{"id":39317,"date":"2019-10-08T18:37:03","date_gmt":"2019-10-08T23:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=39317"},"modified":"2021-01-06T20:50:49","modified_gmt":"2021-01-07T01:50:49","slug":"first-vision-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2019\/10\/first-vision-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"First Vision Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"

We were left with a bit of a cliff hanger at the end of general conference this year\u2014the promise of a unique general conference next April celebrating the 200th<\/sup> anniversary of the year Joseph Smith said he experienced the First Vision. President Russell M. Nelson spoke briefly of various events in Church history, including the First Vision, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the Priesthood, and the foundation of various Church organizations. He then encouraged us to: “prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel.” Among that preparation was the suggestion to: “begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith\u2019s account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price” as well as the Book of Mormon resources that the Church is currently releasing. From that launching point, he encouraged us to: “Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration. As you do, general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.”[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With this challenge to study in mind, I thought I\u2019d put together a list of resources that focus on the First Vision that I have found insightful or interesting. In compiling this list, I have mostly focused on resources that are available online. The list is not comprehensive and I\u2019m sure that there are plenty of valuable and interesting resources that I\u2019ve missed. Feel free to post more in the comments.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Church Resources:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Church has made resources available to study about the First Vision, including the known accounts of the vision. If you read nothing else, take the time to read through all of these accounts (via the first link). My personal favorite is the 1832 account, which I wish was included in the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith <\/em><\/a>book chapter on the First Vision.<\/p>\n

There are also two gospel topics essays listed below\u2014one a general introduction and one that tries to respond to some concerns about the accounts of the First Vision. There are a ton of links to other articles about the First Vision on the gospel topics essay pages, so there\u2019s plenty to explore there. The other two links I\u2019ve placed below are to chapters in official Church manuals that discuss the First Vision to give some context and ideas for reflection.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Primary Accounts of the First Vision (Joseph Smith Papers)<\/a><\/p>\n

Regularized Primary Accounts of the First Vision (Joseph Smith Papers)<\/a><\/p>\n

The First Vision (Gospel Topics Essay)<\/a><\/p>\n

Accounts of the First Vision (Gospel Topics Essay)<\/a><\/p>\n

Church History in the Fulness of Times, chapter 3: The First Vision<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Foundations of the Restorations, chapter 2: The First Vision<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Church-sponsored Podcasts and Videos:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Past Impressions, episode 1: \u201cPrelude to the First Vision\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Past Impressions, episode 2: \u201cHistorical Accounts of the First Vision\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Joseph Smith Papers, episode 5: \u201cFirst Vision Beginnings\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Joseph Smith Papers, episode 16: \u201cFirst Vision \u2013 Part 1 \u2013 Importance\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Joseph Smith Papers<\/em>, episodes 17<\/a>, 18<\/a>, 19<\/a>, 20<\/a><\/p>\n

Joseph Smith Papers: First Vision Accounts<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Critical Point of View:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I feel like it\u2019s a good thing to be able to see what the Church is responding to and to understand what concerns people have. Doing so often pushes me to develop a more nuanced view of the issue at hand. I know that not everyone feels the same way about approaching contrary viewpoints, though. I also know that there is no dearth of websites and blogs and podcasts delving into the issues surrounding the First Vision, but MormonThink provides a good summary of what critics of the Church find concerning about the First Vision and how it’s treated.<\/p>\n

