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==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
− | Apostle George A. Smith said on two separate occasions that Joseph Smith's First Vision was of an "angel" | + | Critics claim that Apostle George A. Smith said on two separate occasions that Joseph Smith's First Vision was of an "angel"—not of the Father and the Son. |
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===Source(s) of the criticism=== | ===Source(s) of the criticism=== | ||
− | Christian Research and Counsel, “Documented History of Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” full-color pamphlet, 10 pages. [There is a notation within this pamphlet indicating that research and portions of text were garnered from Utah Lighthouse Ministry] | + | *Christian Research and Counsel, “Documented History of Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” full-color pamphlet, 10 pages. [There is a notation within this pamphlet indicating that research and portions of text were garnered from Utah Lighthouse Ministry] |
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==Response== | ==Response== | ||
Historic documents appear to verify the claim that on two different occasions Elder George A. Smith spoke of an angel appearing during Joseph Smith's First Vision. But this does not mean that Elder Smith was not aware of the Father and the Son appearing to the Prophet at the time that he made his anomalous remarks. The following timeline demonstrates that Elder Smith was well aware of the official version of events. His out-of-place comments need to be evaluated from that perspective. | Historic documents appear to verify the claim that on two different occasions Elder George A. Smith spoke of an angel appearing during Joseph Smith's First Vision. But this does not mean that Elder Smith was not aware of the Father and the Son appearing to the Prophet at the time that he made his anomalous remarks. The following timeline demonstrates that Elder Smith was well aware of the official version of events. His out-of-place comments need to be evaluated from that perspective. | ||
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'''7 April 1854''' | '''7 April 1854''' | ||
:Elder George A. Smith was appointed at General Conference to be the new Church Historian. | :Elder George A. Smith was appointed at General Conference to be the new Church Historian. | ||
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'''15 August 1855''' | '''15 August 1855''' | ||
− | :The First Vision account as found in the Wentworth Letter was published in Salt Lake City in connection with the official ''History of the Church''. Since Elder Smith was the Church Historian at this time he likely would have known of the content of this publication. | + | :The First Vision account as found in the Wentworth Letter was published in Salt Lake City in connection with the official ''History of the Church''. Since Elder Smith was the Church Historian at this time he likely would have known of the content of this publication.{{ref|fn1}} |
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'''15 November 1864''' | '''15 November 1864''' | ||
− | :Elder George A. Smith quoted directly from the official First Vision account, which was first published in the ''Times and Seasons'' newspaper on 1 April 1842. Elder Smith quoted the line, “This is my Beloved Son, hear Him” – leaving no doubt about the fact that he knew the identity of the two Personages who appeared to Joseph Smith (his cousin) during the First Vision. | + | :Elder George A. Smith quoted directly from the official First Vision account, which was first published in the ''Times and Seasons'' newspaper on 1 April 1842. Elder Smith quoted the line, “This is my Beloved Son, hear Him” – leaving no doubt about the fact that he knew the identity of the two Personages who appeared to Joseph Smith (his cousin) during the First Vision.{{ref|fn2}} |
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'''15 November 1868''' | '''15 November 1868''' | ||
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*Joseph Smith asked the '''angel''' which church was right and the '''angel''' said they were all wrong | *Joseph Smith asked the '''angel''' which church was right and the '''angel''' said they were all wrong | ||
*The vision was repeated several times and Joseph was commanded to tell his father of it | *The vision was repeated several times and Joseph was commanded to tell his father of it | ||
− | *Joseph’s father told him to observe the instructions which were given to him | + | *Joseph’s father told him to observe the instructions which were given to him. {{ref|fn3}} |
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'''20 June 1869''' | '''20 June 1869''' | ||
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*Joseph Smith was told that they had all gone astray and wandered into darkness | *Joseph Smith was told that they had all gone astray and wandered into darkness | ||
*Joseph Smith was instructed not to join any of them | *Joseph Smith was instructed not to join any of them | ||
− | *Joseph Smith was told that God was about to restore the gospel in its simplicity and purity. | + | *Joseph Smith was told that God was about to restore the gospel in its simplicity and purity.{{ref|fn4}} |
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'''20 November 1870''' | '''20 November 1870''' | ||
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*Joseph Smith prayed humbly, with faith, because of James 1:5 | *Joseph Smith prayed humbly, with faith, because of James 1:5 | ||
*Joseph Smith asked the Lord which was the right way | *Joseph Smith asked the Lord which was the right way | ||
− | *The Lord showed Joseph Smith the right way | + | *The Lord showed Joseph Smith the right way{{ref|fn5}} |
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The pattern that can be seen in the above timeline is that Elder George A. Smith was accurate in First Vision details when he had a text to read from, was partially accurate when he was talking extemporaneously, and then corrected himself after his erroneous remarks had been delivered. | The pattern that can be seen in the above timeline is that Elder George A. Smith was accurate in First Vision details when he had a text to read from, was partially accurate when he was talking extemporaneously, and then corrected himself after his erroneous remarks had been delivered. | ||
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==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
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==Endnotes== | ==Endnotes== | ||
− | + | #{{note|fn1}} See {{DN1|vol=5|num=23|date=15 August 1855|start=1}} | |
− | + | #{{note|fn2}} {{JD1|vol=1|start=2|author=George A. Smith}} | |
− | + | #{{note|fn3}} {{JD1| vol=12|start=334|author=George A. Smith}} | |
− | + | #{{note|fn4}} {{JD| vol=13|start=77|end=78|author=George A. Smith}} | |
− | + | #{{note|fn5}} {{JD1| vol=13|start=293|author=George A. Smith}} | |
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==Further reading== | ==Further reading== |
Template:FirstVisionPortal
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Critics claim that Apostle George A. Smith said on two separate occasions that Joseph Smith's First Vision was of an "angel"—not of the Father and the Son.
Historic documents appear to verify the claim that on two different occasions Elder George A. Smith spoke of an angel appearing during Joseph Smith's First Vision. But this does not mean that Elder Smith was not aware of the Father and the Son appearing to the Prophet at the time that he made his anomalous remarks. The following timeline demonstrates that Elder Smith was well aware of the official version of events. His out-of-place comments need to be evaluated from that perspective.
7 April 1854
15 August 1855
15 November 1864
15 November 1868
20 June 1869
20 November 1870
The pattern that can be seen in the above timeline is that Elder George A. Smith was accurate in First Vision details when he had a text to read from, was partially accurate when he was talking extemporaneously, and then corrected himself after his erroneous remarks had been delivered.
The argument that Elder George A. Smith was simply not aware of a Father-and-Son First Vision account when he made his "angel" statements is utterly unconvincing since it can be shown from a documentary standpoint that he did indeed have prior knowledge of such a thing. An argument of ignorance is also untenable in light of the fact that Elder Smith's colleagues in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had published orthodox recitals of the First Vision on eight different occasions long BEFORE he made his verbal missteps at the pulpit: (Orson Pratt - 1840, 1850, 1851); (Orson Hyde - 1842); (John Taylor - 1850); (Lorenzo Snow - 1850); (Franklin D. Richards - 1851, 1852).
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