Very true. Two powerful lessons (1) the boy Joseph Smith jr. (2) the glorious manifestation of God the father and of his only begotten son jesus christ. What a powerful doctrine..
Gratitude and thankfulness in my heart and soul..
I'm a member of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. (3 generations)
Janet KuesterFebruary 15, 2020
I so appreciate this article. 30 years ago, my 17 year search for a Christian church that taught what I felt deep within my soul to be true ended and I was overjoyed to be baptized as a member of the Church if Jesus Christbof Latter-Day Saints. The first vision was and is SO very important to me. Thank you ❤️
BeckyFebruary 15, 2020
What a great article. I’m grateful for the gift that the first vision is to us. Jane, you CAN share this on Facebook. There is a link by the title.
Kathy M PitochelliFebruary 15, 2020
This week, I saw a young man working at Wal Mart in Utah, near where I live. His name on his name tag intrigued me, so I asked its origin. He said, with a thick Turkish accent, i'm from Turkey. I then asked him how he came to be in Utah in the U.S. He then explained that at age 19, in Turkey, he decided to do an Internet search to learn about religions. He read the Joseph Smith life story and his First Vision and absolutely believed it to be true, sought out the church and got baptized. I shared my very similar conversion story and what made all the difference to each of us was dispelling the myth that God, Christ and the Holy Ghost are all the same being or a cloud somewhere. That vision is soooo powerful!
Jane TiltonFebruary 12, 2020
As a convert from a "traditional" Christian church, the first vision was extremely important to me. I had never been able to believe in the Trinity as taught by the church to which I belonged, and the idea of a God and a Savior, both with bodies and both with loving concern for an individual was contrary to my childhood teachings, but were what I always felt should be so. I'd love to be able to post this article on Facebook.
Dane BoundsFebruary 12, 2020
I think the First Vision also showed mankind what salvation looks like and what our potential is.
MarkFebruary 11, 2020
Mike, I think if you read the end of the article carefully you will see that I acknowledge the point you made. Thanks for reading!
Daniel BakerFebruary 11, 2020
Yes, invitation to look and see deeper meanings. Learning in the restored Gospel goes forever, it's like a diamond with so many facets in the light, is exciting and invigorating. It reminds me of the good book Brad Krammer wrote about studying the Book of Mormon using rabbinic study methods,. But as to depicted audience (investigators) I think the focus has to be on them believing the vision happened, not in using something which they have not yet accepted as proof of some of the other things you have discussed. Do you see where I am going? Audience analysis, see where they are, always. Line upon line.
Mike PrescottFebruary 11, 2020
Actually, although I agree with your article's premise, my understanding is that the early missionaries DID NOT share the first vision while proselyting. I watched a program about the Joseph Smith Papers and they made the point that Joseph considered the first vision personal to him and later appreciated the significance to the membership and non members. He was also bitterly persecuted for sharing it as a young man and kept it to himself as sacred for a time after.
Ralph W. GalliniFebruary 11, 2020
I joined the Church in 1968. The two factors that helped in my prayerful decision was what was taught by my missionaries when they taught me about the First Vision. That Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost were three (3) distinct separate beings. The other was the fact that we have living prophets today. The First Vision destroyed the myth of the Trinity as taught and understood by so many Christian denominations. I had always believed that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were separate. The First Vision teaching confirmed it for me. Thanks for an excellent article.
Kamalani KauiFebruary 10, 2020
An enjoyable read, thank you for sharing your thoughts about the First Vision! It has helped to spark a desire to get to know the First Vision better for myself as General Conference approaches. Wonderful article, mahalo!
Alec AndrusFebruary 10, 2020
Thank you brother Matthews. What a wonderful invitation to each of us to understand our legacy and to glimpse why our Prophet asks us to prepare for a special conference 200 years after the first vision.
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Mapuhi tuko TekurioFebruary 23, 2020
Very true. Two powerful lessons (1) the boy Joseph Smith jr. (2) the glorious manifestation of God the father and of his only begotten son jesus christ. What a powerful doctrine.. Gratitude and thankfulness in my heart and soul.. I'm a member of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. (3 generations)
Janet KuesterFebruary 15, 2020
I so appreciate this article. 30 years ago, my 17 year search for a Christian church that taught what I felt deep within my soul to be true ended and I was overjoyed to be baptized as a member of the Church if Jesus Christbof Latter-Day Saints. The first vision was and is SO very important to me. Thank you ❤️
BeckyFebruary 15, 2020
What a great article. I’m grateful for the gift that the first vision is to us. Jane, you CAN share this on Facebook. There is a link by the title.
Kathy M PitochelliFebruary 15, 2020
This week, I saw a young man working at Wal Mart in Utah, near where I live. His name on his name tag intrigued me, so I asked its origin. He said, with a thick Turkish accent, i'm from Turkey. I then asked him how he came to be in Utah in the U.S. He then explained that at age 19, in Turkey, he decided to do an Internet search to learn about religions. He read the Joseph Smith life story and his First Vision and absolutely believed it to be true, sought out the church and got baptized. I shared my very similar conversion story and what made all the difference to each of us was dispelling the myth that God, Christ and the Holy Ghost are all the same being or a cloud somewhere. That vision is soooo powerful!
Jane TiltonFebruary 12, 2020
As a convert from a "traditional" Christian church, the first vision was extremely important to me. I had never been able to believe in the Trinity as taught by the church to which I belonged, and the idea of a God and a Savior, both with bodies and both with loving concern for an individual was contrary to my childhood teachings, but were what I always felt should be so. I'd love to be able to post this article on Facebook.
Dane BoundsFebruary 12, 2020
I think the First Vision also showed mankind what salvation looks like and what our potential is.
MarkFebruary 11, 2020
Mike, I think if you read the end of the article carefully you will see that I acknowledge the point you made. Thanks for reading!
Daniel BakerFebruary 11, 2020
Yes, invitation to look and see deeper meanings. Learning in the restored Gospel goes forever, it's like a diamond with so many facets in the light, is exciting and invigorating. It reminds me of the good book Brad Krammer wrote about studying the Book of Mormon using rabbinic study methods,. But as to depicted audience (investigators) I think the focus has to be on them believing the vision happened, not in using something which they have not yet accepted as proof of some of the other things you have discussed. Do you see where I am going? Audience analysis, see where they are, always. Line upon line.
Mike PrescottFebruary 11, 2020
Actually, although I agree with your article's premise, my understanding is that the early missionaries DID NOT share the first vision while proselyting. I watched a program about the Joseph Smith Papers and they made the point that Joseph considered the first vision personal to him and later appreciated the significance to the membership and non members. He was also bitterly persecuted for sharing it as a young man and kept it to himself as sacred for a time after.
Ralph W. GalliniFebruary 11, 2020
I joined the Church in 1968. The two factors that helped in my prayerful decision was what was taught by my missionaries when they taught me about the First Vision. That Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost were three (3) distinct separate beings. The other was the fact that we have living prophets today. The First Vision destroyed the myth of the Trinity as taught and understood by so many Christian denominations. I had always believed that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were separate. The First Vision teaching confirmed it for me. Thanks for an excellent article.
Kamalani KauiFebruary 10, 2020
An enjoyable read, thank you for sharing your thoughts about the First Vision! It has helped to spark a desire to get to know the First Vision better for myself as General Conference approaches. Wonderful article, mahalo!
Alec AndrusFebruary 10, 2020
Thank you brother Matthews. What a wonderful invitation to each of us to understand our legacy and to glimpse why our Prophet asks us to prepare for a special conference 200 years after the first vision.
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