What do you think?
Rate this book
Joseph Smith's First Vision: A Guide to the Historical Accounts
“I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.” Many have considered, examined, and questioned Joseph Smith’s account of God and Christ appearing to him in a grove of trees in upstate New York. As the only tangible evidence of the miraculous event, Joseph’s recorded statements on the First Vision are important today for both believers and the truth of these records attests to Joseph’s prophetic calling, the reality of the Restoration, and the assurance that God continues to speak to us today. In this volume, Church historian Steven C. Harper provides all known accounts of the First Vision written during Joseph Smith’s lifetime and places them within the historical context of his family, community, culture. Using historical and analytical methodology, the author helps us better understand what he declares may be the “best document theophany—vision of God—in history.” Joseph Smith’s First A Guide to the Historical Accounts is enhanced by images of accounts of the vision and of individuals and places associated with it. Most important, this faithful work offers a fresh look at important records with neither a doubting nor a defensive bias. It is a book that will inform, uplift, and inspire those who seek to know the truth.
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
22 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 12, 2023
We moved to Rochester, NY in 1987, 30 mins. from Smith Farm and Sacred Grove in Palmyra, NY. I have visited Sacred Grove innumerable times in every season of the year. I began a fairly detailed study of the early history of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the life of Joseph Smith. I’ve read most of the scholarly biographies of Joseph Smith. Early in my study I became aware of the various accounts of the First Vision. Harper’s book is a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the various accounts of the founding event of the Latter-day Saint movement. The book presents a clear and objective examination of the historical evidence surrounding Joseph Smith's vision.
Harper's book explores the different versions of the First Vision that Joseph Smith gave throughout his life and provides a detailed analysis of each account. He meticulously compares and contrasts the various versions, highlighting the similarities and differences between them. By doing so, Harper provides a nuanced understanding of the evolution of Joseph Smith's beliefs and the development of the Latter-day Saint movement.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is Harper's willingness to tackle difficult questions head-on. He addresses controversial issues surrounding the First Vision, such as the timing of the vision, the number of beings that appeared to Joseph Smith, and the nature of God and Jesus Christ. Harper's careful examination of the evidence allows readers to come to their conclusions based on the facts, rather than relying on hearsay or speculation.
The book also provides important insights into the historical context surrounding Joseph Smith's vision. Harper places the First Vision in the broader context of religious revivalism in America during the early 19th century and shows how Joseph Smith's experience fit within this larger religious landscape generally and the “Burned Over District”, as Western NY was referred to, due to the revivalism of the era. He also examines the impact of the First Vision on the Latter-day Saint movement and the importance of the vision in shaping the beliefs and practices of the Church.
Harper’s book is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of the Latter-day Saint movement. Harper's thorough analysis of the historical evidence provides readers with a nuanced understanding of Joseph Smith's vision and its significance to the development of the Church. His clear and accessible writing style makes this book an excellent resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the history of religion in America.
Harper's book explores the different versions of the First Vision that Joseph Smith gave throughout his life and provides a detailed analysis of each account. He meticulously compares and contrasts the various versions, highlighting the similarities and differences between them. By doing so, Harper provides a nuanced understanding of the evolution of Joseph Smith's beliefs and the development of the Latter-day Saint movement.
One of the most compelling aspects of the book is Harper's willingness to tackle difficult questions head-on. He addresses controversial issues surrounding the First Vision, such as the timing of the vision, the number of beings that appeared to Joseph Smith, and the nature of God and Jesus Christ. Harper's careful examination of the evidence allows readers to come to their conclusions based on the facts, rather than relying on hearsay or speculation.
The book also provides important insights into the historical context surrounding Joseph Smith's vision. Harper places the First Vision in the broader context of religious revivalism in America during the early 19th century and shows how Joseph Smith's experience fit within this larger religious landscape generally and the “Burned Over District”, as Western NY was referred to, due to the revivalism of the era. He also examines the impact of the First Vision on the Latter-day Saint movement and the importance of the vision in shaping the beliefs and practices of the Church.
Harper’s book is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of the Latter-day Saint movement. Harper's thorough analysis of the historical evidence provides readers with a nuanced understanding of Joseph Smith's vision and its significance to the development of the Church. His clear and accessible writing style makes this book an excellent resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the history of religion in America.
