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| − | {{draft}}
| + | #REDIRECT[[Differences in First Vision accounts]] |
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| − | ==Criticism==
| + | <!-- PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE --> |
| | + | [[Category:First Vision]] |
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| − | Joseph Smith's 1832 First Vision account does not say that he was persecuted for relating his spiritual manifestation to others. Since this story element does not appear until the 1838 account it stands as evidence that the Prophet's story evolved over time - probably to add a sense of drama.
| + | [[de:Joseph Smiths Erst Vision: Verfolgung]] |
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| − | ===Source(s) of the criticism===
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| − | ==Response==
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| − | Joseph Smith made some remarks in his 1832 First Vision account that have a marked degree of relevance to the argument being put forward by his critics. In relation to the period of time between the First Vision and the appearance of the Book of Mormon angel he said,
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| − | *"I could find none that would believe the heavenly vision nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart"
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| − | *"there were many things which transpired that cannot be written"
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| − | *"my father's family have suffered '''many persecutions''' and afflictions"
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| − | Since it is explicitly stated by Joseph Smith that nobody believed his story, it would be unreasonable to assume that all of the responses were friendly in nature. In fact, the Prophet says right in this text that before the Book of Mormon angel visited him his family was persecuted and afflicted for some unspecified reason(s). He did not elaborate upon the nature of the "many persecutions" that took place against his family because - as far as this particular document was concerned - he had elected not to write down "many things which transpired."
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| − | The following documentary evidence from the 1838 First Vision experience strengthens the argument that the 1832 text is referring to some type of persecution that took place because of Joseph's initial spiritual experience.
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| − | *Back "then" (i.e., between 1820 and 1823) Joseph's mind was engaged in "serious reflection" over the notion that he had been the recipient of "the bitterst persecution and reviling" by adherents of religion, simply because he had spoken about his First Vision.
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| − | *Persecution over the vision was also heaped upon Joseph Smith by "irreligious" persons.
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| − | *His words were treated not only lightly but also with great contempt.
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| − | *It was implied that he was a liar.
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| − | *He was told that his experience originated with the Devil.
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| − | *People became prejudiced against him. They spoke "all manner of evil against [him] falsely". He was "hated".
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| − | *The persecution increased over time and even became "severe".
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| − | *Some people tried to get Joseph to "deny" his vision.
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| − | *Joseph relates: "I was led to say in my heart, 'Why persecute me for telling the truth?'"
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| − | This 1838 material corresponds well with the "many persecutions and afflictions" mentioned in the 1832 account. It also matches with the 1832 statements that "nobody" would believe Joseph's story and he reflected upon this situation in his heart.
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| − | It should be pointed out that even though the 'persecution' theme is very pronounced in the 1838 account it is a piece of the story that was not always mentioned or emphasized in subsequent retelling (both published and verbal).
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| − | :*It is missing in Orson Pratt's 1840 missionary tract called ''An Interesting Account of Several Remarkabe Visions''.
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| − | :*It is missing in the Prophet's 1842 Wentworth Letter recital.
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| − | :*It shows up again in David White's 1843 newspaper interview with the Prophet where an interesting insight is provided about the reason for the pronounced negative reaction by some of those who heard the story. The Prophet said, "When I went home and told the people that I had a revelation, and that all the churches were corrupt, they persecuted me, and they have persecuted me ever since."
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| − | :*Rejection, but no outright persecution, is mentioned in Alexander Neibaur's 1844 diary notes. Joseph “told the Methodist priest, [who] said this was not a[n] age for God to Reveal himself in Vision[.] Revelation has ceased with the New Testament.”
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| − | This last example is especially interesting because it is an obvious reference to the Methodist minister who is spoken of in the 1838 account. The 1844 rehearsal of events is less detailed but it is, nevertheless, the same exact story. The 1844 document clearly demonstrates that Joseph Smith did not always tell the First Vision story with an equal amount of elements. Critics of the First Vision should, therefore, not expect any such thing when they scrutinize the pertinent documents. If an element of the story was not known by one particular audience it cannot be automatically assumed that it was not known by another.
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| − | ==Conclusion==
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| − | The 1832 account talks about persecution in very close proximity to the First Vision recital (the context of the persecution is between the First Vision and the angel Moroni visitations). The documentary evidence presented above demonstrates that the Prophet did not see anything wrong with telling the basic elements of his First Vision story and either giving a passing reference for other elements or leaving them out completely. Regardless, it was still a record of the very same experience.
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| − | ==Endnotes==
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| − | ''None''
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| − | <!-- How to add a footnote:
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| − | NOTE: Footnotes in this article use names, not numbers. Please see [[FAIRWiki:Footnotes]] for details.
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| − | 1) Assign your footnote a unique name, for example TheSun_Dec9.
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| − | 2) Add the macro {{ref|TheSun_Dec9}} to the body of the article, where you want the new footnote.
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| − | 5) Multiple footnotes to the same reference: see [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] for a how-to.
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| − | ==Further reading==
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| − | ===FAIR wiki articles===
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| − | ===FAIR web site===
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| − | *FAIR Topical Guide:
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| − | ===External links===
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| − | ===Printed material===
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