These slides are probably not appropriate for the lessons in Come Follow Me, January 4-17, 2021 (Sunday School), but they are fun information to supplement the historical context of the lessons. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/come-follow-me-for-sunday-school-doctrine-and-covenants-2021/03?lang=eng

1. “I Saw a Pillar of Light”
“The Hearts of the Children Shall
Turn to Their Fathers”
Resources for Come Follow Me, January 4-17, 2021
Joseph Smith—History 1:1–65
Doctrine and Covenants 2

2. Historic Context

3. Joseph Born
Dec. 23, 1805
Leg Operation
Aug. 3, 1813
7y 7m
Smiths move to NY
Winter 1816-1817
Turned 11y
Smiths buy farm
Winter 1819-1820
Turned 14y
First Vision
Early Spring 1820
~14y 4m
Moroni Visits
Sept. 21-22, 1823
17y 9m
Receives Plates
Sept. 22, 1827
21y 9m
Alvin Dies – 25y 9m
Nov. 19, 1823
17y 11m
Joseph Meets Emma
Oct. 1825
19y 10m
Smiths Lose Farm
Dec. 20, 1825
Almost 20y
Marriage
Jan. 18, 1827
21y 1m
1803
Louisiana Purchase
1812-1814
War of 1812
1820
Missouri Compromise
1825
Eric Canal Opens
1823
Monroe Doctrine
1830
Indian Removal Act
Church Established
April 6, 1830
24y 3m
1813
Pride & Prejudice
1820
George III dies
1821
Napoleon Dies
1827
Beethoven Dies
1815
Tambora

4. Tambora – April 1815
100x more explosive than Mt. St. Helens – 33 gigatons of TNT (Hiroshima was 15 kilotons)
24 cubic miles of rock blasted (cube of rock 2.9 miles on a side)
Year Without a Summer
1816: growing season in New Hampshire was 80 days; snow in upstate New York in June
Winter of 1817: -30 F in upstate New York
Feed was expensive; ”dandy horse” invented; Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein

5. Economic Context

6. FairMormon “The Original Context of the First Vision Narrative: 1820s or 1830s”
https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2013/the-original-context-of-the-first-vision-narrative-1820s-or-1830s
Young Joseph felt “doomed” to a life of back breaking work and
financial insecurity (JS–H 1:23)
Why?
1. The swindle by his father’s business partner (ginseng export
business venture) that swallowed his father’s inheritance.
2. “Year Without a Summer” = “the last great subsistence crisis in the
western world”.
3. The nation’s first great depression – the so called “Panic of 1819”.

7. Religious Context

8. Revival Meetings
The major 1816-1817 Palmyra Revival ended just months before Joseph turned 12—the age at which he
reported first becoming deeply concerned with his salvation.
Although there was a camp meeting documented in 1818, these camp meetings were a frequent
occurrence in Joseph Smith’s environment even when they were not reported. The “religious
excitement” that Joseph Smith describes in his vision accounts was always in the air.
Joseph’s first spoken prayer?
William reported: “My father’s religious habits were strictly pious and moral. … I was called upon to listen
to prayers both night and morning. … My parents, father and mother, poured out their souls to God, the
donor of all blessings, to keep and guard their children and keep them from sin and from all evil works.”
Note that the children were “called upon to listen to prayers” by their parents, rather than to pray
themselves. While the Smith children might pray in their hearts, it was the parents who prayed aloud.
FairMormon “The Original Context of the First Vision Narrative: 1820s or 1830s”
https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2013/the-original-context-of-the-first-vision-narrative-1820s-or-1830s

9. Geographic Context

11. State
County
Township
Town
Village

12. Wayne County
Ontario County
Town of Palmyra

13. Wayne County
Palmyra Township
Ontario County
Manchester Township
When he moved from
“Palmyra” to “Manchester”,
he was moving from the log
cabin to the frame house!

