Joseph Smith Sr. Visions

Mormon History 1830-1844

Joseph Smith Sr. Visions

According to Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Sr. had seven visions between 1811 and 1819. She details five in her history variously known as Biographical Sketches of Joseph, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations (1835) and History of the Prophet Joseph Smith (1945). The critical edition of available manuscripts, quoted at this website, is Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, edited by Lavina Fielding Smith and published by Signature Books (2001). The earliest manuscript
The five visions that Lucy documents all occur at night, while Joseph Sr. is asleep. Though she herself has a prophetic dream (¶ Member Dreams), she refers to her experience as a dream and to her husband's as visions.
Because the earliest draft of Lucy's work was prepared in 1844–1843, readers are well advised to consider the possibility that Lucy's recollections may be tainted by her inordinate need to present her husband and children, especially Joseph Jr., in the most favorable light possible. Her memories are also, of course, subject to influences that distort, invent, and forget all memories.
The five recalled visions are: The barren field, magic box, and beasts The desolate field, broad and narrow ways, delicious white fruit, and spacious building The flower garden and bowing wooden images Judgment day and Jesus' name Just one more thing
[April] 1811	Barren field, magic box, beasts
Sects	Joseph Sr. retires to bed contemplating the confusion of the Christian world.
Night vision	He soon fell into a sleep, and before waking had the following vision, which I shall relate in his own words, just as he told it to me the next morning:—	Lucy, 294–296 (1844–1845 version).
Barren field	Joseph "seemed" to be traveling through an open, barren field—nothing but fallen trees in all directions, not even a blade of grass, and not a sound to be heard.
Attending spirit	… no living thing … was there save myself and an attendant spirit that stood at my side of this personage I enquired the meaning of what I saw and why I was traveling in this gloomy place
	Joseph Sr. asks the spirit why he (Joseph) was in such a dismal place. The spirit answers that the field is the world:
	inanimate & dumb as to the things pertaining to the true religion or the order of Heavenly things all is darkness
Magic box	He is told to continue on until he comes upon a box on a log:
	whose contents will make you wise and if you eat the same you {shall} have wisdom and understanding
Wisdom, understanding	I did as I was directed and presently came to box I took it up and placed it under my left arm forced up the lid and began to taste of its contents
Threatening animals	when all maner of beasts {and} horned cattle and roaring animals rose up on every side and rushed upon me tearing the Earth tossing their horns in air belowing round {him} <me> threatning every moment to devour {me} <me>
Drops the box and runs, wakes up	they came so close upon me that I was forced to drop the box—and fly for my life although <it> {the possesion of} made me the happiest of anything <of which> I ever had possession I awoke trembling with terror
[Summer] 1811	Desolate field, broad and narrow ways, delicious white fruit, spacious building
	After the family moves from Royalton, Vermont to Lebanon (now West Lebanon), New Hampshire, Joseph Sr. receives another vision reported by his wife, Lucy.	Lucy, 296–298 (1853 version). Not in the 1844–1845 version. Cp. 1 Nephi 8:2–28. (Lehi's dream) "I beheld a large and spacious field."1 Nephi 8:9
Desolate field the world	Traveling in an open, desolate field, it occurs to Joseph that he should stop and consider what he was doing before continuing. His guide tells him this is "the desolate world; but travel on."
Broad road	The road was so broad and barren that I wondered why I should travel in it; for, said I to myself, "Broad is the road, and wide is the gate that leads to death, and many there be that walk therein; but narrow is the way, and straight is the gate that leads to everlasting life, and few there be that go in thereat."	"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and may there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13–14. "I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree …" 1 Nephi 8:19
Narrow way Rope along bank	Soon he comes to a narrow path, which he takes. He sees a beautiful stream running from east to west as far as he could see in both directions. A rope runs along the bank as high as a man can reach.
Valley, tree with white fruit	Beyond is a pleasant valley with a beautiful tree in it. Its fruit is shaped like a chestnut bur. As he watches, the burs open, dropping dazzling white fruit. Joseph eats the fruit, which is "delicious beyond description."	"I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. … I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And … it filed my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also …" 1 Nephi 8:10–13.
Brings family	Then he remembers his family and brings them—a wife and seven children—to the tree. They all eat and praise God for the blessing.
Exceedingly happy	We were exceedingly happy, inso–[289]much that our joy could not easily be expressed.
