Joseph Smith's First Vision: Fact or Fiction?

The well-publicized story of Joseph Smith's First Vision is not a true account of the origin of the Latter-day Saint movement. The facts are decided against it! First, the historical evidence shows that Joseph Smith, Jr. could not have been stirred by an 1820 revival, to ask which church was true. Second, early Mormon statements do not support his claim that in 1820 he learned through a visitation of the Father and the Son that all existing churches were wrong. Third, the details known about Joseph's early life contradict his assertion that in 1820 he had such a divine visitation and was persecuted by the community for telling such a story.

First, his neighborhood in 1820 experienced no revival such as he described, in which "great multitudes" joined the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches. The Presbyterian records for the Palmyra Presbyterian Church show that it experienced no revival in 1820. (See Geneva Presbytery "Records," Presbyterian Historical Society.) The local Baptist church gained only six on profession of faith the entire year ("Records for the First Baptist Church in Palmyra," American Baptist Historical Society) while the Methodists actually lost members that year as well as the preceding and following years (Minutes of the Annual Conference).

Joseph Smith claimed that his mother, sister and two brothers were led to join the local Presbyterian Church as a result of that 1820 revival. However, four years before he made this claim, his own church paper had stated that the revival in which his family had been led to join the Presbyterian Church took place in 1823 (Messenger & Advocate I, pp. 42, 78). In fact, that account says it was the same 1823 revival that led him to go to his bedroom (not to a sacred grove) and pray "if a Supreme being did exist" and to know that "he was accepted of him." An angel (not a deity) is then reported to have appeared and told him of his forgiveness and of the gold plates.

Joseph's mother, likewise, knew nothing of an 1820 vision. In her unpublished account, she traces the origin of Mormonism to a bedroom visit by an angel. Joseph at the time had been "pondering which of the churches were the true one." The angel told him "there is not a true church on Earth. No not one" (First draft of "Lucy Smith's History," LDS Church Archives).

Furthermore, she tells us that the revival which led her joining the church took place following the death of her son, Alvin. Alvin died Nov. 19, 1823, and following that painful loss she reports that, "about this time there was a great revival in religion and the whole neighborhood was very much aroused to the subject and we among the rest, flocked to the meeting house to see if there was a word of comfort for us that might relieve our over-charged feelings" (p. 55-56).

She adds that although her husband would only attend the first meetings, he had no objection to her or the children "going or becoming church members." There is plenty of additional evidence that the revival Lucy Smith refers to did occur during the winter of 1824-25. It was reported in at least a dozen newspapers and religious periodicals. The church records show outstanding increases due to the reception of new converts. The Baptist church received 94, the Presbyterian 99, while the Methodist work grew by 208. No such revival bringing in "great multitudes" occurred in 1820.

It is clear that the revival Joseph Smith, Jr. described did not occur in 1820, but in 1824. Joseph Smith arbitrarily moved that revival back four years to 1820 and made it fit a First Vision story that neither his mother nor other close associates had heard of in those early days. The historical facts completely discredit Joseph Smith's First Vision story. (For further details, see "Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought" Spring 1969, pp. 59-100.)

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. The account was never finished. (See the text in BYU Studies, Spring 1969, pp. 278ff.)

In this version Joseph presents himself between the ages of 12 and 15 as being a committed and perceptive reader of the Bible. He claims that his study of the Scriptures led him to understand that all of the denominations were wrong. He wrote: "By searching the Scriptures I found 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."

Six years later, when he set forth his official First Vision story, he decided that he never had reached the firm conclusion that all churches were wrong from his study of the Bible. Instead, he claimed that it was during a vision of the Father and the Son that he first learned this information. He presented this as coming as a great surprise, for he added parenthetically -- "for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong." That statement even contradicted what Joseph had said a few paragraphs earlier in the same account. There he claimed that "I often said to myself ...Who of all these parties are right; or are they all wrong together?" Although the former statement appears in the original manuscript (see BYU Studies above, pg. 290), such a serious contradiction could not be allowed to stand, and after Joseph's death the embarrassing words were edited out.

Even without those words, however, the 1838 official account is in conflict with the 1832 version. In the 1832 account it is his Bible reading that stirs him to seek God, while in the 1838 story it is a non-existent revival that motivates him.

In the 1832 version he claims to have seen only Christ, while in the 1838 rendition both the Father and the Son appear. In the 1832 account he already knows all the churches are wrong, while in the 1838 story it is the dual deities who first inform him of this. Different people may have different views of the same event, but when one person tells contradictory stories about an event, he completely loses his credibility.

