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FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
− | Joseph Smith's motivation for praying to the Lord changes between the first known account of the First Vision (1832) and the official version of it (1838). | + | Critics claim Joseph Smith's motivation for praying to the Lord changes between the first known account of the First Vision (1832) and the official version of it (1838). They use this claim as evidence that the Prophet's story evolved over time and, hence, was simply made up to begin with. |
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===Source(s) of the criticism=== | ===Source(s) of the criticism=== | ||
− | + | {{nw}} | |
==Response== | ==Response== | ||
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'''1838''' | '''1838''' | ||
:"My object in going to enquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join." | :"My object in going to enquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join." | ||
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The words that precede the point at which Joseph Smith offers his prayer in the 1832 text demonstrate that the anti-Mormon claim about his motivation changing is not sustainable. These words read as follows (standardized for readability): | The words that precede the point at which Joseph Smith offers his prayer in the 1832 text demonstrate that the anti-Mormon claim about his motivation changing is not sustainable. These words read as follows (standardized for readability): | ||
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:At about the age of twelve years my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul which led me to searching the scriptures believing, as I was taught, that they contained the word of God. | :At about the age of twelve years my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul which led me to searching the scriptures believing, as I was taught, that they contained the word of God. | ||
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− | + | ===Summary of themes=== | |
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*Between the ages of 12 and 15 Joseph Smith became exceedingly distressed about his personal sins and mourned over them. He became seriously concerned about the welfare of his soul and so he searched the scripture for information on that topic. | *Between the ages of 12 and 15 Joseph Smith became exceedingly distressed about his personal sins and mourned over them. He became seriously concerned about the welfare of his soul and so he searched the scripture for information on that topic. | ||
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*He also believed the scriptures that taught God was an eternal Being who was all powerful and everywhere present, who was no respecter of persons, who was a God of law and did not change over time, and wanted mankind to worship Him in truth. | *He also believed the scriptures that taught God was an eternal Being who was all powerful and everywhere present, who was no respecter of persons, who was a God of law and did not change over time, and wanted mankind to worship Him in truth. | ||
*When Joseph Smith "'''considered all these things'''" he prayed to the Lord and received his First Vision. | *When Joseph Smith "'''considered all these things'''" he prayed to the Lord and received his First Vision. | ||
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It is clear from a consultation of the 1832 text that Joseph Smith's desire to be forgiven of his personal sins was NOT the only motivation for his prayer in the wilderness. He prayed (as he explicitly states) because of "all" of the things he mentions - including the desire to worship God in truth; according to His laws (which Joseph did not believe was the case among any of the Christians denominations that he knew of). | It is clear from a consultation of the 1832 text that Joseph Smith's desire to be forgiven of his personal sins was NOT the only motivation for his prayer in the wilderness. He prayed (as he explicitly states) because of "all" of the things he mentions - including the desire to worship God in truth; according to His laws (which Joseph did not believe was the case among any of the Christians denominations that he knew of). | ||
− | + | ===Patterns within documents=== | |
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The 1832 textual pattern of (1) desire to prepare for eternity / worship God in truth and (2) desire for forgiveness of personal sins can be detected in subsequent First Vision recitals, demonstrating that there is no change in his declared motive over time. The confusion of the critics on this issue arises when they do not see exact matches in themes across documents or insist that every detail of the story be present in every text that relates it. | The 1832 textual pattern of (1) desire to prepare for eternity / worship God in truth and (2) desire for forgiveness of personal sins can be detected in subsequent First Vision recitals, demonstrating that there is no change in his declared motive over time. The confusion of the critics on this issue arises when they do not see exact matches in themes across documents or insist that every detail of the story be present in every text that relates it. | ||
