Joseph Smith—History 1

The Church bearing His name

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

Owing to the many reports which have been put in circulation by evil-disposed and designing persons, in relation to the rise and progress of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all of which have been designed by the authors thereof to militate against its character as a Church and its progress in the world—I have been induced to write this history, to disabuse the public mind, and put all inquirers after truth in possession of the facts, as they have transpired, in relation both to myself and the Church, so far as I have such facts in my possession. Joseph Smith—History 1:1

The history opens with the name the Lord gave His restored Church, which carries His own name. The Savior taught that His Church must be called in His name.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to D&C 115:4 — The Lord reveals this exact name for His Church in the last days.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 27:7-8 — The risen Savior teaches that His church must be called in His name.

First Vision

But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized 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 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 gradually until it fell upon me. Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17

In the Sacred Grove, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph as two separate, glorified Personages. The light that drove away the darkness came with Their presence.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Joseph Smith—History 1:25 — Joseph restates that he saw two Personages who spoke to him.
• alludes to Acts 7:55-56 — Stephen likewise saw the glory of God and the Son standing at His right hand as two beings.

Beloved Son

Beloved Son — the Father's own title for Jesus Christ

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! Joseph Smith—History 1:17

The Father introduces Jesus Christ and tells Joseph to listen to Him, the same witness the Father gave at Jesus' baptism, on the Mount of Transfiguration, and at Bountiful. From then on it is the Son who speaks.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Matthew 3:17 — At Jesus' baptism the Father declares, This is my beloved Son.
• the same title in Matthew 17:5 — On the mount the Father says, This is my beloved Son ... hear ye him.
• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:7 — The Father introduces His Beloved Son to the Nephites: hear ye him.

Jesus Christ speaking in the First Vision

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 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." Joseph Smith—History 1:19–20

The Father said 'Hear Him,' so the Personage answering Joseph is understood to be the Son. Jesus Christ uses the words Jehovah gave Isaiah, and Paul's, to describe the apostasy, and He tells Joseph to join none of the churches.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• quotes Isaiah 29:13 — Jehovah: this people draw near me with their mouth ... but have removed their heart far from me.
• quotes Matthew 15:8-9 — Jesus used the same Isaiah words against teaching the commandments of men.
• quotes 2 Timothy 3:5 — Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.
• the same event in Joseph Smith—History 1:17 — The Father's command to 'Hear Him' comes just before the Son speaks.

The voice Paul heard (Jesus)

However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise. Joseph Smith—History 1:24

Joseph compares himself to Paul on the road to Damascus. The voice Paul heard from the light was the risen Jesus, so both witnesses saw the Lord and were persecuted for saying so.

• alludes to Acts 26:13-15 — Paul tells Agrippa of the light and the voice: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

First Vision

So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation. Joseph Smith—History 1:25

Joseph bears a firm witness that he truly saw the Father and the Son and heard Them speak, and that he could not deny it.

• the same event in Joseph Smith—History 1:17 — The original account of the two Personages.

Savior

Savior — the one who rescues and saves

He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants; Joseph Smith—History 1:34

Moroni tells Joseph the gold plates hold the gospel as the Savior Himself taught it to the ancient people of the Americas, which points to His visit in 3 Nephi.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same event in 3 Nephi 11:8-11 — The resurrected Savior descends and teaches the people at Bountiful.

Messenger of the covenant

Messenger of the covenant — the Lord who suddenly comes to His temple

After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus: Joseph Smith—History 1:36

Malachi 3 foretells the Lord, the Messenger of the covenant, suddenly coming to His temple. Moroni's quoting it hints that this coming was near, but the text does not say which verses he quoted.

• quotes Malachi 3:1-3 — Probably part of what Moroni quoted; the text does not name the verses.

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah, Lord of the armies of heaven

For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. Joseph Smith—History 1:37

The Lord of Hosts is Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ. Here He foretells the burning at His Second Coming, when the proud and wicked cannot stand.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• quotes Malachi 4:1 — Moroni's slightly different wording of Malachi 4:1.
• a parallel account in 3 Nephi 25:1 — The risen Christ gave Malachi's words to the Nephites.
• quotes D&C 133:64 — The Lord repeats: the day cometh that shall burn as an oven.

Second Coming

And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Joseph Smith—History 1:38–39

Elijah would restore priesthood keys before the great day of the Lord. 'His coming' is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and without the sealing power the earth would not be ready for Him.

• quotes Malachi 4:5-6 — Moroni's version of Malachi's promise of Elijah.
• a parallel account in D&C 2:1-3 — The same words of Moroni, kept as a section of the Doctrine and Covenants.
• fulfilled by D&C 110:13-16 — Elijah comes to the Kirtland Temple; the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near.

The Prophet like unto Moses

Christ — the Anointed One

In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when "they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people," but soon would come. Joseph Smith—History 1:40

Moroni says the prophet Moses promised, the one like himself, is Christ. Those who refuse to hear His voice will be cut off, a judgment still to come.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• quotes Acts 3:22-23 — Peter quotes Moses' promise of a prophet like him.
• interprets Deuteronomy 18:15-19 — Moroni identifies the promised prophet in Moses' words as Christ.
• the same title in 3 Nephi 20:23 — The risen Jesus: I am he of whom Moses spake.
• the same title in 1 Nephi 22:20-21 — Nephi also teaches that this prophet is the Holy One of Israel.

Stem of Jesse

Stem of Jesse — Christ, from David's family line

In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when "they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people," but soon would come. Joseph Smith—History 1:40

Isaiah 11 speaks of the rod and Stem of Jesse, whom latter-day revelation identifies as Christ, and of His righteous, peaceful reign. Moroni says these events were about to begin.

• quotes Isaiah 11:1-5 — The chapter Moroni quoted: the rod out of the stem of Jesse.
• interpreted by D&C 113:1-2 — The Stem of Jesse is Christ.

Messiah

Messiah — the Anointed One

Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. Joseph Smith—History 1:69

John the Baptist was Christ's forerunner in mortality, and he returns to confer the priesthood in the name of Messiah. The Aaronic Priesthood prepares people to come to Christ through repentance and baptism.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• a parallel account in D&C 13:1 — The same words of John the Baptist, in scripture form.
• alludes to Malachi 3:3 — The sons of Levi offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Following Christ into the water

Immediately on our coming up out of the water after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father. No sooner had I baptized Oliver Cowdery, than the Holy Ghost fell upon him, and he stood up and prophesied many things which should shortly come to pass. And again, so soon as I had been baptized by him, I also had the spirit of prophecy, when, standing up, I prophesied concerning the rise of this Church, and many other things connected with the Church, and this generation of the children of men. We were filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced in the God of our salvation. Joseph Smith—History 1:73

Joseph and Oliver's baptism echoes Jesus' own: He came up out of the water and the Spirit descended. They follow the pattern Christ set.

• alludes to Matthew 3:16 — Jesus went up out of the water and the Spirit of God descended.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 31:8 — After Christ was baptized, the Holy Ghost descended upon Him.