The Witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith's First Vision and Moroni's Plates
Published October 21, 2026 at 11:06 PM
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Young Woman's Journal Research
M. Isabella Horne reports hearing the Prophet Joseph Smith personally relate the accounts of his First Vision and the receipt of the gold plates from the Angel Moroni. She describes that as he recounted these events at the home of Sister Walton, his countenance was illuminated and a powerful spiritual influence accompanied his words, leaving those present with no doubt as to the truth of his narration.
In her 1910 account published in the Woman's Exponent, M. Isabella Horne further reflects on the personal significance of this experience, stating, 'I feel greatly honored when I realize that I have had the privilege of personally entertaining this great man, of ministering to his temporal wants, of shaking hands with him, and listening to his voice.'
In Their Own Words
“I feel greatly honored when I realize that I have had the privilege of personally entertaining this great man, of ministering to his temporal wants, of shaking hands with him, and listening to his voice. I heard him relate his first vision, when the Father and Son appeared to him; also his receiving the gold plates from the Angel Moroni. This recital was given in compliance with a special request of a few particular friends in the home of Sister Walton whose house was ever open to the Saints. While he was relating the circumstances the Prophet's countenance lightened up, and so wonderful a power accompanied his words that everybody who heard them felt his influence and power, and none could doubt the truth of his narration.”
— M. Isabella Horne, Woman's Exponent, vol. 39, no. 1
Sources & References
The Young Woman's Journal, vol. 31 no. 4 (April 1920). L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University digital collections. https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/YWJ/id/11084 (account extracted verbatim from the collection's page-level OCR; research confidence: high) Additional sources (periodical research): Woman's Exponent, vol. 39 no. 1 (June 1910). https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Joseph_Smith's_First_Vision/Lack_of_contemporary_Father_and_Son_vision_until_1838 Full first-person account: Woman's Exponent, vol. 39 no. 1 (June 1910), 5–6 https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Joseph_Smith's_First_Vision/Lack_of_contemporary_Father_and_Son_vision_until_1838
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