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'''1832 (Smith)''' | '''1832 (Smith)''' | ||
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'''1842 (Hyde)''' | '''1842 (Hyde)''' | ||
:"[Joseph] began seriously to reflect upon the necessity of being prepared for a future state of existence; but <font color="red">how, or in what way to prepare himself</font>, was a question, as yet, undetermined in his own mind; he perceived that it was a question of infinite importance. . . . [The two personages] told him that his prayers had been answered, and that the Lord had decided to grant him a special blessing." [VEILED REFERENCE TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS? - Remember that Hyde utilized information straight from Pratt's account] | :"[Joseph] began seriously to reflect upon the necessity of being prepared for a future state of existence; but <font color="red">how, or in what way to prepare himself</font>, was a question, as yet, undetermined in his own mind; he perceived that it was a question of infinite importance. . . . [The two personages] told him that his prayers had been answered, and that the Lord had decided to grant him a special blessing." [VEILED REFERENCE TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS? - Remember that Hyde utilized information straight from Pratt's account] | ||
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==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
The charge of critics that Joseph Smith's motivation for prayer changes in later tellings of the First Vision event does not stand up to close scrutiny. The evidence shows, rather, that the story elements remain steady over time. But it must be kept in mind that those who report the Prophet's inaugural manifestation in writing do not always spell things out in exactly the same way, sometimes obscure information by the language they choose to utilize, and on occasion omit story elements (possibly because of audience considerations). | The charge of critics that Joseph Smith's motivation for prayer changes in later tellings of the First Vision event does not stand up to close scrutiny. The evidence shows, rather, that the story elements remain steady over time. But it must be kept in mind that those who report the Prophet's inaugural manifestation in writing do not always spell things out in exactly the same way, sometimes obscure information by the language they choose to utilize, and on occasion omit story elements (possibly because of audience considerations). | ||
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==Endnotes== | ==Endnotes== | ||
''None'' | ''None'' | ||
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==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
− | ===FAIR wiki articles=== | + | ===FAIR wiki articles=== |
− | + | {{FirstVisionWiki}} | |
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− | === | + | ===FAIR web site=== |
+ | {{FirstVisionFAIR}} | ||
+ | ===External links=== | ||
+ | {{FirstVisionLinks}} | ||
− | ===Printed material=== | + | ===Printed material=== |
+ | {{FirstVisionPrint}} |
Critics claim Joseph Smith's motivation for praying to the Lord changes between the first known account of the First Vision (1832) and the official version of it (1838). They use this claim as evidence that the Prophet's story evolved over time and, hence, was simply made up to begin with.
The texts that are employed by critics to justify the charge of 'differing motivations' are as follows:
1832
1838
The words that precede the point at which Joseph Smith offers his prayer in the 1832 text demonstrate that the anti-Mormon claim about his motivation changing is not sustainable. These words read as follows (standardized for readability):
It is clear from a consultation of the 1832 text that Joseph Smith's desire to be forgiven of his personal sins was NOT the only motivation for his prayer in the wilderness. He prayed (as he explicitly states) because of "all" of the things he mentions - including the desire to worship God in truth; according to His laws (which Joseph did not believe was the case among any of the Christians denominations that he knew of).
The 1832 textual pattern of (1) desire to prepare for eternity / worship God in truth and (2) desire for forgiveness of personal sins can be detected in subsequent First Vision recitals, demonstrating that there is no change in his declared motive over time. The confusion of the critics on this issue arises when they do not see exact matches in themes across documents or insist that every detail of the story be present in every text that relates it.
1832 (Smith)
1834 (Cowdery/Smith)
1835 (Smith)
1838 (Smith)
1840 (Pratt)
1842 (Smith)
1842 (Hyde)
The charge of critics that Joseph Smith's motivation for prayer changes in later tellings of the First Vision event does not stand up to close scrutiny. The evidence shows, rather, that the story elements remain steady over time. But it must be kept in mind that those who report the Prophet's inaugural manifestation in writing do not always spell things out in exactly the same way, sometimes obscure information by the language they choose to utilize, and on occasion omit story elements (possibly because of audience considerations).
None
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