April 4, 2020
At Pres. Nelson’s invitation to study the First Vision in preparation for the April 2020 General Conference, I chose to read Joseph Smith’s First Vision: A Guide to the Historical Accounts by Steven C. Harper. This book is an excellent compilation of the First Vision accounts. Dr. Harper succinctly provides the relevant historical background that helps the reader identify additional insights that can only be appreciated with the context in which each account was written. Dr. Harper directly addresses the arguments of critics, but he does it in a way that leaves space for you to make the final call. This book is written for faithful searchers who Dr. Harper calls seekers. This book is a great resource to help seekers find their own answers as they consider Joseph Smith’s vision and other spiritual matters.
January 15, 2021
Back when such things were allowed, our stake hosted a BYU professor's fireside about various accounts of Joseph Smith's first vision. It was very interesting, and I wanted to read the accounts for myself. Yes, they're all available online, but I still prefer paper. This book has Joseph's personal accounts, with photos and transcriptions, and several contemporary secondary tellings. Each is a little different, and adds to a more complete picture of this amazing event. The chapter containing all these accounts is the longest in the book, but still not very long. The rest of the book is a discussion of how to learn "by study and also by faith," and how to avoid assumptions and really think about things. Some of that gets a little repetitive, but it is also valuable, and I'm glad I read it.
January 11, 2021
This short and readable book gives historical context to the First Vision. Harper includes both facsimiles and transcripts of each of the historical accounts, both Joseph's five and the four secondary accounts. Harper then analyzes each, differences among them and possible reasons for those differences. Harper's focus is as both believer and researcher well positioned to inform anyone interested in this pivotal basis for Church of Jesus Christ members' beliefs.
January 17, 2021
Enlightening ... The prayers of a boy were answered in such a marvelous way as to bless millions.
June 16, 2025
This is a helpful book about each of the accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision and what it teaches each of us about individually seeking truth, as well as countering some of the arguments that have come over the years against Joseph's experience. Here are some quotes I liked:
"Joseph's vision is not a matter of life or death; it's much more important than that (p. 2)."
"What is knowledge? What do I know? How do I know? Joseph's vision is about knowing (p. 3)>"
"When the seeker invests all of the required elements--intellectual and spiritual--the promise is that 'by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things' (Moroni 10:5, p. 4)."
"'Search the revelations... ask your heavenly Father, in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to his glory, nothing doubting, he will answer you by the power of the Holy Spirit: You will then know for yourselves and not for another. You will not then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God' (p. 5)."
"Seeking requires the whole soul, all of one's faculties. Seeking is the investment of one's best brainwork, spiritual sensitivities, moral judgments, and emotional vulnerabilities. Seeking is humble. Seeking is hard. And seeking is ultimately satisfying. Assuming is the enemy of seeking... To assume is to avoid the hard work of seeking (p. 7)."
"Seeking is the means to knowing God (p. 8)."
"Seekers come to the quest open-minded and open-hearted, desiring to know whether and in what ways Joseph's testimony is true and willing to use any means... to gain that knowledge (p. 8)."
"Reliable historians do not... interpret far beyond what they know (p. 10)."
"This combination of seeking by study and by faith enables seekers to discern whether Joseph's accounts tell the truth (p. 11)."
"The Constitution indicated that the government would not control the church and the church would not control the government (p. 13)."
"The new nation would play a key role in God's plans, as foretold by prophecy (p. 14)."
"No one in the Smith household could escape the tensions and anxieties inherent in their relentless quest for security in an insecure world (p. 23)."
"The idea that he might exert himself to seek and thereby find a path to salvation led Joseph to prefer the Arminian doctrine of Methodism over the Calvinist doctrine of the Presbyterians (p. 25)."
"It was the Bible's God to whom Joseph successfully appealed (p. 26)."
"The biblical invitation to receive revelation moved Joseph deeply (p. 27)."
"Their creeds said that God was unknowable and incomprehensible, yet he was revealing himself to Joseph (p. 28)."
"He felt the whole world was allied against him from that moment forward (p. 30)."
"Joseph Smith the seeker had found what he 'most desired' (p. 30)."
"Joseph Smith's first vision may be the best documented theophany in history... Joseph Smith worked hard to document his experience in the grove (p. 31)."
"Each account has gaps and omissions. Each adds detail and richness (p. 32)."
