Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 4. There is a reason for this, and we will get into that in more detail later, but it has to do with Joseph Smith's evolving theology). The word "distracting" could also be translated as "unfitting" or "discordant." See Orson Pratt, A Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, 5; see also Joseph Smith, “History, circa Summer 1832,” 2; Alexander Neibaur journal, May 24, 1844. The statement on page 8 of the History confirms this was the narrative being written on May 2, 1838. “I thank my Father in Heaven for the testimony I have of the reality of the First Vision. The New Testament recounts the baptism of Jesus when the voice of God was heard and the Holy Ghost descended in the form of a dove. [7] Joseph Smith’s letter to John Wentworth was published in Times and Seasonson March 1, 1842. This remarkable vision is foundational to Latter-day Saint history. [20] He called Joseph’s name and said, “This is my beloved Son. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. [8] 2. Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 3. is to bear witness of Christ” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Prophet,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). [23] * Each weekly kit coincides with the Come, Follow Me schedule. No … See more ideas about vision art, joseph smith, lds art. In my post, The First Vision in the Formative Years of the Church, I discussed the various accounts of the First Vision related by the Prophet Joseph Smith, as well as by his contemporaries (such as Orson Pratt and Orson Hyde).In addition to these accounts there were other early Latter-day Saints, as well as non-Latter-day Saints, who made reference to the First Vision during the prophet's life. “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. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17). Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the . How long had Joseph prepared to go to the grove to pray? [22] [2] Four other accounts, recorded by contemporaries, include those by Orson Pratt in 1840, Orson Hyde in 1842, David Nye White in 1843, and Alexander Neibaur, who listened to Joseph’s experience in May 1844, just weeks before the martyrdom. “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. Orson Pratt, A Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions and of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records (Edinburgh: Ballantyne and Hughes, 1840), 4, Church History Library, Salt Lake City; josephsmithpapers.org. SCRIPTURE POSTER / CARDS Joseph Smith History 1:17 – First Vision. (See the 1842 account HERE) Important details of this account: 1. Joseph Smith tells of his ancestry, family members, and their early abodes—An unusual excitement about religion prevails in western New York—He determines to seek wisdom as directed by James—The Father and the Son appear, and Joseph is called to his prophetic ministry. . [27] See Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 3. [25] 1 Living in upstate New York in the 1810s, Joseph was surrounded by religious discussion and controversy. Two personages appeared 4. I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation” (Joseph Smith—History 1:25). This compelling narrative of Joseph's vision is based on these accounts. In July 1819, more than one hundred ministers gathered for a conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, convened in Vienna (now Phelps), New York, a half-day’s walk from the Smith family farm.4 The area pulsed with “unusual excitement on the subject of religion.”5 The preaching of one of the ministers, George Lane, may have especially influenced Joseph. . I reflected on it again and again,” Joseph said, “knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know.” The biblical invitation to seek revelation moved Joseph deeply.13 Joseph’s culture was so prone to proof texting—proving various doctrines with passages from the Bible—that the invitation to seek wisdom directly from God was “cheering information,” as Joseph called it, “like a light shining forth in a dark place.”14 Joseph determined to pray aloud for the first time in his life. . Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2], History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834], The Prairies, Nauvoo, Joe Smith, the Temple, the Mormons, &c, A Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, “I Saw the Lord”: Joseph Smith’s Descriptions of His Vision, Joseph Smith’s Accounts of the First Vision, “Unusual Excitement”: The 1820 Setting for the First Vision, The First Vision: Journey to the Sacred Grove. In spring 1820, 14-year-old Joseph Smith prayed in faith and was answered by God and Jesus Christ in person. “The Lord does reveal himself to me. See Larry C. Porter, “Reverend George Lane—Good ‘Gifts,’ Much ‘Grace,’ and Marked ‘Usefulness,’” BYU Studies, vol. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose … Come Follow Me Lesson – The First Vision: Special … Joseph Smith, “Journal, 1835–1836,” Nov. 9–11, 1835, 23, josephsmithpapers.org. 9 (Mar. . What is the significance of the First Vision? This trivia game is a great way for your family to learn about Joseph Smith, the First Vision and Moroni’s visit. The Lord told Joseph “that all the religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines”2 and that he was to await further instructions from on high. [26] . [12] Accounts from a letterbook, penned by Frederick G. Williams; from the “large journal,” penned by Warren A. Cowdery; and from the A-1 history book, penned by James Mulholland. Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 2–3. They draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me.”29. His responsibility is to make known God’s will and true character to mankind and to show the meaning of His dealings with them. Online Resources at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. [33] [30] He went specifically to ask which church he should join. Smith described it as a vision in which he received instruction from God the Father and Jesus Christ.. 9, no. [14] Joseph Smith's First Vision (about 2 1/2 minutes)- Illustrated scripture story. William Smith, Joseph’s younger brother, recalled that Lane “preached a sermon on ‘What church shall I join?’ And the burden of [Lane’s] discourse was to ask God, using as a text, ‘If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally.’”6 Joseph felt “partial” toward the Methodists but resisted full association; he wanted to know which doctrine was right. [34] The following narrative integrates details from all of the accounts. Williams, Joseph Smith 1835 Warren B. Cowdery 1839 Official, Pearl of Great Price I … It is also a fun way to learn about Joseph Smith History, in the back of the scriptures. He revealed himself first to me when I was about fourteen years old, a mere boy. Orson Hyde, Ein Ruf aus der Wüste (A Cry out of the Wilderness), 14–15, Church History Library; josephsmithpapers.org. In his earliest written account of the First Vision, Joseph indicated that from about the age of 12 he had “concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul, which led me to searching the scriptures, . [3] Tongue-tied and enveloped by thick darkness, Joseph felt doomed as he was “seized” by the astonishing “power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being.”16 This adversary “filled his mind with doubts and brought to mind all manner of distracting images.”17 At the moment when he had to choose whether or not he would succumb to the force that held him, Joseph exerted “all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy.”18, Joseph became conscious of a heavenly light descending upon him, growing more brilliant as it enveloped him and the leaves and boughs of the trees, until they seemed to be consumed with fire and the light was brighter than the sun. [17] It was a two-year period. “Being wrought up in my mind,” Joseph studied the “different systems” of religion, but “I knew not who was right or who was wrong and considered it of the first importance that I should be right in matters that involve eternal consequences.”2 His own sins and the “sins of the world” made him “exceedingly distressed.”, By “searching the scriptures,” Joseph learned that “mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they 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.”3, For a time, Joseph Smith sought relief among the Methodists. Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 3. Special Witness- Elder Christofferson (about 6 minutes)- Elder Christofferson bears testimony of Joseph Smith and the First Vision. It is also the first time the Church officially stated that Native Americans are the primary descendants of the Lamanites. became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and [the Lord] informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong; that they were following the precepts of men instead of the Lord Jesus; that he had a work for him to perform, inasmuch as he should prove faithful before him” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 96). Darkness vanished.19 Joseph’s prayer opened heaven and invoked power that vanquished the most potent opposing force he had ever experienced.20, In the midst of the “pillar of fire,”21 Joseph saw a glorious personage standing above him in the air. But he had read the scripture [James 1:5], he had understood the scripture, he had trusted in God his Eternal Father; and now he knelt and prayed, knowing that God would give him the enlightenment which he so earnestly sought” (“The Prophet Joseph Smith: Teacher by Example,” Ensign, June 1994, 4). “I retired to a secret place in a grove, and began to call upon the Lord; while fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision, and 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” (History of the Church, 4:536). As a messenger of God, a prophet receives commandments, prophecies, and revelations from God. [29] When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. They heard the voice of the Father, but they did not see him. [24] Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 2. 1 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers, ed. [11] Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 3. 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(This will be covered more later, but the first sentence highlights the problem here: In Joseph Smith's first account of the First Vision, God and Jesus did NOT both appear. [21] Alexander Neibaur journal, May 24, 1844, josephsmithpapers.org. The “creeds” governing the Christian churches were “an abomination” in God’s sight.30 They claimed God was unknowable and incomprehensible, yet He was revealing Himself to Joseph Smith in answer to prayer. Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 2. Use for Primary Sharing Time and Lessons, Family Home Evening, Youth and Seminary Institute Devotionals. Concerned by his sins and unsure which spiritua… The official account of this first vision found in Mormon Scripture (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith — History, 1:14-20) was not recorded by Joseph Smith until 1838, 18 years after the supposed event. Scripture James 1:5 Everyone will need their own set of scriptures for this activity. See Philip Schaff, ed., The Creeds of Christendom, 3 vols., 6th ed. Oct 18, 2016 - Explore Mark Ware's board "Joseph Smith First Vision Art" on Pinterest. Joseph Smith, “History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2],” 3. Are there other accounts of the First Vision? [4] He refused to feign conversion or religious feeling. On a clear spring morning in 1820, he sought solitude in the woods near his home. [28] Stewart Pearce, Annals of Luzerne County (Philadelphia, 1866), in Porter, “Reverend George Lane,” 325. BOOK OF MORMON 2020 Come Follow Me with The First Vision Special General Conference LessonCelebrating the 200th Anniversary of the First Vision Scripture: Joseph Smith History 1:17 17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. He went to a familiar place, near the “stump where I had stuck my axe when I had quit work,” he said.15 There he knelt and began searching for words to express his deepest desires, but he was overcome by an unseen power. Mary Jane Woodger, “From Obscurity to Scripture: Joseph F. Smith's Vision of the Redemption of the Dead,” in You Shall Have My Word: Exploring the Text of the Doctrine and Covenants, ed. They draw near to me when I was about fourteen years old, a mere.... 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