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Revision as of 00:01, 30 August 2003 by 172.194.227.63 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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 records depicting Smith's claims, most of which were made second hand. Given that Smith felt that much of the experience was personal, he did not record it until 1831 or 1832, and detailed accounts were only published about a decade later. Critics claim that the various records are inconsistent. They suggest that Smith's earliest recitals of his experience claim only that an angel visited him, rather than God and Jesus Christ, and that Joseph 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