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How have the events that followed the first vision made a difference for me and my loves ones?

You can’t become what you don’t see.

I've been asked to speak about how the events that followed the first vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?

Gordon B. Hinckley said: "In all recorded religious history there is nothing to compare with it. The New Testament recounts the baptism of Jesus when the voice of God was heard and the Holy Ghost descended in the form of a dove. At the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter, James and John saw the Lord transfigured before them. They heard the voice of the Father, but they did not see him. Why did both the Father and the Son come to a boy, a mere lad? For one thing, they came to usher in the greatest gospel dispensation of all time, when all previous dispensations should be gathered and brought together in one."

Joseph Smith said:

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 brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noon day.

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 . . . . 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.

SOME EFFECTS: Let us not forget or take for granted the many precious truths we have learned from the First Vision and the events that followed it.

We learn that when we care enough to desire God’s input in our life, He will reveal a refining course for us. At Joseph’s time all the denominations and sects were wrong.

We learn that every dispensation of time receives the visions, blessings, and glories of God.

We learn insight into how God chooses His prophets.

We learn that God chooses the pure in heart who are righteous and have righteous desires to do His work, confirming the teaching from the Bible that God looks upon the heart and does not choose based on outward appearance or social status or standing.

TIMELINE OF JOSEPH SMITH

1820 Age 14: Joseph receives the First Vision, of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in the Sacred Grove in answer to a prayer about which church to join.

1823 Age 17: Joseph is instructed by the angel Moroni for the first time, who reveals to Joseph information about an ancient record that will need to be translated and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1824 Age 18: Joseph is instructed by the angel Moroni at the Hill Cumorah until 1827.

After years of instruction, Joseph obtains the gold plates from the angel. He and his wife, Emma, face many persecutions.

1828 Age 22: Martin Harris obtains certificate of authenticity from Professor Charles Anthon stating Joseph’s translation of a set of ancient characters is correct. Anthon asks where the characters were found. Upon hearing Joseph’s story, Anthon withdraws certification and offers to translate the gold plates himself. Learning that part of the plates are sealed, he says, in fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 29:11), “I cannot read a sealed book.”

Joseph Smith commences translation of the Book of Mormon with Martin Harris as scribe.

Martin Harris leaves Harmony with 116 translated pages of the Book of Mormon, against the Lord’s counsel, to show them to others and convince them of the truth of the translation. The pages are lost between June and July.

In July we see Joseph’s first known recording of a revelation immediately after receiving it (Doctrine and Covenants 3). The interpreters and plates are then taken from the Prophet by the angel Moroni. Later, they are returned to the Prophet by angel Moroni.

Elder Richard J. Maynes Of the Presidency of the Seventy said “it is an amazing and enlightening experience to analyze what we learn from this sacred, awe-inspiring experience.”

In his talk, the Fruits Of The First Vision, Elder Uchtdorf taught: “Through our faith in the personal witness of the Prophet Joseph and the reality of the First Vision, through study and prayer, deep and sincere, we will be blessed with a firm faith in the Savior of the world, who spoke to Joseph “on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. Faith in Jesus Christ and a testimony of Him and His universal Atonement is not just a doctrine with great theological value. Such faith is a universal gift, glorious for all cultural regions of this earth, irrespective of language, race, color, nationality, or socioeconomic circumstance. The powers of reason may be used to try to understand this gift, but those who feel its effects most deeply are those who are willing to accept its blessings, which come from a pure and clean life of following the path of true repentance and living the commandments of God.”

MORE EFFECTS: Joseph Smith’s First Vision is the key to unlocking many truths that had been hidden for centuries.

We learn the reality of Satan’s existence and that he has actual power to influence the physical world, including us.

We learn that Satan’s power is limited and superseded by God’s power.

We learn that Satan will stop at nothing to destroy the work of God and that Satan must have known the importance of Joseph Smith in his role as the prophet of the Restoration.

We learn that we can overcome Satan by calling upon God and putting our complete faith and trust in Him.

We learn that where there is light, darkness must depart.

We learn that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate and distinct beings, resembling each other in features and likeness.

We learn that we are created in God’s image.

We learn that Christ is risen.

We learn that God knows us personally and is aware of our needs and concerns. He called Joseph by name.

We learn of the relationship between the Father and the Son. Jesus defers to His Father, and the Father communicates with mortals here upon the earth through His Son.

We learn that Jesus Christ is beloved of His Father by the Father’s designating Jesus as His Beloved Son.

We learn that the true Church of Jesus Christ as He originally organized it was not found upon the earth at the time of Joseph Smith, confirming the reality of the Great Apostasy foretold by Paul the Apostle.

1829 Age 23: Oliver Cowdery arrives from New York and work on the translation recommences.

Joseph and Oliver receive the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist and are baptized.

Joseph and Oliver receive the Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James, and John.

Joseph finishes Book of Mormon translation; three witnesses view the plates, see angel Moroni, and hear the voice of God; Eight witnesses see and handle the plates.

1830 Age 24: The Book of Mormon is made available to the public at E. B. Grandin’s Bookstore.

Joseph Smith officially organizes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The priesthood offices of deacon, teacher, priest, and elder are announced.

1832 Age 26: Joseph is officially sustained as president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He serves in this position until his death.

My family has learned many other truths from these events. These include the eternal nature of our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ; the struggle between good and evil; and other important aspects of the great plan of salvation.

We learn that the scriptures are true and can be applied in our lives.

We learn that pondering the scriptures brings power and insight.

We learn that knowledge alone isn’t enough; acting on what we know results in God’s blessings.

We learn to put our trust in God and look to Him for answers to life’s most important questions and not to put our trust in man.

We learn that prayers are answered according to our unwavering faith and according to Heavenly Father’s will.

God has spoken to Joseph Smith for the purpose of blessing all of God’s children with His mercy and love, even in times of uncertainties and insecurities, of wars and rumors of wars, of natural and personal disasters. In third Nephi the Savior said, “Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive." And from Alma 26: "all who accept this invitation will be “encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love.”

You can’t become what you don’t see.

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