Lucy Mack Smith's Dream of the Gospel Restoration

Lucy Mack Smith describes a prophetic dream she had around 1803 while living in Tunbridge, Vermont. Following pressure from her husband's family to abandon Methodist meetings—culminating in her father-in-law Asael Smith angrily throwing a copy of Thomas Paine's 'Age of Reason' into their home—Lucy prayed in a grove of wild cherry trees for her husband's heart to be softened. That night, she dreamed of a beautiful meadow featuring two majestic, well-proportioned trees by a pure, clear stream. One tree was encircled by a brilliant, golden belt that grew in light and influence as it bent gracefully with the wind, representing her husband, Joseph Smith Sr., and his future reception of the restored gospel. The second tree, standing opposite, remained stiff and unyielding despite the wind, symbolizing his brother, Jesse Smith, who would resist the message. The dream comforted her with the assurance that her husband would eventually hear and embrace the truth, finding celestial peace.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

I thought that I stood in a large and beautiful meadow, which lay a considerable distance before me; and that I saw two trees standing upon its margin, which were remarkably beautiful. I looked at them, and I saw one of them was surrounded with a bright belt, that shone like burnished gold, and that it extended around the tree, and was as brilliant as the sun. I gazed upon it with wonder and admiration. And after I had contemplated the glory of this tree for some time, I turned my eyes upon its fellow, which stood opposite; but it was not surrounded with the belt of light as the former, and it stood erect and fixed as a pillar of marble. I wondered at this, and I asked the Lord the meaning of this. I was told that the interpretation was, that these personated my husband and his oldest brother, Jesse Smith; that the stubborn and unyielding tree was like Jesse; that the other, more pliant and flexible, was like Joseph, my husband; and that the golden belt was the pure and undefiled gospel of the Son of God, which gospel Jesse would always resist, but which Joseph, my husband, would hear and receive with his whole heart, and that he would be saved in the kingdom of God, and that he would be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, whose leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.