14. The Grove in early Spring

15. Late March–Early April

16. Maples, beech, hornbeam, and wild cherry dominated the
landscape, interspersed with ash, oak, hickory, and elm.Mid-April–Early May (in Rochester)

17. Divine Visitations/Visions

18. 22 Documented Visits of Moroni to Joseph Smith 16 Others to whom Moroni Appeared
Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris
Mary Whitmer
Luke Johnson
Mrs. Martin Harris
Zerah Pulsipher
W.W. Phelps
John P. Green
Rhoda Green
John Taylor
Harrison Burgess
Heber C. Kimball
Oliver Granger
Hyrum Smith(?)
“The Angel Moroni” – Elder Glen L. Rudd, BYU-I Devotional, March 11, 2003
https://www.byui.edu/devotionals/elder-glen-l-rudd
“Moroni – Joseph Smith’s Tutor” – H. Donl Peterson, Ensign, January 1992
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1992/01/moroni-joseph-smiths-tutor?lang=eng
Date Circumstances References
21–22 Sept. 1823 Joseph’s bedroom—Message repeated three times. (Palmyra Township, N.Y.) JS—H 1:30–47
22 Sept. 1823 Field outside Joseph’s home—initial message repeated. (Manchester Township, N.Y.) JS—H 1:48–49
22 Sept. 1823
At the Hill Cumorah—Plates, Urim and Thummim, and breastplate are shown, in addition to
an open vision. (Hill Cumorah, N.Y.)
JS—H 1:51–
53; Messenger and
Advocate, July and
Oct. 1835
22 Sept. 1824,
1825, and 1826
Yearly at Cumorah, instructions given to help Joseph prepare for the Restoration. (Hill
Cumorah, N.Y.)
JS—H 1:53–54
Winter 1827
Moroni meets Joseph by the Hill Cumorah and says that the time has come for the record to
be brought forth. He tells Joseph to be up and doing the things he has been commanded.
(Hill Cumorah, N.Y.)
Biographical
Sketches, p. 99
22 Sept. 1827 Joseph receives the plates. (Hill Cumorah, N.Y.) JS—H 1:59
June–July 1828
Urim and Thummim are taken by Moroni because of the Martin Harris incident. (Harmony,
Pa.)
HC 1:21–22
July 1828 Urim and Thummim are returned. HC 1:21–22
July 1828 Plates and Urim and Thummim are taken. (Harmony, Pa.) HC 1:23
July–Aug. 1828 or
22 Sept. 1828
Plates and Urim and Thummim are returned. (Harmony, Pa.)
HC 1:23; Biographical
Sketches, p. 126
June 1829
Angel obtains the plates at Harmony, Pa., to transport them to Fayette Township, N.Y.,
because Joseph is apprehensive about their safety en route. (Harmony, Pa.)
Biographical
Sketches, p. 137
June 1829
On the road between Harmony, Pa., and the Hill Cumorah, Joseph, Oliver, and David
Whitmer see Moroni carrying the plates; Moroni appears and disappears instantly.
The Historical
Record, pp. 207–9
June 1829
Joseph has the plates once again in his possession in Fayette Township. Moroni meets Joseph
in the garden and gives the plates to him. (Fayette Township, N.Y.)
Biographical
Sketches, p. 137
June 1829 Joseph finishes the translation; Moroni takes the record. (Fayette Township, N.Y.) JS—H 1:60
June 1829
Oliver, David Whitmer, and Joseph Smith (witnesses) see Moroni, who shows them the
plates. (Fayette Township, N.Y.)
HC 1:54–55
June 1829
Martin Harris and Joseph Smith (witnesses) see Moroni and the plates. (Fayette Township,
N.Y.)
HC 1:55
June 1829
Moroni gives the plates to Joseph, and Joseph shows them to the Eight Witnesses. Moroni
then calls for the plates and keeps them. (Manchester, N.Y.)
Biographical
Sketches, pp. 140–41

