MORMON BELIEFS

Joseph Smith's First Vision

Joseph Smith Jr. founded the Mormon Church on April 6th, 1830 in Palmyra, New York. The very basis for doing so was the various visitations he claimed to have had from the spirit world. These encounters allegedly began after Joseph Smith sincerely prayed to know which church he should join.

"…so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong…The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and the Methodists, and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others…"

Joseph Smith Jr., History of the Church Volume 1 p. 3-4

The First Vision

"When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said—pointing to the other—‘This is my beloved son, hear him.’

My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right—and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt; that "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; they teach for doctrines the commandments of men: having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." He again forbade me to join with any of them: and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, "Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off." I then said to my mother, "I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true."

(Joseph Smith Jr., History of the Church Volume 1 p. 5-6)

THE TEACHINGS OF THE FIRST VISION:

God is a man with a physical body
The Father and the Son are two separate Gods.
A complete apostasy has occurred leaving Christendom in chaos.

Note that Joseph Smith taught that all churches were wrong, all Christian creeds are an abomination to God, and the professors of those creeds are corrupt! How strange then that after being forbidden from joining any church, Joseph Smith proceeds to join the Methodist Church in 1828 in Harmony, Pennsylvania.

(The Amboy Journal, Amboy, IL, cites the cousins of Emma Smith explaining Joseph's activity in the Methodist Church. April 30, 1879 p. 1; May 21, 1879 p.1; June 11, 1879, p.1; July 2, 1879 p.1.)

PROBLEMS WITH THE FIRST VISION

The official account of the vision (above) that is now used by the Mormon Church was not published until 1842 – 22 years after Joseph Smith claimed that it occurred!
The First Vision was unknown in the early years of Mormonism.

Why was the mention of an alleged event of such tremendous significance found absent from early Mormon writings?

Home About MTM Mormon Beliefs Glossary Temples History Center News Worthy

What Can I Do? Testimonies FAQ Bookshop Free Magazine Contact Us