| Joseph's early life,
first vision §, angelic visitations §, obtaining the plates §.
Lord appears to Martin Harris §, loss of 116 pages
§. Lord appears to Oliver Cowdery, vision of the
plates § and visit to Joseph. |
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Introduction |
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| Physical
document, date |
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This document consists
of 6 manuscript pages (3 leaves), written between July 20, 1832 and November
27, 1832. Part is in the hand of Frederick
G. Williams, part in Joseph's hand. |
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Frederick began writing for Joseph on July 20 and the book was converted
to a letterbook on November 27. Early accounts, 277–278. |
| First
vision |
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The
1832 history contains the first report of the Prophet's first vision.
Joseph, in his 16th year, is concerned for the welfare of his soul and prays
in the wilderness. A pillar of light descends from heaven. In it he sees
the Lord, who tells him his sins are forgiven, He was crucified for the
world, the world lies in sin, "no one doeth good," and He comes
quickly "as it is written." Other elements notable in later versions
are missing. |
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| Angel,
116 pages, marriage, Oliver's vision |
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The account also contains
an account of visitations by an unnamed angel when Joseph was 17, obtaining
the plates, Martin Harris' visit with a scholar who wants to see the plates,
loss of the 116 pages, marriage to Emma, and move to Susquehannah (Harmony,
Pennsylvania). The Lord appears to Oliver and shows him the plates, which
induces him to visit Joseph. (Previously, Martin
Harris, Emma, and Samuel
H. Smith had acted as scribe.) Joseph needs help, for they are poor
and Emma's father threatens to turn them out. |
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| Context |
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Dan Vogel introduces
his transcript with the observation: |
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Early documents 1:26. |
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The History was
begun in the midst of challenges to Smith's authority, primarily initiated
by Bishop Edward Partridge in Missouri,
which evoked Smith's introduction of the office of president of the High
Priesthood. It is therefore not simply an autobiographical sketch, but
an apology setting forth Smith’s credentials as leader of the church.
The History therefore contains the earliest account of what is known as
his 'first vision' and earliest mention of angelic priesthood ordinations. |
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When Joseph's July 1831 prophesy of a large church built up by Oliver Cowdery in Jackson County failed, Partridge urged the seer “not to tell us any more, that you know these [things] by the spirit when you do not.” He also "intimated" that the land selected by Joseph and Oliver for Zion was inferior to other available properties. |
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¶ Ezra Booth Letters (7)
Also see Joseph
to W. W. Phelps, July 31, 1832 and The
Lord and the Bishop. |
| Testimony
from on high |
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<firstly> he
receiving the testamony from on high |
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| Testimony
from on high |
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<firstly> he
receiving the testamony from on high |
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| Joseph's
marvelous experiences and mighty acts in Jesus' name |
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A
History of the life of Joseph Smith jr. an account of his marvilous experience
and of all the mighty acts which he doeth in the name of Jesus Ch[r]ist
the son of the living God of whom he beareth record |
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1832 history,
1–5. |
| Rise
of the Church of Christ |
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and also an account
of the rise of the church of Christ in the eve of time according as
the Lord brough<t> forth and established by his hand |
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| Testimony
from on high |
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<firstly> he
receiving the testamony from on high |
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| Ministering
of angels |
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seccondly
the mininstering of Aangels |
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| Priesthood
restored by angels |
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thirdly
the reception of the holy Priesthood by the ministring of Aangels to admnister
the letter of the Gospel— <—the Law and commandments as they
were given unto him—> and the ordinencs, |
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¶ Blessing of Oliver Cowdery |
| High
priesthood after the holy order of the Son of the living God |
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forthly
a confirmation and reception of the high Priesthood after the holy order
of the son of the living God power and ordinence from on high to preach
the Gospel in the administration and demonstration of the spirit |
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| Keys
of the kingdom |
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the
Kees of the Kingdom of god confered upon him and the continuation of
the blessings of God to him &c— |
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Bold: handwriting
of Joseph Smith |
| Born
December 23, 1805 in Sharon, Vermont |
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I
was born in the town of Charon [Sharon] in the <State> of vermont
North America on the twenty third day of December AD 1805 of goodly
Parents who spared no pains to instruct<ing> me in <the> christian
religion |
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Move
to Palmyra at age 10
Hard working but indigent |
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at
the age of about ten years my Father Joseph Smith Siegnior moved to
Palmyra Ontario County in the State of New York and being in indigent
circumstances were obliged to labour hard for the support of a large
Family having nine Chilldren and as it required their exertions of
all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the Family
therefore we were deprived of the bennifit of an education |
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Joseph Sr.
