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The account of Joseph Smith's First Vision which occurred in the Spring of 1820 was recorded multiple times over the prophet's life. Each time he retold the event, details seemed to change as to whether he saw one of two heavenly beings, how old he was when it happened, and what was the central theme of his experience praying. Was the main intent and result of his prayer to receive forgiveness of his sins or an answer on which church to join? I don't get caught up in the fact he says he was 14 years old in one account whereas he says he was 16 in another. Joseph did not even record his experience until he was 27 years old. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to recall at what specific age I did a lot of things in my adolescence. As for the variations in theme, it's interesting the second account in 1835 only mentions how Joseph received forgiveness from the Lord. Nothing is mentioned as to Joseph asking or receiving an answer on which church to join. Does this bother me? Actually, no. It doesn't. I understand Joseph would find the need to focus on different parts of the experience to suit the needs of his audience at the time as well as his purpose in retelling what happened. Also, Joseph's First Vision is more credible to me considering the fact his first account includes him receiving forgiveness for his sins AND receiving an answer on which church to join. His first account is the most important account to state his intent all along was to know which church was true. He wasn't just a boy having a positive experience upon receiving forgiveness for his sins. However, I see how suspicions are raised when his first account doesn't explicitly state he saw two heavenly beings. Most readers would be led to believe he only saw one. I don't understand how his first account did not clearly state he saw two heavenly beings. Some say he was limited in his writing skills, hence the ambiguity, but I read the first account as it was written by someone capable of describing events accurately. He was an intelligent young man. I like how the church is very upfront with these different accounts. It doesn't try to hide the variations of Joseph's First Vision from the public. It's even posted on the church's website. The church states it's possible Joseph intended his first account to allude to two different "Lords" as Joseph mentions "the Lord" three times. I hold that at best as "a possibility." Even though I'm confused as to why Joseph's first account does not clearly state two heavenly beings were present, I take a lot of stock in the fact his first account declares his intent all along was to know which church is true. https://www.lds.org/topics/first-vision-accounts?lang=eng 1832 Account (written by Joseph Smith) I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and obtain mercy and the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in <the> attitude of calling upon the Lord <in the 16th year of my age> a piller of light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the <Lord> opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph <my son> thy sins are forgiven thee. go thy <way> walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucifyed for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life <behold> the world lieth in sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned asside from the gospel and keep not <my> commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them acording to thir ungodliness and to bring to pass that which <hath> been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and Ap[o]stles behold and lo I come quickly as it [is?] written of me in the cloud <clothed> in the glory of my Father 1835 Account (spoken by Joseph Smith and recorded by his scribe Warren Parrish) I called upon the Lord for the first time, in the place above stated or in other words I made a fruitless attempt to pray, my toung seemed to be swolen in my mouth, so that I could not utter, I heard a noise behind me like some person walking towards me, <I> strove again to pray, but could not, the noise of walking seemed to draw nearer, I sprung up on my feet, and looked around, but saw no person or thing that was calculated to produce the noise of walking, I kneeled again my mouth was opened and my toung liberated, and I called on the Lord in mighty prayer, a pillar of fire appeared above my head, it presently rested down upon <me>, and filled me with joy unspeakable, a personage appeard in the midst, of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeard like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testifyed unto me that Jesus Christ is the son of God; <and I saw many angels in this vision> I was about 14. years old when I received this first communication 1838 Account (dictated by Joseph Smith and published by Times and Seasons) After I had retired into the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God, I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was <siezed> upon by some power which entirely overcame me and <had> such astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had siezed upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction, not to an imaginary ruin but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world who had such a marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being. 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 gracefully gradually untill it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. 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.” My object in going to enquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner therefore did I get possession of myself so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right, (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong) and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the Personage who addressed me said that all their Creeds were an abomination in his sight, that those professors were all corrupt, that “they draw near to me to with their lips but their hearts are far from me, They teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of Godliness but they deny the power thereof.” He again forbade me to join with any of them and many other thing did he say unto me which I cannot write at this time. 1842 Account (published by Times and Seasons as instructed by Joseph Smith) I retired to a secret place in a grove and began to call upon the Lord, while fervently engaged in supplication my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features, and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noon-day. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was acknowledged of God as his church and kingdom. And I was expressly commanded to “go not after them,” at the same time receiving a promise that the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me.