MormonThink \u201cThe First Vision\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scholarly Articles about the First Vision:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are a lot of important articles about the First Vision that have been published over the years. The top ones that I recommend reading if your time is limited are James B. Allen\u2019s \u201cEmergence of a Fundamental\u201d and \u201cThe Significance of Joseph Smith\u2019s \u2018First Vision\u2019 in Mormon Thought,\u201d Richard Lyman Bushman\u2019s \u201cThe Visionary World of Joseph Smith,\u201d and Dean C. Jessee\u2019s \u201cThe Early Accounts of Joseph Smith\u2019s First Vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a collection of important articles, see Samuel Alonzo Dodge and Steven C. Harper\u2019s Exploring the First Vision<\/em><\/a>, available online through BYU’s Religious Studies Center. Links to the articles listed below that also appear in this collection are posted at the end of the citations (as \u201csee also here\u201d) and are often more easily accessible than the original publications.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Since this post was originally published, a special issue of\u00a0BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em><\/a>was published in summer 2020 that focused on the First Vision and is worth a read.\u00a0 I have added a few of the more interesting and important articles from this issue below, though if you want to be more thorough, I recommend exploring the whole issue.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Anderson, Richard Lloyd. \u201cCircumstantial Confirmation of the First Vision through Reminiscences.\u201d\u00a0BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>9, no. 3 (1969)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Allen, James B. \u201cEight Contemporary Accounts of Joseph Smiths First Vision\u2014What Do We Learn from Them?\u201d\u00a0Improvement Era<\/em>\u00a0(April 1970), pp. 4-13<\/a>. See here<\/a> for an updated version.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cEmergence of a Fundamental: The Expanding Role of Joseph Smith\u2019s First Vision in Mormon Religious Thought.\u201d\u00a0Journal of Mormon History<\/em>, Vol. 7 (1980) 43-61<\/a>. See also here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe Significance of Joseph Smith\u2019s \u2018First Vision\u2019 in Mormon Thought.\u201d\u00a0Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought,\u00a0<\/em>Vol. 1, No 3 (Autumn 1966), 29-45<\/a>. See also here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Backman, Milton V., Jr. \u201cAwakenings in the Burned-Over District: New Light on the Historical Setting of the First Vision.\u201d BYU Studies <\/em>9, no. 3 (1969)<\/a>. See also here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bennett, Richard E. “Not the First but the Second: Changing Latter-day Saint Emphases on Joseph Smith’s First Vision,”\u00a0BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>59, no. 2 (2020)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bushman, Richard Lyman. \u201cThe Visionary World of Joseph Smith.\u201d\u00a0BYU Studies<\/em>\u00a037, no. 1 (1997-1998), 183-204<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe First Vision Story Revived.\u201d Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought <\/em>4, no. 1 (1969): 82-93<\/a>. See also here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Flake, Kathleen.\u00a0 “The First Vision as a Prehistory of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,”\u00a0BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>59, no. 2 (2020).<\/a><\/p>\n

Godfrey, Matthew, \u201cThe Second Sacred Grove: The Influence of Greenville, Indiana, on Joseph Smith\u2019s 1832 First Vision Account,\u201d Journal of Mormon History <\/em>44, no. 4 (2018). (Note: this will become available to non-subscribers in about 4 years.)<\/p>\n

Harper, Steven C. \u201cEvaluating Three Arguments Against Joseph Smith\u2019s First Vision.\u201d\u00a0Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture<\/em>, vol. 2 (2012) 17-33<\/a>. \u00a0See also here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0“Raising the Stakes: How Joseph Smith’s First Vision Became All or Nothing,”\u00a0BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>59, vol. 2 (2020)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hill, Marvin S. \u201cThe First Vision Controversy: A Critique and Reconciliation.\u201d\u00a0Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought<\/em>, Vol. 34, No. 1 (2001), 35-53<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Howard, Richard P. \u201cJoseph Smith\u2019s First Vision: The RLDS Tradition.\u201d\u00a0Journal of Mormon History\u00a0<\/em>Vol. 7 (1980) 23-29<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jessee, Dean C. \u201cThe Early Accounts of Joseph Smith\u2019s First Vision.\u201d\u00a0BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>Vol. 9, no. 3 (1969).<\/a> See also here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jones, Christopher C. \u201cThe Power and Form of Godliness: Methodist Conversion Narratives and Joseph Smith\u2019s First Vision.\u201d\u00a0Journal of Mormon History<\/em>,\u00a0<\/em>Vol. 37, No. 2 (Spring 2011), 88-114<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lambert, Neal E. and Richard H. Cracroft. \u201cLiterary Form and Historical Understanding: Joseph Smith\u2019s First Vision.\u201d Journal of Mormon History\u00a0<\/em>Vol. 7 (1980): 31-42<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Larson, Stan. “Another Look at Joseph Smith’s First Vision.”\u00a0\u00a0Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought<\/em>, 47, no. 2 (2014).<\/a><\/p>\n