The 1838 First Vision story not only runs into trouble with Joseph's earlier 1832 version, but it is also contradicted by what we know about his early years in Palmyra. In his official version Joseph claims he was persecuted by all the churches in his area "because I continued to affirm I had seen a vision." However, Orsemus Turner, an apprentice printer in Palmyra until 1822, was in the same juvenile debating club with Joseph Smith. He recalled that Joseph "after catching a spark of Methodism ...became a very passable exhorter in evening meetings" (History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, 1851, p. 214). Thus, instead of being opposed and persecuted as his 1838 account claims, young Joseph was welcomed and allowed to exhort during the Methodist's evening preaching. Furthermore, no one, either Mormon or non-Mormon, seems ever to have heard of Joseph's encounter with two divine Personages until after 1838. (See this admission in Dialogue, Autumn 1966, pp. 30-31; Saints Herald, June 29, 1959, pg. 21.)

From all available lines of evidence, therefore, Joseph's First Vision story appears to be a fabrication. There was no revival [as described by Smith] anywhere in the Palmyra area in 1820. Joseph was welcomed, not persecuted, by the Methodists. His 1832 account represents him as perceiving from his personal Bible study that all the churches were apostate, while his 1838 account said it "never entered into my heart that all were wrong." His 1832 version claimed only a vision of Christ, while the 1838 story transformed this into the Father and the Son. No one ever heard such a story until after he dictated it in 1838. In the light of such strong contradictory evidence, the First Vision story must be regarded as only the invention of Joseph Smith's highly imaginative mind. The facts and Joseph's words discredit it.

This is what Paul taught concerning Christians ... not the unsaved who will stand to be judged according to their lack of Him in them, these were Christians to whom Paul wrot e the following in his first letter to the Corinthian Believers:

I Cor 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [Notice that Paul is here speaking of what is placed upon the foundation which is Salvation in Christ; what Paul is about to describe if the rewards review for the saved, not the great throne of Judgment]

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. [The fire burns up that which lacks the image of Christ in it, yet the believers shall be saved even as the metaphor of fire burning off the dross in an ore sample of Silver, leaving just the pure.]

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [God does not place Himself for judgment, so that which is the Temple of the Living God is not to be judged at the Great White Throne from whence hell will be the destiny of some in creation. ]

By their fruits ye shall know them ...

Matthew 7: 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. prophets Deut 13:3, Jer 23:16, Rom 16:17, Eph 5:6, Col 2:8, 2nd Pet 2:1, 1st John 4:1 sheep's Micah 3:5, 2 Tim 3:5 wolves Acts 20:29

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Let's see, what were Joseph Smith's fruits:

Adultery with other men's wives

Peepstone divination

False Prophecies

Lies, even to his own congregation concerning his sexual deviances

False claims of scriptures from God

False stories of visions of God the Father Almighty

And entire false religion with rituals and signs lifted right out of Masonic lore

We could go on, but what's the point. The man is exposed by his fruits to be exactly what Jesus warned. And the founding principle of Mormonism is that the Holy Spirit left the body of faithing Christians for 1700+ years until Smith showed up ... thus mormonism denies the Holy Spirit Power that Jesus promised would never leave of forsake believers. So, the ultimate spirit of mormonism is the spirit of anitchrist. Oh they have a form of godliness, even look so clean and proper, but they deny the power thereof. 'From such turn away' was Paul's advice to Timotheus.

You are right, it would be much better for us to turn our back on those who follow similar doctrines or better yet the same “prophet” and Scripture..

As I have said more than once, the desires of man and the work of the evil one have taken advantage thought the entirety of Christian, as well as man's history. It does not diminish the fact that we share the same fundamental message.

We do more than just “get together and play nice” we serve Christ together in love and fellowship, sharing the same message of salvation.

Sorry if that is inconvenient for your purposes...

Your argument is with John and by association the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. They're right, you're wrong. Period. If you don't like it, write your own Bible. John says we'll be judged by our works and James explained why....get over it. /shrug
Revelation 20:12
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

James 2:17
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Titus 3:8
8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

2 Corinthians 11:15
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Jonah 3:10
10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Those whom the Deliverer has saved are in Him and He will not be standing for judgment at the great White throne.

Oh really?
Ecclesiastes 3:16 - 17
16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

The son of David says that the righteous and the wicked will be judged at the final judgment. You're batting 0 or 0. Stop contradicting the Bible and spreading false doctrine. Sheesh!

Using a word search is not the best way to try and pretend to know the scriptures. Let's see if you actually comprehend what is written about in II Cor 11. Your word search turned up righteousness but you didn't comprehend the context!

II Cor 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [Even you can see this is referring to false apostles!]

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. [Those are dead spirited beings being referred to. Read the passages again and see of what your word search can teach to you by reading further before and after the texts the search highlights.]

We will leave the rewriting of the Bible to fit personal needs to your “prophet’

As far as the garce/works "debate" this is what I find so interesting. Your church is like a tone deaf musician, you can play the notes but can't make the music.

It is not by works we are saved, it is by our works we are known to be saved. Grace saves us period:

Ephesians 2:7-10

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

That seems pretty clear to me.