Spacious building People mocking	Then Joseph notices "a spacious building" on the opposite side of the valley, "and it appeared to reach to the very heavens." It is full of doors and windows, "filled with people, who were very finely dressed. When these people observed us in the low valley, under the tree, they pointed the finger of scorn at us and treated us with all manner of disrespect and contempt."	"… cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people… and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were … mocking and pointing their fingers at those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit." 1 Nephi 8:26–27.
	Turning from them, Joseph asks the guide what the delicious fruit means.
Fruit is pure love of God	He told me it was the pure love of God, shed abroad in the hearts of all those who love him, and keep his commandments.	"Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying, Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men …" 1 Nephi 11:21–22.
Rest of family	He then commanded me to go and bring the rest of my children. I told him that we were all there.	Lavina Fielding Anderson suggests if this was before Katharine's birth on July 38, 1813, the two could be Joseph's first unnamed child and Ephraim. After 1813, the two could have been those not yet born (Don Carlos and Lucy). Lucy, 298n36.
	"No," he replied, "look yonder, you have two more, and you must bring them also."
Two children in distance	In the distance he sees two small children. He brings them to the tree, where they also eat the fruit.
	The more we eat, the more we seemed to desire, until we even got down upon our knees, and scooped it, eating it by double handfulls.
	When Joseph asks what the spacious building means, he is told:
Building is Babylon, which scorns the Saints	"It is Babylon, it is Babylon, and it must fall. The people in the doors and windows are the inhabitants thereof, who scorn and despise the Saints of god, because of their humility."
	I soon awoke, clapping my hands together for joy.
March 1816	Flower garden and bowing wooden images
	3th vision of Joseph Smith Senior …	Lucy, 319–320.
Joseph Sr. very sick and lame	[Joseph Sr.] dreamed that he was very sick and so lame he could scarcely walk.
	He asks his guide, who tells him to go to a certain garden. So Joseph sets out, then asks the guide how he will recognize the garden.
Guide: go to garden	the guid said walk till you come to a larger gate then open the gate and your eyes shall see behold the most beautiful folowers [sic] you ever Saw
Beautiful flowers, pathways Benches with bowing images	Determined to get to the garden, Joseph Sr. sets off with a staff, limping along [320] until, with great effort, he reaches the garden. It is filled with beautiful flowers and marble pathways. The path from the gate is lined with benches on each side. On each seat is a wooden image [the 1853 version states that each figure is the size of a very large man]. As he passes by, each image rises and bows to him.
12 on each side	Turning to the left, he sees an image that rises to bow to him, then notices there are twelve images on the right and twelve on the left. Each rises and bows as he passes by.
	He asks the guide for the meaning of all this.
Wakes	he began to explain the vision when I sudenly awoke
[1818]	Judgment day, pray for forgiveness in Jesus' name
	6th vision of Joseph Smith Sen. …	Lucy, 324–325 (1844–1845 version).
Tired, but hurries	I thought I was walking {very fast} alone and although I was very much {I still} fatigued I went on as fast as I convenineently could
Judgment in meeting house Throngs	and I seemed to be on my way to meeting <and it was the day of judgement and I was going to be judged but {I thou}> when I came in sight of the meeting house I saw crowds of people coming from every direction
Joseph lets up, door closes Too late	They are "pressing with great anxiety towards the door" of the house. Joseph decides there is time and slows his pace. But when he gets there, the door is shut. He knocks on the door and is told he has arrived too late.
Begins to perish	I soon felt that I was perishing and began to pray but {I} my flesh continued to wither on my bones and I grew still more anxious and prayed still more [325] fervently
Angel: anything left undone?	and I was about to despair … when the angel that attended {th} me asked {hi}me if I had not [le]ft some thing undone
Justice must have its demands	Joseph replies that he has done everything he knew about and the guide responds, "Justice must have its demands and then mercy …"	Lavina Fielding Anderson notes there is no biblical equivalent, but several in Mosiah 3, Alma 34 and 42.
	Suddenly Joseph remembers to ask God in the name of Jesus, and he cries out:
Cries out in Jesus' name	Oh lord I beseech thee in the name of Jesus christ to forgive my sins
That does it Jesus the advocate with the Father	He is strengthened and his flesh begins to be restored. The angel tells him he "must plead the merits of jesus for he is a [ad]vocate with the father and a mediator between God and man."
	The door opens and as he enters, Joseph awakes.
1819	Just one thing more
	… the seventh and last vision that my husband had, which vision was received in the year 1819.	1853 version
	Joseph dreams that a peddler approaches him and asks him to trade with him again. He says he has always traded with him and found him strictly honest. This is the last time. He (Joseph) needs only one more thing for salvation.	Lucy, 330 (1844–1845 version).
	The man says he will write down what he needs. In his rush to get some paper, Joseph wakes up.
	Smith Family Visions Visions Beliefs and Practices