William Miller of Manchester — A Bright Personage and Great Lights Seen in the Sky at Midnight (1841)

“Manchester, Aug. 12, 1841. Dear Brother Smith:—I feel it my duty to write to you, and give you an account of some things that I have seen, and heard, and felt, since I have been in this place. There has been seen at midnight a bright personage in the air; it changed into the form of an eye and then disappeared: it was first seen as a star descending and ascending. One Saturday night as I was going home about 12 o’clock, I could not help admiring the stars for they were so bright as soon as I entered the street I live in I was enveloped in a great light, I stopped in a moment then it left me: I looked up and saw a horizontal light in the sky, it was wide at the south end, and narrow at the north in the form of a club or trumpet. I have seen the heavens opened, and the glory of God shine round about me, and I have felt the power of the Holy Ghost, which has filled my soul with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I know that this is the work of God, and that he has restored the fullness of the everlasting gospel to the earth in these last days, and that he has called his servants to preach it to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. I am determined by the grace of God to be faithful unto the end, and to do all that I can to build up his kingdom on the earth. I remain your brother in the new and everlasting covenant, William Miller.”

— William Miller, letter to Joseph Smith, published in Times and Seasons