Joseph Smith - Heavenly Vision and Angel Ministry - Receipt of the Nephite Records

“On the evening of the 21st of September, A. D. 1823, while I was praying and endeavoring to exercise faith in the mighty God, and exercise faith in the precious promises Scriptures on which I had been previously calling, God exerted a hand of mercy towards me. During the space of time which I had been under the necessity of exercising prayer, a light had began to spring up in the room, and increased until it was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor. He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrist; so, also, were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom. Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me. He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Nephi; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people. He said there was a deposit deposited in a township of Manchester, Ontario county, New York, consisting of a metallic record, which was written on gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants; also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted "seers" in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book. After telling me these things he commenced giving me the instructions and intelligence respecting the coming forth of the fulness of the everlasting Gospel. He again told me, after having repeated the things which I have before spoken, that when I got those plates of which he had spoken—for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled—I should not show them unto any person; neither the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim; only to those to whom I should be commanded to show them; if I did I should be destroyed. While he was conversing with me about the plates, the vision was opened to my mind that I could see the place where the plates were deposited, and that so clearly and distinctly that I knew the place again when I visited it.”

— Joseph Smith, History, circa Summer 1832