This FHE lesson on Joseph Smith focuses on the different accounts of the First Vision and how the First Vision personally impacts our lives today.
Scripture
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.
Hymn
Joseph Smith’s First Prayer | Hymn #26
1. Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing thru the grove,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love.
2. Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing—
’Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer—
When the pow’rs of sin assailing
Filled his soul with deep despair;
But undaunted, still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care,
But undaunted, still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care.
3. Suddenly a light descended,
Brighter far than noonday sun,
And a shining, glorious pillar
O’er him fell, around him shone,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son.
4. “Joseph, this is my Beloved;
Hear him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God,
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God.
Lesson
For Children
Begin by asking: What do you know about the First Vision?
Read aloud: Joseph Smith was a 14-year-old farm boy who wanted to know what church was right. He lived in a time when people had many different opinions about God and how people should follow him. They often fought about these things and it confused many people. Joseph read the Bible, talked to church leaders, and pondered on what he should do.
One day, he when reading in the Bible, he came across a scripture about prayer.
Have someone read James 1:5: 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.
Read aloud: This scripture tells us that if we will ask of God, God will answer our prayers. Joseph said that this scripture made a big impression on his heart. He felt he had to pray. So he set aside some time to go and pray in the woods near his home. He picked out the spot ahead of time. His goal was to ask God which church he should join.
What happened next is miraculous!
Show this picture as you read Joseph Smith History 1:16-17:
I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
Ask: Do you know what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ told Joseph Smith?
Read aloud: Joseph was told that none of the churches were true and that he had a great work to do. He would restore God’s church on the earth. We are here today because of the First Vision.
Ask: How are we like Joseph Smith? [We have questions. We can pray to God. God knows us by name. We can spread the gospel.]
Finish the lesson by bearing your testimony about the First Vision.
For Teens & Adults
Begin by watching this video on LDS.org. Before pressing play, ask everyone to think about how the First Vision has impacted their lives.
Ask: How has your life been personally affected by what Joseph Smith saw that day?
Read aloud: The First Vision is one of the most, if not the most, important events of the Restoration. It shattered the myth that the heavens were closed. We learned about the nature of the Godhead. We learned about God’s awareness and love for his children.
During his life, Joseph shared and documented the experience he had in the Sacred Grove. Two accounts were published in his lifetime. Four accounts were written down at Joseph’s direction. We’re going to be learning a little bit about each account.
1832: This is the only account written in Joseph’s own hand. This account emphasizes Joseph’s frustration and guilt over his sins and the joy offered by the personal redemption of Jesus Christ after the First Vision. In this account, Joseph says “the Lord” appeared and forgave him of his sins.
1835: This account was recorded in Joseph’s journal by Warren Parrish, his scribe. It occurred when Joseph told the story to Robert Matthews, a visitor to Kirtland. In this account, Joseph talked about his journey to the First Vision and the opposition he felt when he prayed. He noted the arrival of one divine personage, followed directly after by another. He also mentions the appearance of angels.
1838: This account is the best-known account to Latter-day Saints. It was published in Nauvoo and eventually included in the current standard works. This account notes the arrival of both Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and was given as a longer history of the “rise and progress of the Church.”
1842: Joseph wrote this account in response to a request from John Wentworth, a newspaper editor in Chicago, about the church. It is a concise and straightforward account similar to the 1838 account.
You can read all of the accounts here.
Ask: What do we learn from studying these accounts?
Finish the lesson by bearing your testimony of the First Vision.
For Single Study
Read in depth about the many different accounts of the First Vision. Read each one and ponder how the First Vision has blessed your life.
Featured Products
Get your FREE Joseph Smith’s First Vision Coloring Page here!
Treat
Treat
Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 cups corn flakes
Directions:
- In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter. Cook over medium high heat until center starts to boil, make sure to stir constantly so the sugar doesn’t burn.
- As soon as the sugar mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and corn flakes, mix until corn flakes are evenly coated in sugar mixture.
- Use an ice cream scoop to drop cookies onto wax paper as quickly as possible before mixture starts to cool and harden.
- Let cool on wax paper for 20 to 30 minutes before enjoying.
(Courtesy of spendwithpennies.com)
Activity
ActivityNight Bowling
For this fun craft, you’ll need:
- Six empty soda or juice bottles
- glow sticks
- a ball or a hamster ball (optional, if you’d like a glow in the ball)
Fill the empty bottles with the activated glowsticks and start bowling! You can add water to some of the bottles if you’d like a challenge.
(From growingajeweledrose.com)