"Joseph's 1832 autobiography is the least polished of all his accounts. Here, with his own pen for much of the document, he poured his experience onto the pages, reflecting as nearly as possible what God's condescending visit meant to Joseph's sinful fourteen-year-old self (p. 33)."
"'A History of the life of Joseph Smith Jr an account of his marvilous experience and of all the mighty acts which he doest in the name of Jesus Christ... a confirmation and reception of the high Priesthood after the holy order of the son of the living God power and ordinence from on high to preach the Gospel in the administration and demonstration of the spirit the kees of the Kingdom of God confered upon him and the continuation of the blessings of God to him' (p. 38)."
"'At about the age of twelve years my mind became seriously imprest with regard to the all importent concerns for the wellfare of my immortal Soul which led me to searching the scriptures believeing as I was taught, that they contained the word of God thus applying myself to them and my intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led me to marvel exceedingly' (p. 39)."
"'I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy and the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness... I was filled 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 thy sins are forgiven thee' (p. 40)."
"Three years later, in 1835, an eccentric visitor from the east inquired of Joseph about his vision. His scribe captured some of Joseph's response in his journal entry for November 9. In this account Joseph cast the vision as the first in a series of events that led to the translation of the Book of Mormon (p. 41)."
"Both 1835 accounts were also incorporated into a draft of Joseph's history (p. 42)."
"'I kneeled again my mouth was opened and my toung liberated, and I called on the Lord in mighty prayer, a pillar of fire appeared above my head, it presently rested down up me and filled me with joy unspeakable, a personage appeard in the midst of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeard like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testifyed unto me that Jesus Christ is the Son of God' (p. 43)."
"This account also emphasizes Joseph's quest for a true church, whereas the others emphasize a quest for redemption (p. 44)."
"'In the midst of this war of words, and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself, what is to be done? Who of all these parties are right? Or are they all wrong together? And if any one of them be right which is it? And how shall I know it?' (p. 47)"
"'Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine... Ask of God... I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God' (p. 48)."
"'I had actually seen a light and in the midst of that light I saw two personages' (p. 51)."
"At this sacred moment, the natural world around him was excluded from his view, so that he would be open to the presentation of heavenly and spiritual things (p. 62)."
"'The Lord does reveal himself to me. I know it. He revealed himself first to me when I was about fourteen years old, a mere boy. I will tell you about it. There was a reformation among the different religious denominations in the neighborhood where I lived, and I became serious, and was desirous to know what Church to join' (p. 64)."
"Books, articles, and numerous Internet websites work to undermine faith in Joseph Smith's first vision... Historically there have been just three main arguments against it... 'no such things as visions'... invention and embellishment... out of historical order (p. 67)."
"How will this skeptical scholar discover what actually happened when he is unwilling to trust the only eyewitness or the process of personal revelation? (p. 81)"
"Understanding Joseph requires us to let him explain himself on his terms, not ours (p. 84)."
"Listen to Joseph extremely carefully in order to recover just his representation of the actual experience (p. 84)."
"He accumulated richer and deeper understanding of his vision as he gained subsequent experience and reflected on it (p. 87)."
"Knowing that he had an important story to tell, Joseph was concerned about the limits on his ability to communicate (p. 87)."
"We can also begin listening carefully to Joseph by thinking historically... Joseph's concerns at age fourteen were different from the issues that occupied his mind when he came later to write or dictate the accounts as the adult leader of an expanding church (p. 88)."
"The Bible was less an archive of answers than it was a book of examples of people who asked for and received answers directly from God (p. 89)."
"It may be that we have assumed that we understood his meaning before we did (p. 91)."
"It seems plausible that Joseph struggled in 1832 to know just what to call the divine personages (p. 91)."
"When we listen to Joseph carefully we also hear his subtle but significant distinction between his mind and his heart (p. 92)."
"What seems to some like inconsistency in Joseph's story can be interpreted as the very point he intended to communicate, namely that his head and his heart were at odds and he desperately needed wisdom from God in order to discern which, if either, he should favor (p. 93)."
"What about Joseph's memory? Is it reliable? (p. 94)"
"'There is a fundamental integrity to one's autobiographical reflections' (p. 95)."
"Joseph's accounts of his first vision represent the event as he experienced it, both at the time and over time (p. 95)."
"The memories that compose our personal histories are of two even more specific types: factual and interpretive... Interpretive memories grow and change over time because they are shaped by events subsequent to the episode being remembered (p. 97)."