19. “Taught from on High” – Brian l. Smith, Sperry Symposium, October 30, 2005
https://rsc.byu.edu/joseph-smith-doctrinal-restoration/taught-high
Personage Selected References Keys Given or Nature of Appearance
God the Father
JS—H 1:17; HC 1:5; D&C
76:2
Opened this dispensation; introduced the Son.
Jesus Christ
JS—H 1:17; HC 1:5–6; D&C
76:20–24; 110:2–10
Called Joseph as a prophet; accepted the temple.
Moroni
JS—H 1:30–49, 59; JD
17:374
Tutored Joseph; gave him keys of stick of Ephraim.
John the Baptist D&C 13:1; HC 1:39–42 Restored Aaronic Priesthood and its keys.
Peter, James, John
D&C 27:12; 128:20; JD
18:326; HC 1:40–42
Restored Melchizedek Priesthood and apostleship and keys.
Moses D&C 110:11; JD 21:65; 23:48 Restored keys of gathering and leading the ten tribes.
Elias D&C 27:6; 110:12; JD 23:48 Committed the “gospel of Abraham.”
Elijah D&C 110:13–16; JD 23:48 Conferred the sealing power.
Adam (Michael)
HC 2:380; 3:388; D&C
128:21; JD 18:326; 21:94;
23:48
Restored keys (perhaps of the presidency over the earth).
Noah (Gabriel) D&C 128:21; JD 21:94; 23:48 Restored keys (perhaps of the power to preach the gospel).
Raphael D&C 128:21 Restored keys (perhaps of the dispensation of Enoch’s day).
Various Angels D&C 128:21 Restored keys (all declaring their individual dispensation).
Lehi JD 16:265–66 Ministered to him.
Nephi JD 21:161; 16:266; 17:374 Tutored Joseph; gave him keys.
Mormon JD 17:374 Tutored Joseph; gave him keys.
Unnamed Angel D&C 27; HC 1:106 Taught concerning use of wine in the sacrament.
Unnamed Angel
Life of Heber C. Kimball;
Temples of the Most High
Sent to accept dedication of the Kirtland temple.
Unnamed Angel
Biography and Family
Records of Lorenzo Snow
Visited Joseph three times; commanded him to practice
plural marriage, as previously revealed by the Lord.
Abel JD 18:325; HC 3:388
Seth JD 21:94; D&C 107:53–57; HC 3:388
Enos HC 3:388; D&C 107:53–57; HC 3:388
Cainan HC 3:388; D&C 107:53–57
Mahalaleel JD 18:325; D&C 107:53–57; HC 3:388
Jared (Bible) HC 3:388; D&C 107:53–57
Enoch HC 3:388; D&C 107:53–57; JD 21:65
Methuselah JD 18:325; D&C 107:53–57; HC 3:388
Lamech JD 18:325
Eve Oliver B. Huntington diary
Abraham D&C 27:10; JD 21:94; 23:48
Isaac D&C 27:10; JD 21:94
Jacob D&C 27:10; JD 21:94
Joseph, son of Jacob D&C 27:10
Twelve Apostles JD 21:94
Twelve Disciples JD 21:94
Zelph the Lamanite Times & Seasons
Alvin Smith HC 2:380
Paul TPJS 180
Alma JD 13:47
“I saw many angels” Warren Cowdery’s account of the First Vision
Satan and his associates JSH 1:15–16; D&C 128:20; JD 3:229–30
Restored Keys or Delivered Divine Instructions Seen by Joseph

20. Joseph’s Family

21. “Pillar of Light: Joseph Smith’s First Vision” – Andrew Knaupp & Sal Velluto
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wearxbyfql
Smith Family in Spring 1820
Joseph, Sr. – 48y 9m (married at 24y 6m)
Lucy – 44y 9m (married at 20y 6m)
Alvin – 22y 2m
Hyrum – 20y 2m
Sophronia – 16y 10m
Joseph, Jr. – 14y 4m
Samuel H. – 12y 1m
William B. – 9y 1m
Katharine – 6y 8m
Don Carlos – 4y 0m
Lucy – not yet born (1821)
Infant deaths
Son – 1797
Ephraim – 1810

22. Alvin died 2 months after Moroni’s visit (25y 9m)
“bilious fever” = fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Calomel = Hg2Cl2 given as diuretic and laxative; given to
Alvin to increase his efflux to the point that it would stop
because of dehydration

23. Moroni’s Visit

24. What is more accurate and less accurate about these depictions?

25. What is more accurate and less accurate about these depictions?

29. 1823 or 1827? Why? Other possibilities?

