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Light streams through the trees on the east side of the Smith Farm.

Introduction

I have been visiting and photographing the Sacred Grove in Manchester Township, New York since the late 1960’s.  I have been there in all the seasons.  While researching and photographing I have had the blessing of sleeping overnight many times (with permission) on the Smith Farm.  I feel like I know this sacred place like I knew the farm of my youth where I grew up in Missouri.  Every visit has given me a different view, photographically, of the Grove.  Never, however, have I been blessed with such a perfect day of weather, moisture and sunlight as I was on Saturday, October 11, 2003.  The dance of sunbeams and rays of light streaming through the trees were just as one might picture that sacred day early in the Spring of 1820 when the Prophet Joseph entered the grove of trees that thereafter we would forever call Sacred.

Sentinel tree stands just to the east of the Smith Cabin..

As we walk together through the Smith Farm and on to The Sacred Grove, I would like to share with you excerpts from the four primary accounts of the First Vision.  Spellings and grammar from the original accounts have been corrected for easier reading.  Milt Backman has written:  “On at least four different occasions, Joseph Smith either wrote or dictated to scribes accounts of his sacred experience of 1820. Possibly he penned or dictated other histories of the First Vision; if so, they have not been located. The four surviving recitals of this theophany were prepared or rendered through different scribes, at different times, from a different perspective, for different purposes and to different audiences.  It is not surprising, therefore, that each of them emphasizes different aspects of his experience. When Latter-day Saints today explain this remarkable vision to others, their descriptions often vary according to the audience or circumstances that prompt such reports. If one were relating the incident to a group of high priests, for example, he would undoubtedly tell it somewhat differently than he would to individuals who had never heard of the restoration of the gospel or of Joseph Smith.” [1]

First light strikes the eastern wall of the Smith Cabin at the north end of the 100-acre farm.

I have no question that, over time, other accounts of The First Vision will emerge.  Surely they exist in the homes of some of the pioneer Saints who have lived for generations in Utah.  Surely there are accounts in the homes of the posterity of those who once lived in Kirtland.  Perhaps there may be accounts in dusty attics or in old trunks in Upstate New York or perhaps near Nauvoo or in Ontario, Canada.

Spiritual ‘pilgrims’ take this road from the small cabin to the Smith frame house.

Premier among them is the 1838 account, now included in the Pearl of Great Price as Joseph Smith—History.  This is by far the most quoted, the most carefully written and full account, and the one that has been included for years in the standard missionary discussions.  The other accounts are referred to simply as the 1832 account, the 1835 account and the 1842 account (or an excerpt from the Wentworth Letter).  It is well for us to study all of them and come to know as much as we can about this world-altering event.

View of the north wall of the Smith frame house

The 1832 Account

“The earliest known written account of the First Vision was included in an autobiography Joseph wrote in 1832,” Milt Backman writes.  “The narrative begins with the following introduction:  “A History of the life of Joseph Smith Jr., an account of his marvelous experience and of all the mighty acts which he doeth in the name of Jesus Christ, the son of the living God … and also an account of the rise of the church of Christ…”

Split-rail fences mark the original fields similar to how they did in the days when the Smiths lived and worked here.

“For many years historians were perplexed concerning the date of this manuscript. A few years ago, however, Dean C. Jessee determined that this manuscript, which in part was written by Joseph’s scribe, Frederick G. Williams, was prepared between 20 July 1832 and 1 December 1832 (possibly during the month of November). Although Frederick G. Williams penned the introduction of this autobiography as dictated by Joseph Smith, Joseph wrote the portion dealing with the First Vision. This is the only recounting of Joseph’s sacred experience in 1820 which is in his own handwriting.” [2]

Light and morning dew play upon the split rails.

Click here to go to the second part of A Walk to the Sacred Grove in Fall.

All photographs are copyrighted 2003 by Scot Facer Proctor and are protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America and International Copyright laws.  All rights reserved.  No pictures can be used from this essay without express written permission from Meridian Magazine.