"Joseph Smith's accounts of his vision show memory that was simultaneously vivid and vague (p. 104)."
"Beside the stinging rejection of the Methodist minister to whom he reported his vision, Joseph's memory of the persecution was vague and notably impersonal (p. 107)."
"Joseph discovered meanings in his memories (p. 108)."
"Joseph Smith's understanding of God and Christ seems to have enlarged with time and experience, affecting how he described his vision (p. 109)."
"Desire to trust Joseph (p. 111)."
"Believers who are unwilling to examine all of the evidence prevent themselves from fuller understanding and appreciation of Joseph's experience and are often unaware that they may have unfounded assumptions masquerading as testimony (p. 114)."
"We have the equivalent of a few puzzle pieces and are not able yet to discern exactly how the completed puzzle will look... The danger of close-mindedness is as real for believers as for skeptics (p. 116)."
"Authentic seeking requires us not only to search the historical record thoroughly but to assess our own souls simultaneously (p. 117)."
"The wisest... seek to avoid the pitfalls of both kinds of self-centered certainty and put their trust in God to guide them... Begin by humbly acknowledging that they do not know but would like to, and they go to the source of knowledge to teach them. This kind of seeking requires more patience and perseverance than the other ways (p. 121)."
"'Long before Joseph Smith offered his first prayer... thousands and millions of people must have yearned... for the assurance that God was not the severed, distant, impersonal deity... but the kind, loving, and very personal God that Joseph found in the Sacred Grove' (p. 122)."
"Joseph's accounts communicate... his testimony that he had such an experience and that it filled him with love (p. 123)."
"Joseph's vision is not a matter of life or death; it's much more important than that (p. 2)."
"What is knowledge? What do I know? How do I know? Joseph's vision is about knowing (p. 3)>"
"When the seeker invests all of the required elements--intellectual and spiritual--the promise is that 'by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things' (Moroni 10:5, p. 4)."
"'Search the revelations... ask your heavenly Father, in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to his glory, nothing doubting, he will answer you by the power of the Holy Spirit: You will then know for yourselves and not for another. You will not then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God' (p. 5)."
"Seeking requires the whole soul, all of one's faculties. Seeking is the investment of one's best brainwork, spiritual sensitivities, moral judgments, and emotional vulnerabilities. Seeking is humble. Seeking is hard. And seeking is ultimately satisfying. Assuming is the enemy of seeking... To assume is to avoid the hard work of seeking (p. 7)."
"Seeking is the means to knowing God (p. 8)."
"Seekers come to the quest open-minded and open-hearted, desiring to know whether and in what ways Joseph's testimony is true and willing to use any means... to gain that knowledge (p. 8)."
"Reliable historians do not... interpret far beyond what they know (p. 10)."
"This combination of seeking by study and by faith enables seekers to discern whether Joseph's accounts tell the truth (p. 11)."
"The Constitution indicated that the government would not control the church and the church would not control the government (p. 13)."
"The new nation would play a key role in God's plans, as foretold by prophecy (p. 14)."
"No one in the Smith household could escape the tensions and anxieties inherent in their relentless quest for security in an insecure world (p. 23)."
"The idea that he might exert himself to seek and thereby find a path to salvation led Joseph to prefer the Arminian doctrine of Methodism over the Calvinist doctrine of the Presbyterians (p. 25)."
"It was the Bible's God to whom Joseph successfully appealed (p. 26)."
"The biblical invitation to receive revelation moved Joseph deeply (p. 27)."
"Their creeds said that God was unknowable and incomprehensible, yet he was revealing himself to Joseph (p. 28)."
"He felt the whole world was allied against him from that moment forward (p. 30)."
"Joseph Smith the seeker had found what he 'most desired' (p. 30)."
"Joseph Smith's first vision may be the best documented theophany in history... Joseph Smith worked hard to document his experience in the grove (p. 31)."
"Each account has gaps and omissions. Each adds detail and richness (p. 32)."
"Joseph's 1832 autobiography is the least polished of all his accounts. Here, with his own pen for much of the document, he poured his experience onto the pages, reflecting as nearly as possible what God's condescending visit meant to Joseph's sinful fourteen-year-old self (p. 33)."