Because of our acceptance of God's gift of grace we do good works, not as a requirement for entrance into the kingdom, but because we want to share the joy and love. The Holy Spirit fills our souls and our love comes through in our actions. Yes, we will be known by our works, know as ones who truly accepted the gift so freely given among all of God's people.

James says it best...

James 2:14-18

14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

And from Titus 3 we see works and grace side-by-side, and the proper designation of each:

1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

...

14 And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. [Paul teaches that there is a difference in fruitfulness and supposed works of righteousness. Good works bring fruitfulness AFTER THE PERSON IS IN CHRIST A NEW CREATION. Such a new creation will God in no wise stand before the same judgment seat where the dead in tresspasses and sins are to be judged according to their works.]

Um, that is strawman post. You need to now show how it is that we deny you anything. In fact, I can find posts I’ve made to mormons in which I have said without reservation that 1)Salvation is in Christ’s purview, and 2) there will be many mormons in Heaven, but not because they earned Salvation but because of His tender mercy He has saved them (as taught in Titus 3 and many other places) ... and how or by what means He does this for them, I haven’t an assertion, but I have some ideas on it. We know for sure that those who work to promote the spirit of antichrist are working against His Kingdom though, don’t we! Denying the power of The Holy Spirit to indwell the faither is of the spirit of antichrist and is precisely what your church is promoting in their current ‘restoration’ drive. Watch for it in mormonism apologists’ posts. It comes out regularly.

We will leave the rewriting of the Bible to fit personal needs to your “prophet’

As far as the garce/works "debate" this is what I find so interesting. Your church is like a tone deaf musician, you can play the notes but can't make the music.

Is it not possible for you to make a post to me that doesn't contain these juvenile derogatory digs? Can you not be civil for one moment?

18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

It may pain you to admit it, but we are saying the same thing. We are saved by grace. Because we have faith and love for the savior we will do good works. We will be judged by our works because that is the manifestation of our faith.

If you don’t like it, write your own Bible
______________________________________

DUH...

That’s what this thread is about...

The false prophet Joseph Smith didnt like God’s requirement of righteousness to live a Godly life...

He wanted an excjuse to keep on committing adultery and cheating on Emma, his only legal wife..

and so he wrote his own porn, err I mean thingy...

I cant say Bible, there’s only ever going to be one of those...

The Old Testament and the New Testament...

By their fruits ye shall know them ...

Here's my list ...

A prophet who taught:

That Jesus and Satan are brothers, that God had incestuous relations with His daughter (Mary), and that Christian pastors are "dimwitted hirelings of Satan
That God is a polygamous celestial stud married to our Heavenly Mother
Of Kolob and of other worlds named Planet Oblish and Planet Enish-go-on-dosh ruled by a governing power through the medium of Kli-flos-is-es, or Hah-ko-kau-beam
Of sacred scriptures based on pagan works such as prayers to Egyptian gods for dead spirits – which were supposedly translated using occult devices such as peep stones
Of prominent display of Satanic symbols such as pentagrams, baphomets, earth stones, and saturn stones on his churches' religious buildings and literature
Of the wearing a fig leaf apron in temple ceremonies to symbolize Satan’s power and priesthoods
Of having Lucifer teach Mormon church doctrine in the temple ceremony
Of portraying Satan as the god of this world in Mormon rites and ceremonies
Of offering prayers to the devil – Oh God, hear the words of my mouth
Of praising Satan by chanting Hebrew words in the temple ceremony whose translation is Marvelous Lucifer
That husbands can resurrect their wives from the grave
Of having special grips and clasps to tell ghosts from angels and the devil
Of practicing baptism for the dead
Of wearing magic underwear to protect from physical harm – with symbols so sacred that they must be cut out and buried and the garment burned when it wears out
That the Ten Lost Tribes and the apostle John will be discovered living in cement houses in a tropical land adjacent to the North Pole separated by a high mountain range
That men about six feet tall, dressed like Quakers, will be discovered dwelling on the moon where they live for about 1,000 years
That science will prove the earth has knobs on each end
That he was commanded by god to retranslate the Bible because the existing translations contained errors – eventually devising an Inspired Revision completed in 1833 - which was rejected by his church who still uses the King James Version
That his followers should burdened by a complex series of regulations which determine their progression as gods of their own planets - complete with a harem of goddess wives
That he was greater than Jesus

First I only state fact. You tell my friend to go write his own bible, even though he is the one holding true to the Word of God, and this admonition comes from one who follows a man who made a good effort to create his own version of the holy book.

As for the rest, no we don't agree, you agree at this point, that will change when the perspective or argument does the same.

What I have found interesting in my study of mormonism is how utterly confused everything is. I have confined myself to works both of the faith and by your theologians, no "anti sites" unless I need a citation. Some say grace is enough in one breath, then jump to works in the next. They change emphasis trying to find contradiction with Orthodox Historic Christianity depending on the argument at the time..

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.