arrived in Palmyra in late 1816; Lucy and the children followed in January
1817. JS beginnings, 41–42; Early documents 1:143. |
| Basic
education |
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Suffice
it to Say I was mearly instructid in reading and writing and
the ground
<rules> of Arithmatic which constuted my whole literary acquirements. |
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Concern
for soul at 12
Searches scriptures |
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At
about the age of twelve years my mind become Seriously imprest [2] with
regard to the all importent concerns of for the wellfare of my immortal
Soul which led me to searching the Scriptures believeing as I was taught,
that they contained the word of God |
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| Denominations
ungodly |
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thus
applying myself to them and my intimate acquaintance with those of differant
denominations led me to marvel excedingly for I discovered that <they
did not adorn> instead of adorning their profession
by a holy walk and godly conversation agreeable to what I found contained
in that sacred depository this was a grief to my Soul |
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1835 Accounts of the First Vision |
| Age 12–15
ponders divisions, wickedness |
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thus from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered
many things in my heart concerning the Sittuation of the world of mankind
the contentions and divions the wickeness and abominations and the darkness
which pervaded the of the minds of mankind |
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Convicted
of sins, distressed
No true society |
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my
mind become excedingly distressed for I become convicted of my Sins and
by Searching the Scriptures I found that mand <mankind> did not
come unto the Lord but th[at] they had apostatised from the true and
liveing faith and there was no society or denomination that built upon
the Gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the new testament |
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| Mourns
for sins |
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and
I felt to mourn for my own Sins and for the Sins of the world for I learned
in the Scriptures that God was the same yesterday to day and forever
that he was no respecter to persons for he was God |
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"Jesus
Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." Heb. 13:8.
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God
is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and
worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts 10:34–35. |
| Wonders
at creation |
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for
I looked upon the Sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the
moon rolling in their magesty through the heavens and also the Stars
shining in their courses and the earth also upon whi[c]h I stood and
the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters
and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and
in the strength of beauty whose power and intiligence in governing the
things which are so exceding great and [3] marvilous even in the likeness
of him who created him <them> |
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| Argument
from creation |
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and
when I considered upon these things my heart exclaimed well hath the
wise man Said the <it is a> fool <that> Saith in his heart
there is no God my heart exclaimed all all these bear testimony
and bespeak an omnipotant and omnipreasant power a being who maketh Laws
and decreeeth and bindeth all things in their bounds who filleth Eternity
who was and is and will be fron [from] all Eternity to Eternity |
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God omnipotent, omnipresent |
| Cries
for mercy |
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and
when I, considered all these things and that <that> being seeketh
such to worship him as worship him in spirit and in truth therefore
I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could
go and to obtain mercy |
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| In 16th
year sees the Lord in vision |
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and
the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in <the> attitude
of calling upon the Lord <in the 16th year of my age> a piller of
fire light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from
above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the
<Lord> opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord |
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Backman: "the
6 was not clearly written … and might have been written as a 5."
Two personages in ¶ Orson Pratt's
1840 account |
| Sins
forgiven |
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and
he Spake unto me saying Joseph <my son> thy Sins are forgiven thee.
go thy <way> walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold
I am the Lord of glory I was crucifyed for the world that all those
who believe on my name may have Eternal life |
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| World
in sin, hypocritical |
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<behold>
the world lieth in Sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one
they have turned asside from the gospel and keep not <my> commandments
they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me |
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| Lord's
anger
Prophecies to be fulfilled |
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and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit
them acording to thir ungodliness and to bring to pass that which <hath>
been spoken by the mouth of the prophits and Apstles |
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| I come
quickly |
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behold
and lo I come quickly as it written of me in the cloud <clothed> in
the glory of my Father |
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Joseph
filled with love, joy
No one believes him |
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and
my soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great
Joy and the Lord was with me but could find none that would believe the
hevnly vision nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart |
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¶ Orson Pratt's 1840 account:
a state of calmness and peace, indescribable. |
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sins in many things, cannot be written, persecutions and afflictions |
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about
that time my mother and but after many days [4]