"'A History of the life of Joseph Smith Jr an account of his marvilous experience and of all the mighty acts which he doest in the name of Jesus Christ... a confirmation and reception of the high Priesthood after the holy order of the son of the living God power and ordinence from on high to preach the Gospel in the administration and demonstration of the spirit the kees of the Kingdom of God confered upon him and the continuation of the blessings of God to him' (p. 38)."
"'At about the age of twelve years my mind became seriously imprest with regard to the all importent concerns for the wellfare of my immortal Soul which led me to searching the scriptures believeing as I was taught, that they contained the word of God thus applying myself to them and my intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led me to marvel exceedingly' (p. 39)."
"'I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy and the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness... I was filled 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 thy sins are forgiven thee' (p. 40)."
"Three years later, in 1835, an eccentric visitor from the east inquired of Joseph about his vision. His scribe captured some of Joseph's response in his journal entry for November 9. In this account Joseph cast the vision as the first in a series of events that led to the translation of the Book of Mormon (p. 41)."
"Both 1835 accounts were also incorporated into a draft of Joseph's history (p. 42)."
"'I kneeled again my mouth was opened and my toung liberated, and I called on the Lord in mighty prayer, a pillar of fire appeared above my head, it presently rested down up me and filled me with joy unspeakable, a personage appeard in the midst of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeard like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testifyed unto me that Jesus Christ is the Son of God' (p. 43)."
"This account also emphasizes Joseph's quest for a true church, whereas the others emphasize a quest for redemption (p. 44)."
"'In the midst of this war of words, and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself, what is to be done? Who of all these parties are right? Or are they all wrong together? And if any one of them be right which is it? And how shall I know it?' (p. 47)"
"'Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine... Ask of God... I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God' (p. 48)."
"'I had actually seen a light and in the midst of that light I saw two personages' (p. 51)."
"At this sacred moment, the natural world around him was excluded from his view, so that he would be open to the presentation of heavenly and spiritual things (p. 62)."
"'The Lord does reveal himself to me. I know it. He revealed himself first to me when I was about fourteen years old, a mere boy. I will tell you about it. There was a reformation among the different religious denominations in the neighborhood where I lived, and I became serious, and was desirous to know what Church to join' (p. 64)."
"Books, articles, and numerous Internet websites work to undermine faith in Joseph Smith's first vision... Historically there have been just three main arguments against it... 'no such things as visions'... invention and embellishment... out of historical order (p. 67)."
"How will this skeptical scholar discover what actually happened when he is unwilling to trust the only eyewitness or the process of personal revelation? (p. 81)"
"Understanding Joseph requires us to let him explain himself on his terms, not ours (p. 84)."
"Listen to Joseph extremely carefully in order to recover just his representation of the actual experience (p. 84)."
"He accumulated richer and deeper understanding of his vision as he gained subsequent experience and reflected on it (p. 87)."
"Knowing that he had an important story to tell, Joseph was concerned about the limits on his ability to communicate (p. 87)."
"We can also begin listening carefully to Joseph by thinking historically... Joseph's concerns at age fourteen were different from the issues that occupied his mind when he came later to write or dictate the accounts as the adult leader of an expanding church (p. 88)."
"The Bible was less an archive of answers than it was a book of examples of people who asked for and received answers directly from God (p. 89)."
"It may be that we have assumed that we understood his meaning before we did (p. 91)."
"It seems plausible that Joseph struggled in 1832 to know just what to call the divine personages (p. 91)."
"When we listen to Joseph carefully we also hear his subtle but significant distinction between his mind and his heart (p. 92)."
"What seems to some like inconsistency in Joseph's story can be interpreted as the very point he intended to communicate, namely that his head and his heart were at odds and he desperately needed wisdom from God in order to discern which, if either, he should favor (p. 93)."
"What about Joseph's memory? Is it reliable? (p. 94)"
"'There is a fundamental integrity to one's autobiographical reflections' (p. 95)."
"Joseph's accounts of his first vision represent the event as he experienced it, both at the time and over time (p. 95)."
"The memories that compose our personal histories are of two even more specific types: factual and interpretive... Interpretive memories grow and change over time because they are shaped by events subsequent to the episode being remembered (p. 97)."
"Joseph Smith's accounts of his vision show memory that was simultaneously vivid and vague (p. 104)."
"Beside the stinging rejection of the Methodist minister to whom he reported his vision, Joseph's memory of the persecution was vague and notably impersonal (p. 107)."
"Joseph discovered meanings in his memories (p. 108)."
