The First Vision (also called the grove experience) refers to a vision that Joseph Smith, Jr. said he received in in a wooded area (now called the Sacred Grove) near Palmyra, New York around 1820, when he was in his early adolescence. Smith gave several accounts of this experience. In the most elaborate, Smith said he went to the woods to pray about which church to join, but fell into the grip of an evil power that nearly overtook him. He said he...
more
The First Vision (also called the grove experience) refers to a vision that Joseph Smith, Jr. said he received in in a wooded area (now called the Sacred Grove) near Palmyra, New York around 1820, when he was in his early adolescence. Smith gave several accounts of this experience. In the most elaborate, Smith said he went to the woods to pray about which church to join, but fell into the grip of an evil power that nearly overtook him. He said he was rescued at the last minute by two shining "personages" (presumably Jesus and God the Father) who hovered above him in the air. One of the beings told Smith not to join any existing churches because all taught incorrect doctrines. Smith later became the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, which includes Mormonism, most notably The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
The story of the First Vision was essentially unknown to early Latter Day Saints and little emphasized until the 20th century. Since then, however,...
less
