Joseph Smith — The First Vision
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Book Research — A Marvelous Work and a Wonder
In the spring of 1820, 14-year-old Joseph Smith, seeking to know which church to join, retired to a grove of trees near his home in Manchester/Palmyra, New York. While praying he was overcome by a dark power but was delivered when a pillar of light brighter than the sun descended. Within this light he saw two personages—God the Father and Jesus Christ; the Father introduced the Son and instructed Joseph not to join any of the existing churches because they had strayed from the truth. This event marked the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel.
In Their Own Words
“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. … When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”
— Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17 (spring 1820)
Sources & References
LeGrand Richards, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Deseret Book; Joseph Smith—History 1:14–20 (research confidence: high; source section: The First Vision — the Father and the Son appear to Joseph Smith) LeGrand Richards, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Deseret Book; Joseph Smith—History 1:14-20 (research confidence: high; source section: The Apostasy) Full account: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng
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