I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the story of Joseph Smith’s first vision. There are numerous accounts. As a church, we’ve always focused on the belief that Joseph prayed because he wanted to know which church to join. But I’m not sure that was the reason Joseph prayed. I think he was confused about the churches, and that they contradicted each other, but he was concerned about his salvation. He wanted to know what he must do to be saved. He wanted forgiveness for his sins. That seems to be the question in his heart when he goes to pray.
Wilford Woodruff wrote in his journal,
Joseph Smith went before the Lord and prayed in the name of Jesus Christ, and asked for knowledge, wisdom and understanding, in order to know what to do to be saved; and he proved the promise of St. James before the Lord, and the heavens were opened to his view, and the Father and Son were revealed unto him, and the voice of the great Eloheim unto him was: “This is my beloved Son, hear ye Him. (Leaves From My Journal, by Wilford Woodruff)
Joseph sets a good example for all of us. We should ask for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in order to know what we must do to be saved. At some point in our journey to the veil, the heavens will open to us.
I’ve always been confused about the changes in the Primary song I learned as a child — “I am a Child of God.” I learned it as “teach me all that I must know, to live Him some day.” Then it was changed to “teach me all that I must do, to live with him some day.” I think we need both — knowing and doing.
While we can’t work our way into the Kingdom of God, we still must learn what to do to be saved.
The earliest account of the Joseph Smith first vision was written sometime between the summer of 1831 and 1832 and written in the handwriting of Frederick G. Williams (scribe) and Joseph Smith. (Cheesman)
I cried unto the Lord for mercy forthere was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy and the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in /the/ attitude of calling upon the Lord /in the 16th year of my age/ a pillar of fire light above the brightness of the Sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filld with the Spirit of God and the /Lord/ opened the heavens upon me and I Saw the Lord and he Spake unto me Saying Joseph /my son/ thy Sins are forgiven thee. go thy /way/ walk in my Statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucifyed for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life /behold/ the world lieth in sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned asside from the Gospel and keep not /my/ commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them acording to this ungodliness and to bring to pass that which /hath/ been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and Apostles behold and lo I come quickly as it written of me in the cloud /clothed/ in the glory of my Father and my Soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great joy and the Lord was with me but could find none that would believe the heavenly vision (Cheesman, Paul. An Analysis of the Accounts Relating Joseph Smith’s Early Visions. MA thesis. Brigham Young University, 1965. Print)
The 1832 account of the first vision
I think this account of the first vision is more palatable to people of other faiths who are investigating the LDS Church. Instead of focusing on “Joseph was told that all the churches were an abomination” — perhaps it is more easily received that Joseph was seeking greater light and knowledge about what he could do to be saved. He wanted forgiveness for his sins, and salvation. It’s more of a born-again experience. True, Joseph recounts that the Lord said, “the world lieth in sin and none doeth good” — but that comes across as a universal declaration.
St. James says: ”If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Again, it is said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
We need to know what to ask for. It’s a journey that begins with faith, and continues with faith — from baptism of water to baptism of fire to the second comforter to becoming part of the Church of the Firstborn.
Primary Accounts of the First Vision at The Joseph Smith Papers.
