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Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith experienced the First Vision in the year of 1820 in his fourteenth year of life. There has never been an event more glorious or controversial in time. It has been described as possibly being the most singular event to ever occur on the earth since the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is hard to believe for some and it is hard for some to explain. However, the events that have occurred since that time is astounding and cannot be denied. A short synopsis of the First Vision is given: ‘In the spring of 1820, 14-year old Joseph Smith was searching for the true Church of Jesus Christ when he read a passage in the Bible (James 1:5-6): “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him”. With simple, unwavering faith, young Joseph followed the counsel in that passage. He went alone to a grove of trees, where he prayed to know which church he should join. In answer to his prayer, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. Among other things, They told him that he should join none of the churches then in existence.’¹After experiencing this incredible vision, young Joseph did not hide the fact that he did have a vision and that he was visited by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Joseph did tell others outside his family of this experience. As a result, there was much criticism, contempt and even hatred towards him. Young Joseph’s mother, Lucy recalled that after the First Vision, ‘and from this time until the twenty-first of September, 1823, Joseph continued, as usual, to labor with his father, and nothing during this interval occurred of very great importance; though he suffered every kind of opposition and persecution from the different orders of religionists.’²Joseph’s mother was a strong woman; she bore eleven children in which all but four preceded her in death. During her life, she watched six of her immediate family and one grandson die as a result of the mobs and persecutions, but she never wavered in her testimony of the her son, the Prophet Joseph Smith and her testimony of the Restored Gospel. Joseph Senior, the Prophet Joseph’s father, endured much ridicule and persecution because of his son’s claims and experiences. Yet, he continued to support his son. When young Joseph was given the gold plates from which he translated the Book of Mormon, Joseph Sr., was given the privilege of handling them. He testified to the truthfulness of the sacred book. On one occasion he was imprisoned and told ‘he would be released if he would deny the Book of Mormon‘. He did not deny it!In the next three years the Prophet Joseph Smith needed to prove his worthiness in which he did. He was given the divine mission of a prophet of God. Through him, the Lord accomplished a great deal. The Book of Mormon was brought forth, the restoring of the priesthood to the earth, the revealing of gospel truths, the organization of the true Church of Jesus Christ and the establishing of temple work. Mormons believe that Joseph Smith was foreordained and saved for the very purpose of restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though persecuted and finally martyred Mormons believe that Joseph Smith,the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it (D&C 135:3.)1-“True to the Faith”, a gospel reference, pg 892-“History of Joseph Smith by His Mother”, by Preston Nibley, 1958, pg 74