My first post on this blog warrants one of the discoveries about Mormon history that caught me most off guard and shot up red warning flags.
For as long as I can remember, I was taught the account of Joseph Smith's first vision, where he saw and spoke to God the Father and Jesus Christ. I learned about it in primary, sang about it in sacrament meeting, and ... I eventually taught it to others as a missionary. It was the very first part of the missionary discussions that I memorized, both in English and Spanish. I was taught in the Missionary Training Center how to recite "in Joseph's own words" what happened.
Former Church President, Gordon Hinckley, mentioned on several occasions that the complete veracity of the church rested on the first vision.
We declare without equivocation that God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, appeared in person to the boy Joseph Smith.
When I was interviewed by Mike Wallace on the 60 Minutes program, he asked me if I actually believed that. I replied, “Yes, sir. That’s the miracle of it.”
That is the way I feel about it. Our whole strength rests on the validity of that vision. It either occurred or it did not occur. If it did not, then this work is a fraud. If it did, then it is the most important and wonderful work under the heavens.
Reflect upon it, my brethren and sisters. For centuries the heavens remained sealed. Good men and women, not a few—really great and wonderful people—tried to correct, strengthen, and improve their systems of worship and their body of doctrine. To them I pay honor and respect. How much better the world is because of their bold action. While I believe their work was inspired, it was not favored with the opening of the heavens, with the appearance of Deity.
Then in 1820 came that glorious manifestation in answer to the prayer of a boy who had read in his family Bible the words of James: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).
Upon that unique and wonderful experience stands the validity of this Church.
LDS.ORG, "The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith" Oct 2002 General Conference
The First Vision supposedly took place "early in the spring of 1820." The first written account of the experience did not occur until 1832, 12 years later. Joseph Smith, his family, nor any contemporaries (who aledgedly persecuted him for his assertion) mention it before this time. Eight more accounts were eventually written:
(1) the Prophet’s handwritten description in 1832, an attempt to start a manuscript history of the Church; (2) a Church secretary’s brief 1835 journal entry of Joseph talking with a visitor who called himself Joshua, the Jewish minister; (3) the 1838 history discussed above, published in 1842 and now in the Pearl of Great Price; (4) Orson Pratt’s publication, the first publicly disseminated, of the Prophet’s vision in his Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, issued in 1840 in Edinburgh, Scotland; (5) Orson Hyde’s revision of Orson Pratt’s pamphlet, published in 1842 for German readers and adding some insights that may have come from his contact with Joseph Smith; (6) the Wentworth Letter, created in response to editor John Wentworth’s inquiry and published by Joseph Smith in 1842 in Times and Seasons; this account adapted parts of Orson Pratt’s pamphlet; (7) Levi Richards’s diary about Joseph Smith preaching in the summer of 1843 and repeating the Lord’s first message to him that no church was His; (8) a newspaper interview in the fall of 1843; (9) Alexander Neibaur’s 1844 journal entry of a conversation at the Prophet’s house
Richard Anderson, “Joseph Smith’s Testimony of the First Vision,” Ensign, Apr 1996, 1
It is unusual that the elements of Joseph Smith's experience became more detailed over time (as opposed to typical memories which fade over time). It is suspect that the changes in details better fit Joseph Smith's changing doctrinal philosophy and professed authority. This could be, as Mormon apologists suggest, that Joseph gained a better understanding of the experience over time. Or perhaps the second- and third-hand accounts do not do justice retelling Joseph's accounts. Regardless of the reasons for the differences, the potential conflicts are not discussed within the church, leading me (and an unknown number of others) to accept the 1838 version as absolute fact. For 27 years I never knew.
For a pro-mormon response to the criticisms of the First Vision, please see: http://en.fairmormon.org/First_Vision_accounts
A apologetic comparison of the written accounts can be found at: http://www.boap.org/LDS/History/HTMLHistory/v1c1history.html
Wikipedia can always be helpful as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Vision
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