott Woodward Rel. 225 Summer 2017 Today s Take-aways Understand the unique historical contexts of each First Vision account. Recognize the unique differences and contributions of the First Vision accounts. More deeply understand the Lord s core messages delivered during the First Vision. Why are there different accounts? Oh, how lovely was the morning! Radiant beamed the sun above. Bees were humming, sweet birds singing, Music ringing thru the grove, When within the shady woodland Joseph sought the God of love, When within the shady woodland Joseph sought the God of love. Pre-Class Reading Discussion What did you learn or find interesting from one of the four accounts that you did not know before (preferably not the 1838 canonized account)? What is the most spiritual experience you ve ever had? Audience matters Purpose matters It s significance to you over time matters Memory matters 1

2 Context Joseph s first attempt to record his history. D&C 85 had just been received, which says the Lord s clerk must keep a history, and a general church record of all things that transpire in Zion. Joseph bought his first diary/letter book the day that revelation came. He recorded D&C 85 in that letter book, and then recorded his history in the following pages. It is the only account written (partly) in Joseph s own hand. The other scribe is Joseph s counselor Fredrick G. Williams Joseph s 16 year old age: therefore I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy and 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> Joseph s years of searching: At about the age of twelve years my mind become seriously imprest with regard to the all importent concerns of for the well fare of my immortal Soul which led me to searching the scriptures thus from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart concerning the sittuation of the world of mankind His sins and the sins of the world: I become convicted of my sins and by searching the scriptures I found that mand <mankind> did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatised from the true and liveing faith and there was no society or denomination that built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the new testament and I felt to mourn for my own sins and for the sins of the world Perhaps only one being mentioned: 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 2

3 5/18/17 Being filled with love: my soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great Joy and the Lord was with me but could find none that would believe the hevnly vision nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart Story Time: Suspicions were entertained that the Said Joshua was the noted Matthias of New York, spoken so much of in the public prints on account of the trials he endured in that place before a court of Justice, for Murder, Manslaughter, Contempt of court, whipping his daughter &c. After some <November 9.> equivocating he confessed that he really was Matthias. Tuesday 10th [November 1835] I resumed conversation with Matthias, and desired him to enlighten my mind more on his views respecting the resurrection I told him that his doctrine was of the Devil, that he was in reality in possession of a wicked and depraved spirit, although he professed to be the spirit of truth itself, and he said also that he possessed <11> the spirit of soul of Christ. He tarried until Wednesday, 11th. After Breakfast when I told him that my God told me that his God was the Devil, and I could not keep him any longer, and he must depart, and so I for once, cast out the Devil in bodily shape, and I beleive a murderer Given to Robert Matthews or Joshua the Jewish prophet or Matthias the Prophet. Matthews claimed to be God the Father reincarnated in the body of Matthias, the ancient prophet. Sermon on the Mount reference and 1st James 1:5 reference: I retired to the silent grove and bowd down before the Lord, under a realising sense that he had said (if the bible be true) ask and you shall receive knock and it shall be opened seek and you shall find and again, if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men libarally and upbradeth not; information was what I most desired at this time, and with a fixed determination to obtain it 3

4 Description of adversarial attack, springing to feet: I called upon the Lord for the first time, in the place above stated or in other words I made a fruitless attempt to pray, my toung seemed to be swolen in my mouth, so that I could not utter I heard a noise behind me like some person walking towards me, <I> strove again to pray, but could not, the noise of walking seemed to draw nearer, I sprung up on my feet One God appeared first and then the other: 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 1843 Interview with David Nye White: Directly I saw a light, and then a glorious personage in the light, and then another personage, and the first personage said to the second, Behold my beloved Son, hear him. Alexander Neibaur Journal 1844: saw a personage in the fire light complexion blue eyes a piece of white cloth drawn over his shoulders his right arm bear after a w[h]ile a other person came to the side of the first Many angels: <and I saw many angels in this vision> Written as part of Joseph s 1838 history. The opening statement of his history refers to defamation and persecution to which the Latter-day Saints and Joseph in particular had been subjected, and it characterizes such maltreatment as one motivation for telling the story of the church and its founder. Joseph wrote, Owing to the many reports which have been put in circulation by evil disposed and designing men, this history is designed to disabuse the publick mind, and put all enquirers after truth into possession of the facts and set the record straight in relation both to myself and the Church. This introduction was written not long after Joseph had fled Kirtland, Ohio, for Far West, Missouri, under threat of several lawsuits; thus, when he began the history in summer 1838 he was especially motivated to justify himself and the church in light of what he considered a long history of persecution. 4

