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

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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/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
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* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/interview-21-august-1843-extract 1843, newspaper report by David Nye White] in the ''Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette'', including an interview White did with Joseph Smith
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/alexander-neibaur-journal-24-may-1844-extract 1844, journal entry by Alexander Neibaur], recording his experience listening to Joseph tell about the First Vision
 
* [https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/alexander-neibaur-journal-24-may-1844-extract 1844, journal entry by Alexander Neibaur], recording his experience listening to Joseph tell about the First Vision
  

Revision as of 16:50, 3 April 2022

FAIR Answers—back to home page

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.