Apr 1, 2020
In this episode, Latter-day Saint historian Ron
Barney joins LDF host Dan Wotherspoon to
talk about the actual historical records related to Joseph Smith's
"First Vision." And the documents show that how we generally talk
about this event now is far from how it was seen and spoken and
written about in the early days of the church, and by Smith
himself. Today's assumptions about a clean history of magnificent
visitation by God the Father and Jesus Christ are the result of a
long line of decisions that chose to canonize in today's Pearl of
Great Price the 1838 version.
This conversation differs from many that simply teach the various
accounts and allow those who read or listen to puzzle for
themselves how these various tellings agree or disagree with each
other. In no way does this discussion tell anyone what to think in
these areas, but instead concentrates on the history of the
documents, the circumstances in which they were created, if they
were written or overseen and corrected by Joseph Smith himself, who
Smith's scribes were and what scribal choices ended up in the
established version (things such as when the event took place, and
more!)
Throughout it all, Ron and Dan talk openly about the complexity of
all things surrounding the First Vision while also sharing how they
hold these documentable complications in a way that allows them to
also incorporate elements of faith that are too often easily
dismissed by the skeptical world. Even though no one can ever
really know the nature of what Smith experienced in the grove or in
any of his visions/visitations, both believe the record quite
concretely shows that real spiritual and/or revelatory things
occurred that affected him greatly and from which he drew great
strength throughout his short but action-filled life. There are too
many parallels with other theophanies that led to great movements
to dismiss Smith's out of hand simply because he at tames shared
different details.
General Conference is coming up, and it is said it will celebrate
the 200th anniversary of the First Vision. Immerse yourself in
Smith's world as Ron shares fabulous details and offers a
clear-eyed view of the documentary record itself as it relates to
things church leaders likely will focus on this weekend. This
episode is definitely worth your time and attention!