"Joseph Smith's understanding of God and Christ seems to have enlarged with time and experience, affecting how he described his vision (p. 109)."
"Desire to trust Joseph (p. 111)."
"Believers who are unwilling to examine all of the evidence prevent themselves from fuller understanding and appreciation of Joseph's experience and are often unaware that they may have unfounded assumptions masquerading as testimony (p. 114)."
"We have the equivalent of a few puzzle pieces and are not able yet to discern exactly how the completed puzzle will look... The danger of close-mindedness is as real for believers as for skeptics (p. 116)."
"Authentic seeking requires us not only to search the historical record thoroughly but to assess our own souls simultaneously (p. 117)."
"The wisest... seek to avoid the pitfalls of both kinds of self-centered certainty and put their trust in God to guide them... Begin by humbly acknowledging that they do not know but would like to, and they go to the source of knowledge to teach them. This kind of seeking requires more patience and perseverance than the other ways (p. 121)."
"'Long before Joseph Smith offered his first prayer... thousands and millions of people must have yearned... for the assurance that God was not the severed, distant, impersonal deity... but the kind, loving, and very personal God that Joseph found in the Sacred Grove' (p. 122)."
"Joseph's accounts communicate... his testimony that he had such an experience and that it filled him with love (p. 123)."
April 3, 2020
I was predisposed to like this book since the cover depicts the stained glass window in the Brigham City 3rd Ward where I went to church as a child. I looked at this picture every Sunday as I sat in the pews. I grew up knowing about Joseph’s First Vision—assuming I knew all about it—but I learned so much more reading this book. I also learned a lot about the historical method and realizing there is a difference between fact and how we interpret it. It’s as important to be self-aware of our assumptions and desires as it is to examine the facts. You also need to be aware of the problems inherent in trying to communicate experiences. Then compound that with the effect of time/growth and circumstances/audience on memory when repeating an event. I especially love the fact that Steven Harper is not only insightful but also kind, avoiding vituperation and criticism of those who are themselves critical and maliciously mean. I trust his scholarship and spent as much time examining his footnotes as the text. He lumps himself in with other LDS scholars as having a hermeneutic of trust, a description coined by historian Richard L. Bushman. I want to join the ranks!
January 7, 2021
I really enjoyed this quick read. Its short and quick, but also very rich and thorough in detailing all the known first-hand accounts of the first vision of The Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. I really enjoyed reading the accounts I was unfamiliar with and getting a sense for the young man Joseph. His earnest effort to describe his experience despite his weakness in writing adds a spirit to the first account which penetrated my heart the way only The Spirit of God can do. I highly recommend this read to anyone interested in historical accounts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
January 24, 2020
What a great read that clearly distinguishes the importance of historical facts vs interpretation. We must all challenge our assumptions, be a seeker, and seek learning by study and by faith and do so in humility to God who knows all. It is a fact that Joseph Smith had a vision in that grove. It is up to us to decipher what that means for our souls.
March 10, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book that helped me understand on a more intellectual way why we can trust that Joseph Smith’s account of his First Vision is true. It also points out the fallacies of many of those individuals who have dismissed his account as made up or impossible. I also loved that it spoke about being a seeker of truth and also relying on the inspiration of God.
February 17, 2020
Professor Harper helped me scratch some itches that I didn’t know I had. Very insightful read. VERY objective approach to the historical record. Very respectful to both sides of a rather controversial subject matter, and a rather eloquent expression of his own view throughout. Great read!
March 28, 2020
This book is very short (140 pages). I loved the format: it gave background info and then had you read several different accounts of the First Vision so you could compare and contrast them yourself. I appreciated reading them in this context. I found it faith building!
March 30, 2020
A great read that highlights the various Joseph Smith accounts of the first vision and then takes time to sort out fact and fiction and reason. He addresses why some contest it and why Jospeh Smith’s human tendencies make the recordings as is. Great read. 3.5 stars
August 22, 2018
Important read. We are so blessed to have the various accounts of the first vision.
January 13, 2020
Important research on the first vision comparing several recorded historical accounts by Joseph Smith and other people he related his experience to.
March 9, 2020
Interesting to learn about all of the different accounts of Joseph's First Vision. A good question to ask ourselves is whether we are a seeker or an assumer of truth.
March 16, 2020
I liked this one, but I felt like it was focused more on an intellectual level than I was looking for.
