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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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Critics insist that 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, they claims that this stands as evidence that the Prophet's story evolved over time—probably to add a sense of drama. | Critics insist that 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, they claims that this stands as evidence that the Prophet's story evolved over time—probably to add a sense of drama. | ||
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===Source(s) of the criticism=== | ===Source(s) of the criticism=== | ||
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==Response== | ==Response== | ||
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, | 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" | *"I could find none that would believe the heavenly vision nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart" | ||
*"there were many things which transpired that cannot be written" | *"there were many things which transpired that cannot be written" | ||
*"my father's family have suffered '''many persecutions''' and afflictions" | *"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." | 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. | 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. | *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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*Some people tried to get Joseph Smith to "deny" his vision. | *Some people tried to get Joseph Smith to "deny" his vision. | ||
*The Prophet relates: "I was led to say in my heart, 'Why persecute me for telling the truth?'" | *The Prophet relates: "I was led to say in my heart, 'Why persecute me for telling the truth?'" | ||
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This 1838 description corresponds very well with the "many persecutions and afflictions" that are mentioned in the 1832 account. It also matches closely with the 1832 statements that nobody would believe Joseph's story and he reflected upon this adverse situation in his heart. | This 1838 description corresponds very well with the "many persecutions and afflictions" that are mentioned in the 1832 account. It also matches closely with the 1832 statements that nobody would believe Joseph's story and he reflected upon this adverse 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). | 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''. | :*It is missing in Orson Pratt's 1840 missionary tract called ''An Interesting Account of Several Remarkabe Visions''. | ||
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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." | :*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." | ||
:*Rejection, but no outright persecution, is mentioned in Alexander Neibaur's 1844 diary notes. There Joseph is said to have “told the Methodist priest [about the experience], [but he] said this was not a[n] age for God to Reveal himself in Vision[. The priest said that] Revelation ha[d] ceased with the New Testament.” | :*Rejection, but no outright persecution, is mentioned in Alexander Neibaur's 1844 diary notes. There Joseph is said to have “told the Methodist priest [about the experience], [but he] said this was not a[n] age for God to Reveal himself in Vision[. The priest said that] Revelation ha[d] ceased with the New Testament.” | ||
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This last example is especially significant because it is an obvious reference to the Methodist minister who is spoken of in the 1838 ''History of the Church'' 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 include an equal amount of story elements in his recitals of the First Vision. Critics of this manifestation 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. | This last example is especially significant because it is an obvious reference to the Methodist minister who is spoken of in the 1838 ''History of the Church'' 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 include an equal amount of story elements in his recitals of the First Vision. Critics of this manifestation 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== | ==Conclusion== | ||
The 1832 history of the Restoration talks about persecution in very close proximity to the First Vision recital. The persecution is situated squarely between the First Vision experience and the angel Moroni visitations. The documentary evidence presented above demonstrates conclusively that the Prophet did not see anything wrong with telling the basic elements of his First Vision story and either giving a passing reference to other elements or leaving them out altogether. Regardless, it was still a record of the very same experience that took place in the wooded farmland of Palmyra, New York. | The 1832 history of the Restoration talks about persecution in very close proximity to the First Vision recital. The persecution is situated squarely between the First Vision experience and the angel Moroni visitations. The documentary evidence presented above demonstrates conclusively that the Prophet did not see anything wrong with telling the basic elements of his First Vision story and either giving a passing reference to other elements or leaving them out altogether. Regardless, it was still a record of the very same experience that took place in the wooded farmland of Palmyra, New York. | ||
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==Endnotes== | ==Endnotes== |
Template:FirstVisionPortal
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Critics insist that 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, they claims that this stands as evidence that the Prophet's story evolved over time—probably to add a sense of drama.
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,
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."
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.
This 1838 description corresponds very well with the "many persecutions and afflictions" that are mentioned in the 1832 account. It also matches closely with the 1832 statements that nobody would believe Joseph's story and he reflected upon this adverse situation in his heart.
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).
This last example is especially significant because it is an obvious reference to the Methodist minister who is spoken of in the 1838 History of the Church 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 include an equal amount of story elements in his recitals of the First Vision. Critics of this manifestation 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.
The 1832 history of the Restoration talks about persecution in very close proximity to the First Vision recital. The persecution is situated squarely between the First Vision experience and the angel Moroni visitations. The documentary evidence presented above demonstrates conclusively that the Prophet did not see anything wrong with telling the basic elements of his First Vision story and either giving a passing reference to other elements or leaving them out altogether. Regardless, it was still a record of the very same experience that took place in the wooded farmland of Palmyra, New York.
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