Joseph Smith's First Vision Accounts: What They Are and Why They Matter

Joseph Smith claimed a foundational spiritual experience in 1820, but the details he shared evolved over time, leading to multiple written accounts.

By Garret Merkley · Explainer · Jun 3, 2026

Branched from Smith Family's Religious Seeking

Quick take

Joseph Smith reported a vision of God and Jesus Christ in 1820, a pivotal moment in his religious experience.
He wrote or dictated at least four distinct accounts of this vision between 1832 and 1842.
Differences among the accounts include who appeared, the sequence of events, and the primary message received.
These accounts are central to the origins and beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Smith's First Vision accounts are the various written descriptions, recorded by Smith himself or those close to him, of a foundational religious experience he stated occurred in the spring of 1820. In a secluded grove of trees near his home in Palmyra, New York, Smith claimed to have received a divine manifestation that profoundly shaped his understanding of God and led to the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Core Narrative

While the specific details and emphasis vary across accounts, the central narrative remains consistent: a young Joseph Smith, then 14 years old, felt deeply confused by the conflicting claims of the religious revivals sweeping his area. Seeking guidance, he turned to the Bible, specifically James 1:5, which promises wisdom to those who ask God. Retreating to a nearby woods, he prayed and experienced a heavenly visitation. This event, often referred to as the First Vision, is seen by adherents as the beginning of the "Restoration" of Christ's church on earth.

Four Primary Accounts

Joseph Smith produced or dictated at least four primary accounts of his First Vision during his lifetime, each intended for different audiences and purposes. These accounts were recorded in 1832, 1835, 1838, and 1842. Each offers unique insights and emphasizes different aspects of the experience, reflecting Smith's evolving understanding, memory, and the context in which he shared his story.

The 1832 account, Smith's earliest known attempt to record the vision, focuses on his personal search for forgiveness and describes a vision of "the Lord." The 1835 account, dictated to his scribe Warren Parrish, describes two personages appearing one after another, and emphasizes resistance from an "adversary." The 1838 account, part of his official history and now canonized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the most detailed, depicting two distinct personages (God the Father and Jesus Christ) and a clear message about the apostasy of existing churches. The 1842 account, a concise summary for editor John Wentworth, also describes two personages and emphasizes the message that all existing denominations were wrong.

The First Vision accounts are foundational to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Latter Day Saint movements. They establish Joseph Smith's prophetic calling and the claim of a direct, personal revelation from God in modern times. For believers, the accounts confirm the nature of God as a distinct Father and Son, the reality of apostasy, and the need for a restoration of Christ's church. For historians, comparing the accounts offers insight into the development of religious narrative, memory, and theological understanding within a nascent religious movement.

Key Differences Across Accounts

**Who appeared:** From "the Lord" (1832) to "two personages" (1835, 1838, 1842) identified as God the Father and Jesus Christ (1838, 1842).
**Purpose:** From seeking forgiveness (1832) to knowing which church was right (1835, 1838, 1842).
**Focus:** From personal redemption (1832) to the broader restoration of truth and the condemnation of existing creeds (1838, 1842).

Why are there different accounts of the First Vision?

Like many significant personal experiences, the way someone recounts an event can change over time based on memory, audience, purpose, and what aspects they choose to emphasize. Joseph Smith's accounts were recorded over a decade, for different audiences (personal journal, public sermon, official history), and his own theological understanding was developing.

Which account is considered official by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

The 1838 account, part of Joseph Smith's official history, is the most widely known and is canonized in the Pearl of Great Price as "Joseph Smith—History 1." It is the version most commonly taught and referenced by the Church today.

Do the differences undermine the validity of the vision?

For believers, the consistency of the core message (God speaking to Joseph Smith) across all accounts is seen as evidence of its truthfulness, while the variations are attributed to natural human memory and contextual factors. Critics sometimes point to the differences as evidence of fabrication or evolving mythology.

Were there other accounts besides the four primary ones?

Yes, in addition to the four main accounts written or dictated by Joseph Smith himself, there are several secondary accounts recorded by others who heard Smith share his experience. These accounts, while not from Smith's own hand, offer further perspectives and details.

Sources

Joseph Smith's Accounts of the First Vision (churchofjesuschrist.org)
"First Vision Accounts," The Joseph Smith Papers