03 - The First Vision

The varying historical accounts of Joseph Smith's first vision reveal a consistent story of Joseph Smith's encounter with Deity. We also see the subtle variations in the account; for example, how Joseph's 1832 account only mentions "the Lord" and does not specify if there were two beings, something which today is frequently emphasized as the true nature of God. We can see how his audience may have impacted the way he told the story, such as making it more accessible for a non-LDS audience, focusing on his personal feelings in his journal, or his encounter with opposition. The secondary sources help frame the historical circumstances surrounding his vision, including the fact that large public revivals were common, which were in stark contrast with the intimate personal encouter Joseph had with God.