Chapter 2: Joseph Smith’s First Vision: 1820
Joseph Smith and his family believed in God, and they read the Bible together. Joseph’s parents taught their children to be honest and kind.
At that time, there were many churches in the area where Joseph lived. People have different opinions about which church is right. Joseph didn’t know which church to join. He wanted to know which church was the true church of Jesus Christ.
When Joseph was fourteen years old, he was reading the Bible one day and read that if we want to know something, we should ask God. Joseph decided to pray and ask God which church he should join.
On a beautiful, clear spring day, Joseph went into the woods near his home, knelt down, and prayed vocally. He had faith and knew that Heavenly Father would answer his prayers. He learned that Heavenly Father would answer his prayers.
Satan did not want Joseph to pray, so he tried to stop him. He caused darkness to surround Joseph. Joseph was terrified and unable to speak.
Yet Joseph did not stop praying. Satan could not stop him.
Then Joseph had a vision. He saw a beautiful, bright pillar of light that stayed around him. He saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They stood in the air above him. The Father pointed to Jesus and said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
Joseph asked Jesus which church he should join. Jesus told Joseph not to join any of the churches of the time because they were all wrong and none of them was His church. He told Joseph many more things, and then the vision ended.
When Joseph returned home, his mother asked him what happened. Joseph said he was fine. He told his mother that he had seen a vision. He told his mother all that he had learned in the vision.
Joseph also told some people in the town about his vision. Those people didn’t believe it and said he was lying. They were very angry and treated him harshly.
Joseph always told the truth about the visions he had seen. He knew that he actually saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He knew that no church in the world at that time was true.