5 Incorporated into the Pearl of Great Price in 1851 when Franklin D. Richards published it in England. The Pearl of Great Price became canonized in Uniqueness of the 1838 account: Longest account More emphasis on religious zeal, fervor, and confusion than the other accounts Uniqueness of the 1838 account: New descriptive details: beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty (vs. 14) Previously designed to go (vs. 15) (The David Nye White version reports Joseph saying, [I] went to the stump where I had stuck my axe when I had quit work ) never entered into my heart that all were wrong (vs. 18) many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time (vs. 20) Uniqueness of the 1838 account: New descriptive details: came to myself again lying on my back I had no strength (vs. 20) (1843 David Nye White Pittsburg Gazette interview: when I come to my self, I was sprawling on my back; and it was sometime before my strength returned. learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true (vs. 20) Sharing the vision with a preacher who responded contemptuously (vs ) The 1842 Account Joseph is in Nauvoo Illinois responding to Chicago Democrat editor John Wentworth s request for a sketch of the rise of the Church. Joseph had his response to John Wentworth printed in March 1842 issue of Times and Seasons. The Wentworth letter as it has become known is a choice document, ending with the standard of truth has been erected and also a declaration we call the Articles of Faith. The 1842 Account Uniqueness of the 1842 Account: Transfigured moment (in or out of the body?): my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision Father and Son look the same: saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features, and likeness Promise of future truth: expressly commanded to go not after them, at the same time receiving a promise that the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me. 5

6 5/18/ / /1838 Concerned about his soul Jesus forgives Joseph s sins Presence of Satan ALL 4 Accounts He had a VISION 1832 Questions about religion Searched the scriptures Spoke with God Introduced by the Father 1838 All the Churches are wrong The Doctrinal FIRST VISION Religious excitement in his neighborhood 1838/ Gordon B. Hinckley President (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 227) Every claim that we make concerning divine authority, every truth that we offer concerning the validity of the work, all finds its root in the First Vision of the boy prophet. That becomes the hinge pin on which this whole cause turns. If the First Vision was true, if it actually happened, then the Book of Mormon is true. Then we have the priesthood. Then we have the Church organization and all of the other keys and blessings of authority which we say we have. If the First Vision did not occur, then we are involved in a great sham. It is just that simple. What Was Joseph Taught? The Father Bore Testimony of Christ Joseph s Sins are Forgiven Join No Church/All are Wrong Christian Creeds are an Abomination All Have Broken the Everlasting Covenant The Gospel (ie. the Everlasting Covenant) was to be Restored What was Joseph Taught? The Christian Creeds 1838: I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight. 1842: if I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another to another; each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection. 6

7 The Nature of God The First Vision shattered creedal statements of the traditional Trinitarian God ( Two personages ). It undermined Calvinistic doctrines of an angry/wrathful God ( Thy sins are forgiven thee), agnostic ideas of a distant God ( Joseph <my son>). It didn t support a Congregationalist God who doesn t care what denomination we belong to ( don t join any of them, they are all corrupt ), nor a universalist God of heaven no matter what ( [not] his church and kingdom ) or protestant ideas that God doesn t desire authorized covenants with him ( broken the everlasting covenant ) End 7