Joseph Smith S First Vision

Joseph Smith’s First Vision

Compiled by Janetta Graham

Materials: shoe box, enclosed pictures of Joseph Smith’s First Vision, song pictures to “On a Golden Springtime”,

Opening Song: Book of Mormon Stories (Children’s Songbook p. 118)

Prayer:

Attention Activity: When you need to talk to Heavenly Father, what do you do? What are some reasons you might talk to Heavenly Father (bless food, personal prayer, prayer for meetings at church, lost something, confused about something taught, for comfort, etc.)

Scripture Story: Retell about Joseph Smith and the First Vision using the pictures from Mariam Grisham, “The First Vision,” Friend, Jan. 2001, 32. Use the pictures with a shoebox to demonstrate what happened.

“One day Joseph read in the Bible,” If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and abraideth not; and it shall be given him: (James 1: 5). Joseph decided to ask Heavenly Father which church was right so that he would know which one he should join.

Joseph had never prayed out loud before. He decided to go to a grove of trees near his home to ask Heavenly Father his question. On a beautiful spring morning, he walked into the grove, looked around to be sure that he was alone, and knelt in prayer. As he begun his prayer, a terrible feeling of darkness surrounded him. It was so strong that he thought it was going to destroy him! He prayed with all his heart to Heavenly Father for help. At that moment, a pillar of light appeared over his head and came down and rested on him. The darkness left him, and he saw two Heavenly Beings standing above him in the air. One spoke to him, saying, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear him!” (Joseph Smith-History 1:17.)

The two Heavenly Beings were Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ. The Savior told Joseph that he should not join any of the churches because they were all wrong. Joseph had the answer to his question. Later he received visits from other heavenly messengers and learned what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ wanted him to do to help restore the gospel to the earth. He followed Their directions.

Retelling account taken from “Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration”, The Friend, July 2001, p. 15.

Questions:

What was Joseph confused about?
Why do you think he went alone in the grove of trees?
Do you have a favorite place to pray? Why is that your favorite place?
Why weren’t any of the churches true on the earth?
When would the true church be on the earth?
Did Joseph receive his answer?
Why was it important that Joseph was visited by Heavenly Father and Jesus?

Activity: Have child retell story using shoebox and pictures.

Learn a song: “On a Golden Springtime” (Children’s Songbook p. 88) verse 3 (see enclosed pictures)

Bear testimony of Joseph Smith and First Vision.

Prayer:

Treat: Bake cake mix in “cake” ice cream cones and decorate with frosting. The cake cones become “the forest” for Joseph Smith’s Sacred Grove.

Enrichment Activities:

Locate Palmyra, NY on a map.
Watch “Restoration” video/DVD about Joseph and the First Vision.
Visit website: (Excellent site to view pictures of where he lived as well as quotes and stories about Joseph).
Read the account in Joseph Smith History.
Learn the songs about or related to Joseph Smith (see below)
Learn more about when Joseph was a boy (typhoid fever).
Talk about the four steps to prayer: (Address Heavenly Father, We thank thee, We ask thee, In the name of Jesus Christ, amen)
Make log cabin out of pretzel sticks or rods and icing.
Discuss what a vision is in comparison to a dream.
Discuss how Heavenly Father and Jesus are similar and different to Joseph Smith (and us). D&C 130:1, 22
Learn more about Joseph’s family: how many brothers, sisters? Where was he born?
Memorize Joseph Smith History 1: 17 as a family
Read story in Doctrine and Covenants Reader the story of the First Vision.
Read about Nature of God/Godhead and Nature of Satan in “Teachings of Joseph Smith”
Read in Primary Manual 5 Lesson 1 about Joseph and the First Vision.

Songs about or related to Joseph Smith:

An Angel Came to Joseph Smith p. 86 (Children’s Songbook)
Latter-day Prophets p. 134 (Children’s Songbook)
On a Golden Springtime p. 88 (Children’s Songbook)
The Articles of Faith p. 122-132 (Children’s Songbook)
The Golden Plates p. 86 (Children’s Songbook)
The Sacred Grove p. 87 (Children’s Songbook)
The Word of Wisdom p. 154 (Children’s Songbook)
This is My Beloved Son p. 76 (Children’s Songbook)
Book of Mormon Stories p. 118 (Children’s Songbook)
The Books in the Book of Mormon p. 119 (Children’s Songbook)
We’ll Bring the World His Truth p. 172 (Children’s Songbook)
Joseph Smith’s First Prayer Hymn # 26 (see Joseph Smith-History 1: 14-20, 25)
Praise to the Man Hymn #27
A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief Hymn #29
We Thank Thee, O God Hymn # 19
Truth Eternal Hymn # 4 (text by Parley P. Pratt)
Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice Hymn #21 (see Joseph Smith-History 1: 14-17)
Now We’ll Sing with One Accord Hymn # 25 (text by William W. Phelps)

On a Golden Springtime p. 88 (Children’s Songbook)

Verse 3

On a golden springtime,

in a forest glade,

The Father and the Son appeared

as Joseph knelt and prayed.

Awake, awake, O nations all!

Receive the gospel light!

The gospel true is here for you.

Receive it’s glorious light!