Thoughts on Joseph Smith's First Vision Accounts

Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision

There exist nine accounts of Joseph Smith’s first vision. Four of which are direct accounts by the prophet and five which are second hand. For today’s purposes only the four accounts by the prophet written in 1832, 1835, 1838 and 1842 respectively will be examined as well as three additional accounts recorded by Levi Richards (a close friend and physician to the prophet), David Nye White (a Pittsburgh newspaper editor), and Alexander Neibaur (a friend of Joseph Smith and the first Jewish convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Analyzing these accounts is crucial for grasping not only the profound nature of Joseph's divine experience but also the reality of its occurrence. These accounts confirm essential doctrinal truths about the nature of God and His relationship with every individual on earth.

1832 Account Handwritten by the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr.

This first written account is interesting in that it emphasizes Joseph’s desire to know of the eternal welfare of his soul over his search for a true church. Within the church it is often expressed that Joseph went to the sacred grove to ask God which church to join, but in this account we learn that his motivations were more epistemological - he wanted not just to find a true church but to find truth itself.

Another curious part of this account is its emphasis on God’s anger and wrath toward the inhabitants of the earth. One gets a deep sense of God’s discontent with His children in reading this account. However what is most curious about this is that immediately following a detailed and articulate description of the Lord’s anger towards His children, Joseph closes the same sentence by saying, “and my soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great Joy and the Lord was with me…” This gives further insight into the nature and dichotomy of God’s character. He is the God of justice, the God of righteousness and no unholiness can endure His presence or is passable to Him. And His character is also one of extraordinary love and compassion, one that leaves even a child feeling great love and joy after hearing Him express His wrath and anger.

1835 Account

This account is the most simple and brief of the accounts by the prophet Joseph. It highlights his desire to know more information on God. It is the first account where Joseph mentions the devil’s attempt to stop him from praying, where he felt the physical presence of another being. What is intriguing in this account is that the light of God which came upon him is described as a flame and as a fire, which enveloped the entire grove without consuming any plant. It makes mention of many angels being present and its emphasis is Joseph receiving forgiveness from the Lord.

This account demonstrates God's desire to minister to each of His children one by one. This account does not make mention of God speaking to Joseph about anyone else or any greater mission than simply making Himself known to Joseph and forgiving him for his sins.

1838 Account

This is perhaps the most common and most familiar account to Latter-Day Saints as well as their Mormon contemporaries, such as members of the Community of Christ and RLDS faiths, that is any follower of the theologies and ideologies of the prophet Joseph Smith. This is the account of Joseph Smith’s First Vision that is most well known to the world. This account details the journey leading up to the First Vision. The 1832 account and following accounts also make note of Joseph Smith’s preparation to receive his vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

While praying in the grove, Joseph, in this account says, “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.” From this account it is often assumed that Joseph Smith went to the grove to pray, and upon praying he was seized upon by the power of the devil. Exerting all his effort to call upon God he was immediately freed from this adversarial power and immediately saw God. While he was immediately freed from the influence of the adversary, he did not immediately see God and the Son. In his own words he said the “light descended gradually” and that it was not until the “light had rested upon (him)” that he saw God the Father and the Son. There was a space of time between the light entering his sight, and his ability to see the source of the light as God. And so it is in the lives of all who seek to know the true and living God. One’s search requires preparation, and it may require a great deal of preparation before the light and influence of God can be easily recognized in his or her life, and even then it may take longer still for the source of that light to be clearly seen as God. So it is that patience must be taken with ourselves and more importantly with others in their search to come to know God. For any of those who have children, friends or other family struggling to see God in their lives perhaps one of the most important messages of the 1838 account is the message of patience and hope that one day a struggling loved one will clearly see the light of God that IS in their life and further that one day they will know for themselves that God is the source of all light in their life.

1842 Account

This account, like the 1835 account, is short. What is most obvious in this account is the prophet's ability to articulate himself in a clear and concise way. It is clear that he is a wiser and more intelligent man than he was ten years prior when recording his first vision for presumably the first time. This account is as much a logical and rational argument for the need of God to speak to men as it is a historical account of what transpired during the young prophets prayer in 1820. 

Joseph observes the religious turmoil of his time, noting the conflicting and often discordant arguments among various denominations. He asserts that no leader can proclaim their view of God as the ultimate truth; only God Himself can do so. With profound insight, he explains that even a 14-year-old farm boy could recognize the irrationality of the situation: “If God had a church, it would not be split into factions, and if He taught one group to worship in a certain way and administer specific ordinances, He would not teach another group principles that were diametrically opposed.” One of the key purposes of his divine experience in that New York grove, he suggests, was to resolve these contradictions and once again make God’s voice known to all people.

Levi Richards , David Nye White and Alexander Neibaur’s Accounts

Though brief and secondhand, these accounts can be readily understood when considered collectively. Together, they depict the prophet Joseph Smith as bold and unwavering in both his experience and his divine calling as God’s chosen prophet on earth. In all three accounts, Joseph's primary motivation for going to the grove was to seek divine guidance about which church to join. The outcome of that prayer was a revelation that no church at the time held the fullness of truth, and that he was to play a pivotal role in restoring God's true church in the last days.

Over time, it seems Joseph came to understand that his visionary experience in the grove was not just a personal encounter but one meant for all humankind. As such, when publicly recounting his vision, he likely emphasized the aspects of the experience that were relevant to others—the universal message of the Restoration—while downplaying elements that might have been more personal in nature. This shift in focus suggests Joseph's growing awareness of his role in a broader, divine mission: to not only restore the church but to share God's voice with the world. His experience became a foundational moment, not just for him, but for every individual searching for divine truth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the various accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision offer a multifaceted understanding of this profound event. From Joseph's earliest reflections in 1832 to his more polished and articulate account in 1842, each version provides unique insights into his personal journey and the broader implications of the Restoration. These accounts affirm essential truths about God's nature, the need for personal revelation, and the restoration of divine authority in the last days. They reveal a prophet who grew in wisdom and understanding, not only about his own experience but about the universal significance of his encounter with God.

As Joseph matured, so did his understanding of the First Vision’s importance—not just for himself but for all people seeking divine truth. His willingness to share this experience publicly highlights his commitment to restoring God’s voice on earth. For believers, these accounts collectively testify of God's desire to make Himself known and to guide His children toward truth. The First Vision stands as a cornerstone of faith for millions, representing both the personal and global reach of God's message through Joseph Smith.