Lecture on the First Vision

Importance of the First Vision

• President Joseph F. Smith regarded it as the greatest event since Christ's resurrection.
• President Ezra Taft Benson described it as bedrock theology for the Church.
• It is crucial to understand what happened and its significance.

Historical Context

• Occurred in 1820 in the Palmyra area.
• Joseph Smith's family had Presbyterian interests, but he leaned towards Methodism.
• The largest denomination was the Society of Friends (Quakers), although Joseph only mentioned Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists.
• Family religious divide: Joseph's mother and siblings were aligned with Presbyterianism, while his father was non-churched.

Joseph Smith's Dilemma

• Familiarity with different Christian denominations created dissonance as none practiced New Testament Christianity.
• Joseph was convicted of his sins and sought forgiveness and Christ's true church.
• Struggled with intellectual and spiritual issues.
• Went to the wilderness to pray for guidance.

The Vision and Its Implications

• Joseph faced opposition from Satan, emphasizing a battle against darkness.
• Demonstrated God's power over Satan and the need for human agency.
• Joseph's vision of the Father and Son was his call to lead a new dispensation.
• Rejection of creedal Christianity: God and Christ are not the God of traditional creeds.

Relational God

• God of the First Vision is relational and passionate, filling Joseph with love.
• Different from the impersonal God of traditional Christianity.
• The vision marked the beginning of a new era for the gospel.

Multiple Accounts and Public Perception

• Multiple accounts of the vision exist; it was not hidden by the Church.
• Variances in accounts indicate an organic, evolving story.

Significance of the First Vision

• Foundation for the restoration of the gospel.
• Demonstrates the reality of God, Christ's role as Savior, and their care for humanity.
• Encourages a personal relationship with God and the idea that sins can be forgiven.
• Universality: Relatable story that shows anyone can seek and speak to God.

Conclusion

• The First Vision is a universal story about God's love and personal engagement with humanity.
• It emphasizes the personal nature of God, contrasting with traditional views of an ethereal, passionless deity.