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'''15 August 1855''' | '''15 August 1855''' | ||
− | :The First Vision account as found in the Wentworth Letter (1 March 1842) was published in Salt Lake City in connection with the official ''History of the Church''. This account speaks of "two glorious personages" and then later speaks of the single "angel" who was involved in revealing the existence of the Book of Mormon plates. Since Elder Smith was the Church Historian at this time he likely would have known about the content of this publication.{{ | + | :The First Vision account as found in the Wentworth Letter (1 March 1842) was published in Salt Lake City in connection with the official ''History of the Church''. This account speaks of "two glorious personages" and then later speaks of the single "angel" who was involved in revealing the existence of the Book of Mormon plates. Since Elder Smith was the Church Historian at this time he likely would have known about the content of this publication.<ref>See {{DN1|vol=5|num=23|date=15 August 1855|start=1}}</ref> |
'''6 August 1862''' | '''6 August 1862''' | ||
− | :Elder George A. Smith's short Church history (see 9 August 1855 above) was reprinted on the pages of the ''Deseret News''. In this First Vision account Elder Smith referred to "two glorious Beings" and then later spoke of the single "angel" who was involved in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon | + | :Elder George A. Smith's short Church history (see 9 August 1855 above) was reprinted on the pages of the ''Deseret News''. In this First Vision account Elder Smith referred to "two glorious Beings" and then later spoke of the single "angel" who was involved in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon<ref>''Deseret News'', vol. 12, no. 6, 6 August 1862, 2.</ref> |
'''15 November 1864''' | '''15 November 1864''' | ||
− | :In a discourse on historical matters, Elder George A. Smith quoted directly from the official First Vision account, which was first published in the ''Times and Seasons'' newspaper on 15 March 1842 and 1 April 1842. Elder Smith recited the line, “This is my Beloved Son, hear Him” – leaving no doubt that he knew the specific identities of the two "personages" who appeared to Joseph Smith during the First Vision event.{{ | + | :In a discourse on historical matters, Elder George A. Smith quoted directly from the official First Vision account, which was first published in the ''Times and Seasons'' newspaper on 15 March 1842 and 1 April 1842. Elder Smith recited the line, “This is my Beloved Son, hear Him” – leaving no doubt that he knew the specific identities of the two "personages" who appeared to Joseph Smith during the First Vision event.<ref>{{JDfairwiki|vol=11|disc=1|start=2|author=George A. Smith}}</ref> |
'''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 Smith was commanded to tell his father about it | *The vision was repeated several times and Joseph Smith was commanded to tell his father about it | ||
− | *Joseph Smith’s father told him to observe the instructions that were given to him.{{ | + | *Joseph Smith’s father told him to observe the instructions that were given to him.<ref>{{JDfairwiki| vol=12|disc=63|start=334|author=George A. Smith}}</ref> |
'''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>{{JDfairwiki| vol=13|disc=12|start=77|end=78|author=George A. Smith}}</ref> |
'''1869''' | '''1869''' | ||
− | :President George A. Smith published a small pamphlet which contained the Wentworth Letter account of the First Vision. | + | :President George A. Smith published a small pamphlet which contained the Wentworth Letter account of the First Vision.<ref>{{Book:Smith:Rise Progress and Travels|pages=37}}</ref> |
'''20 November 1870''' | '''20 November 1870''' | ||
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The pattern that can be seen in the timeline above is that George A. Smith was accurate in relating First Vision details when he had a physical text to read from or was formally writing down historical matters; he was accurate on many points when he was talking extemporaneously; he corrected himself after delivering erroneous verbal remarks. | The pattern that can be seen in the timeline above is that George A. Smith was accurate in relating First Vision details when he had a physical text to read from or was formally writing down historical matters; he was accurate on many points when he was talking extemporaneously; he corrected himself after delivering erroneous verbal remarks. | ||
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{{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}} | {{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}} |
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.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
The argument that George A. Smith was simply not aware of a Father-and-Son First Vision account when he made his "angel" statements is nonsense 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 Brother Smith's close associates in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had published orthodox recitals of the First Vision on nine different occasions long BEFORE he made his verbal missteps at the pulpit: (Orson Pratt - 1840, 1850, 1851); (Orson Hyde - 1842); (John E. Page - 1844); (John Taylor - 1850); (Lorenzo Snow - 1850); (Franklin D. Richards - 1851, 1852).
Historic documents appear to verify the claim that on two different occasions George A. Smith spoke of an angel appearing during Joseph Smith's First Vision. But this does not mean that Brother 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 the Prophet's cousin was well aware of the official version of events. His out-of-place comments need to be evaluated from that perspective.
7 April 1854
9 August 1855
15 August 1855
6 August 1862
15 November 1864
15 November 1868
20 June 1869
1869
20 November 1870
The pattern that can be seen in the timeline above is that George A. Smith was accurate in relating First Vision details when he had a physical text to read from or was formally writing down historical matters; he was accurate on many points when he was talking extemporaneously; he corrected himself after delivering erroneous verbal remarks.
Notes
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