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Latter-day Saints · History & Sources

Latter-day Saints · History & Sources

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Chronology of First Vision Accounts

The earliest account of Joseph Smith’s First Vision was composed in 1832 in his own handwriting. While this account included the phrase “in the 16th year of my age” inserted by a scribe, Joseph’s accounts were generally written more than a decade after the vision occurred.

What the evidence supports

  • Joseph Smith composed his earliest First Vision account in his own handwriting in 1832.
  • In the 1832 account, one of Joseph’s scribes inserted the phrase “in the 16th year of my age.”
  • Joseph’s accounts were all written more than a decade after the vision occurred.

Sources

  • First Vision Accounts

Evidence

  • The major differences in Joseph Smith’s First Vision accounts are found in the earliest, which was written in 1832.
    The major differences in Joseph Smith’s First Vision accounts are found in the earliest, which was written in 1832.
    First Vision Accounts · p. 12
    Open original source
  • In the 1832 account, one of Joseph’s scribes inserted the phrase “in the 16th year of my age.”
    In the 1832 account, one of Joseph’s scribes inserted the phrase “in the 16th year of my age.”
    First Vision Accounts · p. 12
    Open original source
  • The earliest account, Joseph prayed seeking forgiveness for his sins.
    In the earliest account, Joseph prayed seeking forgiveness for his sins.
    First Vision Accounts · p. 12
    Open original source
  • In his 1838 history, Joseph Smith said that his First Vision occurred in the spring of 1820.
    In his 1838 history, Joseph Smith said that his First Vision occurred in the spring of 1820.
    First Vision Accounts · p. 14
    Open original source
  • Joseph Smith composed his earliest First Vision account in his own handwriting in 1832.
    Joseph Smith composed his earliest First Vision account in his own handwriting in 1832.
    First Vision Accounts · p. 14
    Open original source
  • Joseph’s accounts were all written more than a decade after the vision occurred.
    Joseph’s accounts were all written more than a decade after the vision occurred.
    First Vision Accounts · p. 14
    Open original source

Sources

  • First Vision Accounts
    Document
    The major differences in Joseph Smith’s First Vision accounts are found in the earliest, which was written in 1832.
    Open original source

Review status

Passed the automated source check on 10/21/2026 (model: deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash). This is an automated check, not a human approval.