Joseph Smith’s First Vision of
Deity is foundational to the faith. In 1838, when Joseph
Smith began a history of his life,
he recounted this early vision
published as part of the history of the Church and excerpted in The
Pearl Great Price. But this is not the
only account of the First Vision that Joseph
Smith ever gave. In the first volume of the History
series of the Joseph Smith Papers,
you can find this and three other
accounts of the First Vision.
About July of 1832, Joseph Smith
and his scribe, Frederick G. Williams, began writing a history of his life in which
Joseph Smith recounted his early vision. In this account
of the vision, Joseph Smith was as much more
concerned with receiving forgiveness for his sins
than he was with the question of which
church was right.
It's a very personal account, and it helps us have a better
idea of how he understood the vision at the time.
Another difference is that
this brief account of the vision mentions only the
appearance of Jesus Christ.
Another account of the
vision was in 1835, and this was in a personal
conversation Joseph Smith had with someone, and it was captured
by his scribe, Warren Parrish, who was helping him keep his
journal at the time.
And this account clarifies
that God the Father appeared to
Joseph Smith first and then was joined
by Jesus Christ, who communicated Their
message to him.
Yet another account of Joseph
Smith's vision was given in 1842 in the so-called Wentworth letter
that provides details not found in other accounts. The traditional
well-known account of this early vision given in the
Pearl of Great Price is the most extensive account that
Joseph Smith ever gave. But a more complete and nuanced
understanding of
the vision can be gained from
reading all four of the firsthand accounts.