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| The '''First Vision''' is a vital part of ] |
The '''First Vision''' is a vital part of ] belief. | ||
| ] claimed that frequent religious revivals in upstate ] led him to contemplation of ], specifically which ] ] he should join. | ] claimed that frequent religious revivals in upstate ] led him to contemplation of ], specifically which ] ] he should join. | ||
Revision as of 23:30, 15 December 2003
The First Vision is a vital part of Mormon belief.
Joseph Smith claimed that frequent religious revivals in upstate New York led him to contemplation of religion, specifically which Christian denomination he should join.
In the spring of 1820, after reading a passage in the Bible, Smith said he retired to a wooded grove near his home and began to pray intently. An evil presence Smith regarded as Satanic overtook him, but Smith continued to pray.
The evil presence lifted, and God and Jesus Christ appeared. Smith was told to join no existing religion, as all were corrupted.
Smith claimed he was later given other instructions, which led to the formation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
There are a number of sometimes conflicting records depicting Smith's claims, most of which were made second hand. Smith did not record any details of such a vision until 1831 or 1832, and detailed accounts were only published about a decade later. Critics claim that the various records are inconsistent. They argue that Smith's earliest versions of his experience claim only that an angel visited him, rather than God and Jesus Christ, and that Smith changed his story over time.
External Links:
An Official account:
http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,959-1,00.html
Various Accounts of The First Vision:
http://www.byui.edu/Ricks/employee/WILLIAMSG/241/la/talks/1st_vision_accounts.htm