June 15, 2020
Great book. I highly recommend it for anyone who is confused or wonders about the different versions of Joseph Smith's First Vision.
July 7, 2020
This books exposes the reader to the different accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. I enjoyed the Mormon historians perspectives of reading Joseph Smith’s accounts. Good Stuff
July 8, 2020
It was really nice to have all of the accounts in one place with a discussion/explanation about each.
April 6, 2022
Some great insights.
November 5, 2024
Great resources and helps to think about studying history.
April 13, 2020
A great book that focuses on Joseph Smith's different accounts of the first vision and how we can use them to strengthen our faith vs to challenge it. I had not read all the different accounts before so I really felt like I learned something.
October 5, 2016
I first learned of the accounts of First Vision through a book now out of print with the same title as Harper's book by Milton V. Backman, Jr., second printing in 1980. I was fascinated by the idea that he told the story on several occasions and printed it twice in his own lifetime. Backman got a few things wrong (like documenting Frederick G. Williams as the only scribe for the 1832 account, though he indicates that Dean C. Jessee provided the identification; in reality, Joseph Smith himself authored most of the account) but most of it was great work and mind-opening for a young college student like me at the time.
Harper's update is an excellent replacement for Backman's earlier work. It is a collection of the first- and second-hand accounts of the First Vision, to be sure. But no less important are Harper's background and context discussions where he addresses First Vision critiques and issues, how memory impacts historical recall, and the impact of the culture of the time. His analysis of each first- and second-hand account provides valuable context and his knowledge of the relevant source documents is demonstrably beneficial to the discussion--he has personally handled these documents as part of his work on the Joseph Smith Papers project and knows them well. He explains clearly and succinctly how the accounts were created, found, and relate to each other.
The last three chapters are especially where Harper's skill as an historian really shines. He explains the importance of letting Joseph speak for himself, of 'listening' to him with care and not judging his words through our lens of modernity, with our own biases and assumptions. Communication is a flawed process, no matter how careful, and communication across cultures and years adds to that challenge. Understanding his concern for personal salvation informs our understanding of how and why he wrote about the vision. Then, we must consider how memory impacted the telling of the First Vision story, including the interpretation of events in memory based on current events. Memory is not playing back a video of an event, but rather we find meaning in our memories over time, interpreting facts into feelings. That is exactly what we see in the Prophet's accounts. Finally, Harper invites us to be "seekers" who "search for their own informed conclusions about what the documents say and mean" (p. 111). He assures us that we can trust Joseph Smith, as do "the scholars who know the relevant historical record best" (p. 117). Those courageous enough to exercise faith as they are seeking will be filled with love and happiness.
Harper's update is an excellent replacement for Backman's earlier work. It is a collection of the first- and second-hand accounts of the First Vision, to be sure. But no less important are Harper's background and context discussions where he addresses First Vision critiques and issues, how memory impacts historical recall, and the impact of the culture of the time. His analysis of each first- and second-hand account provides valuable context and his knowledge of the relevant source documents is demonstrably beneficial to the discussion--he has personally handled these documents as part of his work on the Joseph Smith Papers project and knows them well. He explains clearly and succinctly how the accounts were created, found, and relate to each other.
The last three chapters are especially where Harper's skill as an historian really shines. He explains the importance of letting Joseph speak for himself, of 'listening' to him with care and not judging his words through our lens of modernity, with our own biases and assumptions. Communication is a flawed process, no matter how careful, and communication across cultures and years adds to that challenge. Understanding his concern for personal salvation informs our understanding of how and why he wrote about the vision. Then, we must consider how memory impacted the telling of the First Vision story, including the interpretation of events in memory based on current events. Memory is not playing back a video of an event, but rather we find meaning in our memories over time, interpreting facts into feelings. That is exactly what we see in the Prophet's accounts. Finally, Harper invites us to be "seekers" who "search for their own informed conclusions about what the documents say and mean" (p. 111). He assures us that we can trust Joseph Smith, as do "the scholars who know the relevant historical record best" (p. 117). Those courageous enough to exercise faith as they are seeking will be filled with love and happiness.
