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| Orson Pratt's 1840 Account
of Joseph Smith's First Vision |
| At 14 or 15, Joseph
Smith, is a literate but uneducated a farm boy concerned about the salvation
of his soul. Churches teach different doctrines. Joseph reasons God would
have only one doctrine, so he turns to the scriptures. Inspired by James
1:5, he goes to a grove to pray. Powers of darkness tempt him, but he is
delivered by prayer. A bright light descends, in which he sees two identical
personages. He is told his sins are forgiven, none of the churches are true,
he is not to join any, and the fullness of the gospel will be revealed to
him later. |
| The first published
account of the First Vision. Orson Pratt's A [sic] Interesting
Account of Several Remarkable Visions, and of the late Discovery of Ancient
American Records, published in late September or early October 1840
in Scotland. |
| Joseph's
birth |
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Mr. Joseph Smith, jun. who made
the following important discovery, was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor
county, Vermont, on the 23d December, A.D. 1805. |
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| Move
to Palmyra, Manchester |
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When ten years old, his parents,
with their family, moved to Palmyra, New York; in the vicinity of which
he resided for about eleven years, the latter part in the town of Manchester. |
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| Farmed |
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Cultivating the earth for a livelihood
was his occupation, in which he employed the most of his time. |
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| Literate,
but uneducated |
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His advantages for acquiring literary
knowledge, were exceedingly small; hence, his education was limited to a
slight acquaintance, with two or three of the common branches of learning.
He could read without much difficulty, and write a very imperfect hand;
and had a very limited understanding of the ground rules of arithmetic.
These were his highest and only attainments; while the rest of those branches,
so universally taught in the common schools, throughout the United States,
were entirely unknown to him. |
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14 or
15 years old
Concern for salvation |
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When somewhere about fourteen or
fifteen years old, he began seriously to reflect upon the necessity of being
prepared for a future state of existence; but how, or in what way, to prepare
himself, was a question, as yet, undetermined in his own mind. |
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He perceived that it was a question
of infinite importance, and that the salvation of his soul depended upon
a correct understanding of the same. |
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He saw, that if he understood not
the way, it would be impossible to walk in it, except by chance; and the
thought of resting his hopes of eternal life upon chance, or uncertainties,
was more than he could endure. |
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| Denominations
disagree |
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If he went to the religious denominations
to seek information, each one pointed to its particular tenets, saying—"This
is the way, walk ye in it;" while, at the same time, the doctrines
of each were in many respects, in direct opposition to one another. |
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| One God,
one doctrine |
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It. also., occurred to his mind
that God was the author of but one doctrine, and therefore could acknowledge
but one denomination as his church, and that such denomination must be
a people who believe, and teach, that one doctrine, (whatever it may be,)
and build upon the same. |
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| Which
church is true? |
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He then reflected upon the immense
number of doctrines now in the world, which had given rise to many hundreds
of different denominations. The great question to be decided in his mind,
was—if any one of these denominations be the Church of Christ, which
one is it? Until he could become satisfied in relation to this question,
he could not rest contented. |
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| How to
know |
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To trust to the decisions of fallible
man, and build his hopes upon the same, without any certainty, and knowledge
of his own, would not satisfy the anxious desires that pervaded his breast.
To decide, without any positive and definite evidence, on which he could
rely, upon a subject involving the future welfare of his soul, was revolting
to his feelings. |
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| Scriptures |
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The only alternative, that seemed
left him, was to read the Scriptures, and endeavor to follow their
directions. He, accordingly, commenced perusing the sacred pages of the
Bible, with sincerity, believing the things that he read. |
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| James
1:5 |
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His mind soon caught hold of the
following passage—"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 i. 5. |
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| Ask and
receive |
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From this promise he learned, that
it was the privilege of all men to ask God for wisdom, with the sure and
certain expectation of receiving liberally; without being upbraided for
so doing. This was cheering information to him; tidings that gave him great
joy. It was like a light shinning forth in a dark place, to guide him to
the path in which he should walk. |
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He, now, saw that if he inquired
of God, there was, not only, a possibility, but a probability; yea, more,
a certainty, that he should obtain a knowledge, which, of all the doctrines,
was the doctrine of Christ; and, which of all the churches, was the Church
of Christ. |
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| Prays
in grove |
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He, therefore, retired to a secret
place, in a grove, but a short distance from his father's house, and knelt
down, and began to call upon the Lord. |
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| Tempted
by powers of darkness |
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At first, he was severely tempted
by the powers of darkness, which endeavored to overcome him; but he continued
to seek for deliverance, until darkness gave way from his mind, |
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| Enabled
to pray |
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and he was enabled to pray in fervency
of the spirit, and in faith. And, while thus pouring out his soul, anxiously
desiring an answer from God, |
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| Bright
light gradually descends |
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he, at length, saw a very bright
and glorious light in the heavens above; which, at first, seemed to be
a considerable distance. He continued praying, while the light appeared
to be gradually descending towards him; and, as it drew nearer, it increased
in brightness and magnitude, so that, by the time that it reached the
tops of the trees, the whole wilderness, for some distance around, was
illuminated in a most glorious and brilliant manner. |
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| Expected
trees to burn |
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He expected to have seen the leaves
and boughs of the trees consumed, as soon as the light came in contact with
them; |
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| Encouraged
when they don't |
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but, perceiving that it did not
produce that effect, he was encouraged with the hopes of being able to
endure its presence. It continued descending, slowly, until it rested
upon the earth, and he was enveloped in the midst of it. |
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Peculiar
sensation
Caught away from natural objects |
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When it first came upon him, it
produced a peculiar sensation throughout his whole system; and, immediately,
his mind was caught away, from the natural objects with which he was surrounded;
and he was enwrapped in a heavenly vision, |
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| Two identical
personages |
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and saw two glorious personages,
who exactly resembled each other in their features or likeness. |
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| Sins
forgiven |
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He was informed, that his sins
were forgiven. |
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He was also informed upon the subjects,
which had for some time previously agitated his mind, |
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Churches
teach false doctrines
None acknowledge God—do not join |
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viz.—that all religious
denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines; and, consequently,
that none of them was acknowledged of God, as his church and kingdom. And
he was expressly commanded, to go not after them; |
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| Fullness
of the gospel to be revealed to him later |
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and he received a promise that
the true doctrine—the fulness of the gospel, should, at some future
time, be made known to him; |
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| Calm
and peaceful |
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after which, the vision withdrew,
leaving his mind in a state of calmness and peace, indescribable. |
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¶ Joseph Smith's 1832 History
1835 Accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision
Smith Family Visions
Joseph Smith
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