Joseph Smith’s First Vision

Learning and Living the Gospel #2 ~ Give a family home evening lesson on Joseph Smith’s First Vision (see Joseph Smith – History 1:1-20). Discuss how Heavenly Father answer our sincere prayers.

Due to this year is the Faith in God year for me and my children, especially Issac whom are going to turn 12 coming November.

I was very anxious about all the activities which needed to be fulfilled, and I was doing a lot of online research on the specific topics early of the year.

It was quite difficult for me to teach and let the kids understand the event of Joseph Smith’s First Vision.

Last March, I was thinking a lot about Joseph Smith’s First Vision, as I first watched the video in the Primary Sharing time. And I was inspired to prepare the lesson for the Faith In God Program for both Issac and Annabelle.

Personally I love this video clip very much. It tells about Joseph Smith’s search for truth led to the First Vision and the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The scripts or the chosen words in the video is actually taken from the Joseph Smith History 1: 1 – 20, and almost the exact scripture.

We can really feel the truthfulness and Joseph Smith’s pure heart in doing the Lord’s work in this last dispensation.

After watching the video clip, Issac and Annabelle try the Joseph Smith First Vision Quiz, there are total about 20 questions in it. Both of them answered most of the questions correctly.

At the same time, we were preparing coloured cut out pictures of the First Vision which we found in the Church Friend Magazine website to use in their upcoming Family Home Evening lesson:

• Joseph Talking to Preacher

In the town where Joseph lived, there was a great deal of excitement about religion. There were many preachers from many different churches.

Each said that he had the truth and tried to convince people to join his church. Joseph wondered which of the churches he should join.

He asked himself, “What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?” (Joseph Smith –History 1:10)

• Joseph Reading the Bible

One day Joseph read in the Bible, “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” (James 1:5).

Joseph decided to do what the scripture said.

He decided to ask Heavenly Father which church was right so that he would know which one he should join.

• The Grove

Joseph had never prayed out loud before. He decided to go to a grove of trees near his home to ask Heavenly Father his questions.

On a beautiful spring morning, he walked into the grove, looked around to be sure that he was alone, and knelt down in prayer.

• Joseph Kneeling and Praying

As he began his prayer, a terrible feeling of darkness surrounded him. It was so strong that he thought it was going to destroy him!

Joseph prayed with all his heart to Heavenly Father for help, to be saved from this evil power.

• Joseph Looking Up to the Sky

Joseph later said, “Just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell 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 by name and said, pointing to the other – This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith – History 1:16-17)

• Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

The two Heavenly Beings were Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Savior told Joseph that he should not join any of the churches because they were all wrong.

When the pillar of light and the Heavenly Being left, Joseph was lying on his back. Joseph returned home with peace and joy.

Later he received visits from other heavenly messengers, translated Book of Mormon, helped to restore the gospel on earth, organized the Church and built the first temple.

• Joseph Smith’s Testimony

When Joseph told others about his vision, they made fun of him. Ministers of other religions persecuted him, even though he was only a boy. “There are no such things as visions anymore! You’re either lying or you’ve been deceived by the devil.”

Joseph never denied his testimony. He said, “Though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true;... For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.”

We actually split this lesson to two different days. The children taking their tune in practising their Family Home Evening lesson by retelling the event of the First Vision. Then we came into second part of the lesson.

The second part of the lesson is discussion of How Heavenly Father answer our sincere prayer?

I shared with both children that, we too, can go to Heavenly Father in prayer and receive answers to important questions in our lives.

Just like Joseph Smith’s prayer, our prayers will be heard and answered when we sincerely speak to Heavenly Father.

Sometimes the answer may be No, because what we have asked for would not be best for us.

Sometimes the answer is Yes, and we have a comfort, warm feeling about what we should do.

Sometimes the answer is “Wait for Awhile.” Our prayers are always answered at a time and in a way that the Lord knows will help us the most.

Individuals may be inspired to perform acts that will answer our prayers. Sometimes the Lord answers our prayers through other people - a good friend, a husband or wife, a parent or other family member, a church leader, a missionary — any of these individuals may be inspired to perform acts that will answer our prayers.

Often God gives us the power to help answer our own prayers. As we pray for help, we should do all we can to bring about the things we desire.

And, it concluded our lesson on Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Hope this lesson will strengthen Issac and Annabelle’s understanding and most importantly is their own testimony of this event.

As President Joseph F. Smith said: “The greatest event that has ever occurred in the world, since the resurrection of the Son of God from the tomb and his ascension on high, was the coming of the Father and of the Son to that boy Joseph Smith. … Having accepted this truth, I find it easy to accept of every other truth that [Joseph Smith] … declared” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. pp. 495–96).