30. 1823 or 1827? Why? Other possibilities?

31. What was in the stone box?

32. Reproductions by David A. Baird
What was in the stone box:
Plates, Liahona, Sword of Laban, Interpreters, “breastplate”
What Joseph brought home:
Plates, Interpreters, “breastplate”?

33. The actual, real box in the Church History Museum
(plates are a reproduction)

34. Calendar Connections

35. Ecclesiastical
Month Num.
Civil Month
Num.
Hebrew
Month
Duration
(days)
Gregorian
Calendar
1 7 Nisan 30 Mar–Apr
2 8 Iyar 29 Apr–May
3 9 Sivan 30 May–Jun
4 10 Tammuz 29 Jun–Jul
5 11 Av 30 Jul–Aug
6 12 Elul 29 Aug–Sep
7 1 Tishrei 30 Sep–Oct
8 2 Cheshvan 29/30 Oct–Nov
9 3 Kislev 30/29 Nov–Dec
10 4 Tevet 29 Dec–Jan
11 5 Shevat 30 Jan–Feb
12 6 Adar 29 Feb–Mar
Hebrew Calendar
• 1 Nisan is the day after the New Moon closest to (within fifteen days before or after) the Spring Equinox
• Easter: first Sunday after first Full Moon after Spring Equinox
• 14 Nisan is start of Passover
• 1 Tishrei is Rosh Hashana (New Year)
• 10 Tishrei is Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
• 15 Tishrei is start of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)

36. 3
Elul Tishrei
29 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2220 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2819 14
September 22
Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur Sukkot
1823
Monday
1824
Wednesday
1825
Thursday
1826
Friday
1827
Saturday
Fall Equinox in 1823-1827
was on Sept. 23
Joseph received the plates on Rosh Hashanah, the day when the shofar (ram’s horn) was trumpeting.
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying
with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of
his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” – Rev. 14:6-7
Why Did Moroni Deliver the Plates on September 22?
https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-did-moroni-deliver-the-plates-on-september-22
The Feast of Trumpets and Joseph Smith
https://www.deilataylor.com/the-feast-of-trumpets-and-joseph-smith/

37. Joseph Smith birth: Monday, Dec. 23, 1805 – Winter Solstice: Dec. 22
Joseph Smith death: Thursday, June 27, 1844 – Summer Solstice: Friday, June 21
3
March April
29 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2220 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2819 1430
1820
Spring Equinox
Passover
Wednesday
First Vision?
Palm Sunday
Easter
Sunday
3
March April
29 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2220 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2819 1430
1830
Spring Equinox
Passover
Wednesday
Church Established
Tuesday
Easter
Sunday
“Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning” – John C. Lefgren
https://latterdaysaintmag.com/oh-how-lovely-was-the-morning-sun-26-mar-1820-2/

38. Popular Resources
“Saints”, Volume 1, Chapters 1-4
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1/01-ask-in-faith?lang=eng
Truman G. Madsen “Joseph Smith Lectures” (BYU Speeches) – excellent audio!
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/truman-g-madsen/joseph-smith-first-vision-its-aftermath/
“The First Vision: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast”
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/the-first-vision-a-joseph-smith-papers-podcast
https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org
Scholarly Resources
Church “Gospel Topic Essays” – “First Vision Accounts”
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/first-vision-accounts?lang=eng
“The Appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith in 1820” – James B. Allen and John W. Welch
https://rsc.byu.edu/sites/default/files/pub_content/pdf/2%20-%20Allen%20and%20Welch.pdf