May 16, 2016
I have often heard that there were several accounts of Joseph Smith's first vision, and I finally got around to reading them--the 4 first hand accounts and the 5 second hand. Though I have heard them spoken of as controversial, I don't understand this at all. I now see that the account we have in the Pearl of Great Price is by far the longest and most complete, and it was written for a general audience interested in the history of the church. The first accounts are shorter and more personal, and I loved reading more about Joseph's personal turmoil leading up to his humble prayer. Then, the secondhand accounts simply reiterate these same details, proving that there were many who believed his story and were willing to publish it in other countries to help advance missionary work.
Of course, there are details in some accounts that are not in others: angels, the dark opposition he feels as he prays, and the two beings appearing sequentially with Christ forgiving Joseph's sins during his appearance. Nothing in the variations is contradictory, and Steven Harper talks a lot about memories and how we share different details depending on who we are talking to or the context. I enjoyed reading more about the historical background, but this book wasn't necessary for me to believe in the accounts. Just reading them I could tell that they were different re-tellings of the same miraculous event, with no "contradictions" to be worried about. That's why the Church of Jesus Christ has posted all the accounts on their website. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone who believes Joseph Smith is a prophet will only have their testimony strengthened by reading more about the First Vision, and I invite anyone reading this to do so.
Of course, there are details in some accounts that are not in others: angels, the dark opposition he feels as he prays, and the two beings appearing sequentially with Christ forgiving Joseph's sins during his appearance. Nothing in the variations is contradictory, and Steven Harper talks a lot about memories and how we share different details depending on who we are talking to or the context. I enjoyed reading more about the historical background, but this book wasn't necessary for me to believe in the accounts. Just reading them I could tell that they were different re-tellings of the same miraculous event, with no "contradictions" to be worried about. That's why the Church of Jesus Christ has posted all the accounts on their website. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone who believes Joseph Smith is a prophet will only have their testimony strengthened by reading more about the First Vision, and I invite anyone reading this to do so.
September 7, 2015
This guy has a big issue with science. The first chapter has nothing to do with the first vision and it's just a diatribe about why science cannot be trusted (he calls scientists "assumers") and instead we should pray to receive answers (those are called "seekers," and unlike "assumers," they are open minded and really want to know the truth").
I guess that's why all the scientific discoveries so far have been made by people praying.
This is your run-of-the-mill, half-assed apologist attempt to justify the contradictory versions of the vision. Nothing new, except for the vicious and direct attacks to science. Which makes sense, because if we analyze Smith's accounts in light of science, history, archeology, etc., we immediately realize that it's a made up and increasingly embellished story, and not even a very good or original one at that.
I gave it two stars instead of one because it includes all the versions of the first vision (well, most of them).
I guess that's why all the scientific discoveries so far have been made by people praying.
This is your run-of-the-mill, half-assed apologist attempt to justify the contradictory versions of the vision. Nothing new, except for the vicious and direct attacks to science. Which makes sense, because if we analyze Smith's accounts in light of science, history, archeology, etc., we immediately realize that it's a made up and increasingly embellished story, and not even a very good or original one at that.
I gave it two stars instead of one because it includes all the versions of the first vision (well, most of them).
July 22, 2013
This book was not absorbing, and I found it better to read in short bursts. It did provide a different way of approaching the various accounts provided by Joseph Smith and a few of his peers of his first vision. The book is well documented and researched. Photos of original documents are included in the work. While I knew that several accounts of the vision existed, I had not had opportunity to see them side by side. Also, I did not have an indication of the history of Joseph and the Church at the time each account was recorded. The author's arguments seem credible and instructive. An interesting book for doubters and believers alike.
January 4, 2024
Harper is walking in the footsteps of other scholars, including James B. Allen, Dean Jessee, and Milton Backman. He acknowledges their work and then steps forward with additional supporting documents from the Joseph Smith Papers, taking the approach of an historical seeker. He addresses the critics--specifically Brode and Walters--showing the problems created by their assumptions and their unwillingness to reevaluate with expanded documents.
This is an articulate book describing historical process and faithful study. A byproduct of the Joseph Smith papers.
This is an articulate book describing historical process and faithful study. A byproduct of the Joseph Smith papers.
February 27, 2015
This was a quick read, and it was fascinating to see the multiple accounts of the first vision analyzed using the historical method. I was also very fascinated to learn more about how human memory works and how that knowledge can also be very useful in assessing historical records. I would highly recommend this book.
July 25, 2013
After hearing Steven Harper speak, I had to buy his book. His lecture combined with this book definitely enlightened my mind.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews