Come Follow Me with Sam: Joseph Smith History 1:26

 Welcome to Come Follow me with Sam! This week is really the study of how a man or woman might approach God to speak with Him. Joseph Smith is a fascinating figure who will never be fully understood until the end of time, but who can be studied to understand how we too might accomplish his unique link to the heavens. 

Introduction to Joseph the prophet

You don’t know me; you never knew my heart. No man knows my history. I cannot tell it: I shall never undertake it. I don’t blame any one for not believing my history. If I had not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself. I never did harm any man since I was born in the world. My voice is always for peace.

Joseph Smith once famously said 'You never knew me, no man knows my history', (which prompted a later critic to write a slanderous book by that title, which then prompted Hugh Nibley to write a rebuttal by the title 'No Ma'am, that's not history', which is probably the best comeback title of all time). 

This prompts the question 'who is the kind of man or woman who can learn to have the heavens open for them?' It is a truly timeless question and one that Joseph Smith can teach us the most about, at least out of any modern man or woman. 

In B.H. Roberts' Comprehensive History of the Church, the author mentions some notable qualities of Joseph's ancestry. There are many notable points of interest, and I'd like to highlight 2, one from his paternal side, one from his maternal side, so reflect some on what may have helped Joseph as he was raised.

His Grandfather, on the paternal side, was extraordinary in many ways, and wrote a posthumous address to his family. He told his family to remember they were immortal and divine. In words that are similar to Jefferson's address to his son, he asked his family to study out all things concerning religion, the need for a Christ, the necessity of overcoming sin, and to understand God and his nature by one's one studies (today, we would probably say testimony)

Lydia Gates, Joseph's Grandmother on his maternal side, was praised in a record, saying that with no resources and no one around, she was able to raise her children in both worldly education and religious understanding. This dedication mixed with a certain toughness comes out in Lucy Mack, Joseph's Mother, as she navigated several house moves across states, in very difficult circumstances.

You can read about Joseph Smith from Gospel topics on the church website. Hugh Nibley once gave a series on prophets called Time Vindicates the Prophet. You can find the first one here. For all his accomplishments, the true fascination, and the source of all slander and vilification, of Joseph Smith was that he showed that man could speak with God, and that God wished to speak to man, and that there was a way whereby this might be achieved.

The accounts of the first vision

There are four accounts of the first vision that Joseph recorded or had others record for him. There are additionally five accounts that other people wrote down based on meeting with the prophet. You can learn more about them on the gospel topics site, including accessing copies of all four accounts. We can learn different things from each account, as different points are emphasized.

One very interesting comparison to make is the remarkable similarity of purpose these four accounts have with the purposes of the individual four gospels. This comparison is built on the purposes of the gospels, with the First Vision accounts compared to each one. I don't intend to ramrod the first vision accounts into the gospels mold, but I want to show you where are they are similar so that you can appreciate and learn from them better. check this out.

The polished account (Gospel of Luke, Joseph Smith History 1838). These are the accounts we usually refer back to the most. After events had happened and the world was asking to understand them, a generally comprehensive account is created that can be shared with the world to clear up confusion and piecemeal understandings. Notice the similarity in the two introductions

introduction of Luke

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

introduction of Joseph Smith History

Owing to the many reports which have been put in circulation by evil-disposed and designing persons, in relation to the rise and progress of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all of which have been designed by the authors thereof to militate against its character as a Church and its progress in the world—I have been induced to write this history, to disabuse the public mind, and put all inquirers after truth in possession of the facts, as they have transpired, in relation both to myself and the Church, so far as I have such facts in my possession.

2 In this history I shall present the various events in relation to this Church, in truth and righteousness, as they have transpired, or as they at present exist, being now [1838] the eighth year since the organization of the said Church.

Notice that both reference reports, or things being taught before, introduce that there is some consternation (in the case of JSH, a lot of consternation), and that they intend to put the account in order.

 The account for the already converted (Gospel of John, joseph personal account 1832)

Both John and this first account seem to focus on those who are already converted and want to understand better the things that happened. Both have an emphasis on what the events mean rather than what physically transpired. They also include more mysterious or grander language, such as John's 'the 'Word was with God, and the Word was God' or, 'and the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not', and josephs ' I looked upon the sun... and the moon, rolling in their majesty. The 1832 account (and the gospel of John for that matter) is my favorite account, because we get the best glimpse at the spiritual wrestle, looking to overcoming his sins, having them forgiven, and most of all this fascinating testimony; 'My soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great joy'. coincidentally, John the Beloved's accounts also talk of the great love of God, including Peter's command 'feed my sheep'. One of the greatest lessons we can understand, once we have grasped the basics, is the incredible love and compassion the Godhead wish to have us know.

The account for those not converted but with similar background (Gospel of Matthew, 1835 account)

Matthew wrote his gospel for the Jews, people who were already somewhat familiar with the material leading up to the church/gospel of Christ. Similarly, Joseph Smith gave the 1835 account to someone who was ostensibly already deep in search for the truth, and to whom Joseph could already give an introduction and explanation to. Joseph Smith's 1835 emphasizes diligently seeking the truth, resisting the powers of darkness, the divinity of the Being he saw, and that his sins were forgiven him.

The account for those not converted with a dis-similar background (Gospel of Mark, 1842 account)

Both the gospel of Mark and the 1842 version are the shortest in their repsective sets (although, admittedly, the 1835 account is almost as short). This is due in part because they are both introductions to the church of christ to those who may have very little in common with that church. In Mark's case, it was the gentiles/non-jewish population. In Joseph Smiths Case, it was those who had no previous knowledge of the church and could be coming from any background. This was written for a newspaper publication, so there was no guarantee that anyone reading this would know anything about the church.

Both also focus more on the events of what happened, and less on the teachings/instructions. This can be important during a first exposure, so that someone trying to understand can put together the pieces of the story in their mind, and have a chronological framework to relate the material to.

What does it all mean?

The story of the first vision is a story of a boy who wanted to know the truth, and who received answer directly from God Himself.

So what does it mean?

Generally, we use this as a pivotal point when we discuss the foundations of the church, which makes sense because chronologically it is the starting point of the latter-day church.

On the other hand, it doesn't seem as though Joseph meant to heavily emphasize it publicly. It wasn't discussed near as much in the early church, Joseph didn't write it down until 1832, and he seems to have treated it as a personal revelation.

But really, what does it mean?

The value for me is to understand who the kind of person is that is ready to receive revelation. Given, Joseph Smith was a prophet who was prepared, so sometimes it feels like he has a home-field advantage. I don't see that as stopping me in the least from imitating him the best I can and receiving at least some measure of heavens opening wider to me for revelation. Here are some of the things that I believe we can learn from Joseph:

• He was in an environment that was constantly seeking to follow God's teachings
• He was seriously concerned about his soul
• He seriously studied the scriptures alone
• He listened to others opinions that he thought would help him find the answer. (Note that many of these same people he sought help from entirely rejected the truth once Joseph told them. He still approached them before and after the first vision in all sincerity and it seems it was them rather than him who would cut off the discussion)
• He was seriously concerned about receiving a remission of sins
• He was seriously concerned with the sins of the world (you can go off the deep end pretty quickly with this one, but it was something that stood out to me)
• He didn't really know what he was doing, meaning that he didn't have this perfect plan that he executed flawlessly. Rather it was truth to truth, light to light, grace to grace. Throughout the first vision and his life, Joseph was constantly making course corrections.
• After the vision, he was filled with unspeakable love and joy. I see this as the best indication that someone truly is following the gospel (emphasis not on happiness, but on joy)

So finally(?), what does it mean?

It means that God talks to man, that he talked to the boy Joseph Smith, and that He can talk to us as well. There are a million million ancillary truths that come about in this first vision, but for me, the most important one is this one.