Summary:
Joseph Smith's account of the first vision that is taught by missionaries to investigators and memorized by seminary students across the world is not the only version of the vision. There are several different conflicting versions of the first vision. It was not recorded for many years Key elements of the vision such as when it happened and who appeared are very different. The story seems to have evolved as time went on to match Josephs doctrinal evolution.
Why this matters:
- The First Vision is the key doctrinal moment in Mormonism proving that God and Jesus are separate individuals. The earlier versions of this vision match more of a Trinitarian view of the Godhead. (As does the original printing of the Book of Mormon)
- No one heard the story of the First Vision (including his family) until over a decade after it happened.
- Dates and ages are not consistent
- Motive for going to the Lord in prayer is not consistent
- Who appears is not consistent
- Joseph is not the only one to have had a miraculous encounter with deity in the New England area. His first vision is not unique and some claim Joseph copied other's stories to create his own.
Learn More:
- Wikipedia - First Vision
- LDS.org Essay - First Vision Accounts
- MormonThink - The First Vision
- Joseph Smith Papers - Accounts of the First Vision
- CES Letter - First Vision
- Mormon Handbook - First Vision Plagiarized! (For accounts of others who had similar first vision experiences)
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