Mouw, Richard J. “‘Though We or an Angel from Heaven’: Evangelicals and the First Vision,”\u00a0BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>59, no. 2 (2020)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Porter, Larry C. \u201cReverend George Lane\u2014Good \u2018Gifts,\u2019 Much \u2018Grace,\u2019 and Marked \u2018Usefulness.\u2019\u201d BYU Studies<\/em> 9, no. 3 (1969)<\/a>. See also here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prince, Gregory A. “Joseph Smith’s First Vision in Historical Context: How a Historical Narrative became Theological,”\u00a0Journal of Mormon History\u00a0<\/em>Vol. 41, No. 4 (2015): 74-94.<\/p>\n

Sweat, Anthony. “Visualizing the Vision:\u00a0 The History and Future of First Vision Art,”\u00a0BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>59, no. 2 (2020).<\/a><\/p>\n

Taysom, Stephen C. “Approaching the First Vision Saga,” Sunstone 163 (June 2011): 12-22.<\/a><\/p>\n

Wigger, John. “Methodism as Context for Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>59, no. 2 (2020).<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some Interesting Articles and Blog Posts:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Banack, Dave. \u201cPractical Apologetics: The First Vision,\u201d Times and Seasons<\/em>, 4 Sept 2014.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0“The New Harmonized First Vision Account,”\u00a0Times and Seasons<\/em>, 5 May 2016.<\/a><\/p>\n

Bhodges, \u201cHow to \u2018know Brother Joseph again\u2019 using the First Vision,\u201d By Common Consent<\/em>, 2 May 2014.<\/a><\/p>\n

Christopher, \u201cJoseph Smith\u2019s First Vision and Methodist Conversion Narratives,\u201d The Juvenile Instructor<\/em>, 19 Dec 2007.<\/a><\/p>\n

Christopher, \u201cThe First Vision and the Qualifying Eye of Faith,\u201d The Juvenile Instructor<\/em>, 17 Jan 2008.<\/a><\/p>\n

Cook, Jared, \u201cWhat does the First Vision mean in light of a limited view of the apostasy?\u201d, By Common Consent<\/em>, 9 Jan 2017.<\/a><\/p>\n

John Nilsson, \u201cOur Foundation Stories Part II: The Meaning of the First Vision,\u201d Mormon Matters<\/em>, 4 June 2008.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

[1]<\/a> Russell M. Nelson, “Closing Remarks,” CR October 2019, https:\/\/www.churchofjesuschrist.org\/study\/general-conference\/2019\/10\/57nelson?lang=eng. See also https:\/\/www.thechurchnews.com\/leaders-and-ministry\/2019-10-06\/general-conference-october-2019-first-vision-joseph-smith-163457<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We were left with a bit of a cliff hanger at the end of general conference this year\u2014the promise of a unique general conference next April celebrating the 200th anniversary of the year Joseph Smith said he experienced the First Vision. President Russell M. Nelson spoke briefly of various events in Church history, including the First Vision, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the Priesthood, and the foundation of various Church organizations. He then encouraged us to: “prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel.” Among that preparation was the suggestion to: “begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith\u2019s account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price” as well as the Book of Mormon resources that the Church is currently releasing. From that launching point, he encouraged us to: “Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration. As you do, general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.”[1]   With this challenge to study in mind, I thought I\u2019d put together a list of resources that focus on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10397,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,1284],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church-history","category-general-conference-features"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10397"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39317"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41265,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39317\/revisions\/41265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}