Difference between revisions of "Accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision"

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There were four firsthand and five secondhand accounts of Joseph's vision published in Joseph's lifetime. A description of each account is available in [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/accounts-of-the-first-vision "Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision"], josephsmithpapers.org.
 
There were four firsthand and five secondhand accounts of Joseph's vision published in Joseph's lifetime. A description of each account is available in [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/accounts-of-the-first-vision "Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision"], josephsmithpapers.org.
  
A brief summary of each
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A brief summary of each is included below, along with a link to the original image and a transcription published by the Joseph Smith Papers Project.
  
 
==Firsthand accounts==
 
==Firsthand accounts==
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<small>Video published by Doctrine and Covenants Central.</small>
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<embedvideo service="youtube">ExPjK5ujN8Y</embedvideo>
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<small>Video published by the Church History Department.</small>
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<embedvideo service="youtube">rP2ypXYUTxI</embedvideo>
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Joseph Smith recorded four accounts of the First Vision (either by himself or using a scribe):
 
Joseph Smith recorded four accounts of the First Vision (either by himself or using a scribe):
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-summer-1832/1 1832], a journal entry recorded by Joseph Smith
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-summer-1832/1 1832], a journal entry recorded by Joseph Smith
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* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-june-1839-circa-1841-draft-2/2 1838] (commonly known as [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng Joseph Smith–History] in the Pearl of Great Price)
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-june-1839-circa-1841-draft-2/2 1838] (commonly known as [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng Joseph Smith–History] in the Pearl of Great Price)
 
** Two other versions of this account were created in the [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-1841-draft-draft-3/2 1838–1841 draft history] and the [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-1841-fair-copy/2 1841 fair copy history] as Joseph's scribes were preparing the Church history (formerly known as ''History of the Church'', now known as the JS, History, 1838–1856). It was also published in two parts the ''Times and Seasons'', on [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-15-march-1842/9 15 March 1842] and [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-1-april-1842/14 1 April 1842]  
 
** Two other versions of this account were created in the [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-1841-draft-draft-3/2 1838–1841 draft history] and the [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-1841-fair-copy/2 1841 fair copy history] as Joseph's scribes were preparing the Church history (formerly known as ''History of the Church'', now known as the JS, History, 1838–1856). It was also published in two parts the ''Times and Seasons'', on [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-15-march-1842/9 15 March 1842] and [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-1-april-1842/14 1 April 1842]  
* https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/church-history-1-march-1842/1 1842] (commonly known as the Wentworth Letter)
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* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/church-history-1-march-1842/1 1842] (commonly known as the Wentworth Letter)
 
** A copy of this version appeared in an [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/latter-day-saints-1844/1 1844 book] published by Daniel Rupp
 
** A copy of this version appeared in an [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/latter-day-saints-1844/1 1844 book] published by Daniel Rupp
  
 
==Secondhand accounts==
 
==Secondhand accounts==
 
Contemporaries of Joseph Smith recorded five secondhand accounts of the First Vision.
 
Contemporaries of Joseph Smith recorded five secondhand accounts of the First Vision.
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/latter-day-saints-1844/1 1840, ''A[n] Interesting Account''], a pamphlet published by Apostle Orson Pratt
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* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/latter-day-saints-1844/1 1840, ''A(n) Interesting Account''], a pamphlet published by Apostle Orson Pratt
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/orson-hyde-ein-ruf-aus-der-wste-a-cry-out-of-the-wilderness-1842-extract-english-translation 1842, ''Ein Ruf aus der Wüste [A cry out of the wilderness]''], a pamphlet published by Apostle Orson Hyde ([https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/orson-hyde-ein-ruf-aus-der-wste-1842-extract?p=3 original German also available])
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* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/orson-hyde-ein-ruf-aus-der-wste-a-cry-out-of-the-wilderness-1842-extract-english-translation 1842, ''Ein Ruf aus der Wüste (A cry out of the wilderness)''], a pamphlet published by Apostle Orson Hyde ([https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/orson-hyde-ein-ruf-aus-der-wste-1842-extract?p=3 original German also available])
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/levi-richards-journal-11-june-1843-extract 1843, journal entry by Levi Richards], recording his experience listening to Joseph tell about the First Vision
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/levi-richards-journal-11-june-1843-extract 1843, journal entry by Levi Richards], recording his experience listening to Joseph tell about the First Vision
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/interview-21-august-1843-extract1843, newspaper report by David Nye White] in the ''Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette'', including an interview White did with Joseph Smith
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/interview-21-august-1843-extract1843, newspaper report by David Nye White] in the ''Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette'', including an interview White did with Joseph Smith
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==Later accounts==
 
==Later accounts==
{{:Primary sources/Joseph Smith, Jr./First Vision accounts/1893 (Charles L. Walker account)}}
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In 1893, Charles Walker recorded [[Charles L. Walker's 1893 account of the First Vision|a late reminiscent account]] of hearing Joseph describe his vision.
  
  

Revision as of 12:43, 3 April 2022

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Accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision

Summary: During his lifetime, Joseph Smith and his contemporaries published multiple accounts of Joseph Smith's vision.


There were four firsthand and five secondhand accounts of Joseph's vision published in Joseph's lifetime. A description of each account is available in "Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision", josephsmithpapers.org.

A brief summary of each is included below, along with a link to the original image and a transcription published by the Joseph Smith Papers Project.

Firsthand accounts

Video published by Doctrine and Covenants Central.


Video published by the Church History Department.


Joseph Smith recorded four accounts of the First Vision (either by himself or using a scribe):

  • 1832, a journal entry recorded by Joseph Smith
  • 1835, a journal entry recorded in Joseph Smith's official journal
    • A lightly edited version of this journal entry appeared in the 1835 JS history prepared by Warren Parish
  • 1838 (commonly known as Joseph Smith–History in the Pearl of Great Price)
  • 1842 (commonly known as the Wentworth Letter)
    • A copy of this version appeared in an 1844 book published by Daniel Rupp

Secondhand accounts

Contemporaries of Joseph Smith recorded five secondhand accounts of the First Vision.

Later accounts

In 1893, Charles Walker recorded a late reminiscent account of hearing Joseph describe his vision.