I fell into transgression and sinned in many thing which brought a
wound upon my soul and there were many things which transpired that
cannot be writen and my Fathers family have suffered many persecutions
and afflictions
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Handwriting of Frederick
G. Williams (black).
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| Night
vision: sins forgiven |
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and
it—came to pass when I was seventeen years of age I called again
upon the Lord and he shewed unto me a heavenly vision for behold an angel
of the Lord came and stood before me and it was by night and he called
me by name and he said the Lord had forgiven me my sins |
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Vision described by Oliver Cowdery, 1834. ¶ Oliver's History of the Church
(2). |
| Get plates
in Manchester |
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and
he revealed unto me that in the Town of Manchester Ontario County N.Y. there
was plates of gold upon which there was engravings which was engraven by
Maroni & his fathers the servants of the living God in ancient days
and deposited by the commandments of God and kept by the power thereof and
that I should go and get them |
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| Reveals
past revelations |
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and he revealed unto
me many things concerning the inhabitants of of the earth which since have
been revealed in commandments & revelations |
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| September
22, 1822 |
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and it was on the 22d
day of Sept. AD 1822 |
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Above
Joseph says he was 17, but on this date he was 16. He corrects the year
to 1823 in his 1839 account. |
Appears
3 times in night, once next day
Tries 3 times |
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and thus he appeared
unto me three times in one night and one on the next day and then I immediately
went to the place and found where the plates was deposited as the angel
of the Lord had commanded me and straightway made three attempts to get
them |
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| Dream/vision |
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and
then being excedingly frightened I supposed it had been a dreem of [or] Vision
but when I considred I knew that it was not therefore I cried unto the
Lord in the agony of my soul why can I not obtain them |
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Oliver: Cannot
confuse a dream with a vision. ¶
Oliver Cowdery's History of the Church (3) |
| Angel:
cannot have plates because of transgression |
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behold the angel appeared
unto me again and said unto me you have not kept the commandments of the
Lord which I gave unto you therefore you cannot now obtain them for the
time is not yet fulfilled |
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Tempted
to learn
Repent to obtain plates |
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therefore thou wast
left unto temptation that thou mightest be made acquainted with the power
of the advisary therefore repent and call on the Lord thou shalt be forgiven
and in his own due time thou shalt obtain them |
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| Temptation
for wealth |
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[5] for now I had been
tempted of the advisary and saught the Plates to obtain riches and kept
not the commandment that I should have an eye single to the glory of God
therefore I was chastened and saught diligently to obtain the plates and
obtained them not untill I was twenty one years of age |
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| January
18, 1827 marries Emma |
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and in this year I was
married to Emma Hale Daughter of Isaach Hale who lived in Harmony Susquehana
County Pensylvania on the 18th January AD. 1827, |
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| September
22, 1827 obtains plates |
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on the
22d day of Sept of this same year I obtained the plates |
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Move
to Susquehana
Martin believes, helps |
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and the in December
following we mooved to Susquehana by the assistence of a man by the name
of Martin Harris who became convinced of the visions and gave me fifty Dollars
to bare my expences |
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| Martin's
vision |
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and
because of his faith and this rightheous deed the Lord appeared unto him
in a vision and shewed unto him his marvilous work which he was about to
do |
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Member Visions |
| Martin:
must go to New York with characters |
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and
<he> imediately came to Suquehanna and said the Lord had shown him
that he must go to new York City with some of the c<h>aracters and
so we proceeded to coppy some of them |
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Handwriting returns
to Joseph's |
| Learned
say they cannot read
Joseph's spectacles |
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and
he took his Journy to the Eastern Cittys and to the Learned <saying>
read this I pray thee and the learned said I cannot but if he would bring
the plates they would read it but the Lord had fo<r>bid it and he
returned to me and gave them to <me to> translate and I said I said
cannot for I am not learned but the Lord had prepared spectticke spectacles
for to read the Book |
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| Isaiah
29 |
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therefore
I commenced translating the characters and thus the Propicy of Is<ia>ah
was fulfilled which is writen in the 29 chapter concerning the book |
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Frederick G. Williams
handwriting resumes.
Isaiah 29:11–12 |
| Martin
asks for 116 pages |
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and
it came to pass that after we had translated 116 pages that he desired to
carry them to read to his friends that peradventure he might convince them
of the truth |
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| Three
times |
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therefore I inquired
of the Lord and the Lord said unto me that he must not take them and I spoke
unto him (Martin) the word of the Lord and he said inquire again and I inquired
again and also the third time and the Lord said unto me let him go with
them only he shall covenant with me that he will not shew them to only but
four persons |
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| Martin
covenants |
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and he covenented withe
Lord that he would do according to the word of the Lord therefore he took
them and took his journey unto his friends to Palmira Wayne County &
State of N York |
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| Martin
breaks covenant, pages fall into evil hands |
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and he brake the covenent
which he made before the Lord and the Lord suffered the writings to fall
into the hands of wicked men |
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| Martin
and Joseph chastened |
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and Martin was chastened
for his transgression and I also was chastened also for my transgression
for asking the Lord the third time |
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D&C
3
D&C 10 |
| Plates
taken back |
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wherefore the Plates
was taken from me by the power of God and I was not able to obtain them
for a season |
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| Obtains
plates |
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and
it came to pass after much humility and affliction of soul I obtained them
again |
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| Lord shows
plates to Oliver |
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when [the] Lord apppeared
unto a young man by the name of Oliver Cowdry and shewed unto him the plates
in a vision and also the truth of the work and what the Lord was about to
do through me his unworthy servant |
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Oliver's history dates
his first meeting April 5, 1829. He does not mention the vision.
¶ Oliver's History of the Church |
| Martin
offers to write |
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therefore he was desirous
to come and write for me and translate |
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Emma
and Samuel H. had written
Mr. Hale turns Joseph and Emma out
Lord provides |
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now my wife had writen
some for me to translate and also my Brother Samuel
H Smith but we had be come reduced in property and my wives father was
about to turn me out of doors & I had not where to go and I cried unto
the Lord that he would provide for me to accomplish the work whereunto he
had commanded me |
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1835 Accounts of the First Vision
Orson Pratt's 1840 Account
First Vision Accounts
Visions
Kirtland 1831–1832
Joseph Smith
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