the first vision: a primary lesson

 

**all artwork found on google images, used simply for this post. if you are the owner of an image and wish to have it removed, please contact me so that i can do so**

in our religion, we believe that god the father and his son jesus christ appeared to the boy joseph in the spring of 1820. we believe they appeared in response to his fervent plea to know of which of the religions of the day was the right one and which one would lead him to his father in heaven. there are so many artists depictions of this moment and over the years i have loved so many of them, but none have ever had quite the effect on me as seeing this one. i don't doubt joseph would have been overwhelmed and likely afraid. seeing this version where he is being held by his heavenly father gave me chills. knowing he was loved and that he was no doubt comforted by them in that moment was incredible to me. what a wonderful feeling it gave me.

i was scheduled to teach our primary lesson today and really wanted to teach something that the children needed (and would want) to know. all week as i considered the options, i kept coming back to the first vision over and over. it's been a long time since we had classes in person after covid came along and ruined everything, but we are back - with an all in primary set up. nursery through to 11 years old - and it's loud and messy, but a lot of fun. 

a lot of the really junior kids have probably never seen a lesson on the first vision, because the doctrine and covenants/ pearl of great price along with the other standard works are only covered once every four years. so we watched a kids video of how it went down here, read the scripture that prompted joseph to offer that first prayer in james 1:5 "if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of god, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

then we all recited the first article of faith together: "we believe in god, the eternal father, and in his son, jesus christ - and in the holy ghost."

before we taught them the first verse of the hymn joseph smith's first prayer to finish up. it went really well and i was so pleased with my choice, especially when i learned that the "come follow me" theme for this week was the restoration. coincidence? i think not. haha.

oh how lovely was the morning!

radiant beamed the sun above.

bees were humming, sweet birds singing,

music ringing through the grove.

when within the shady woodland

joseph sought the god of love.

when within the shady woodland,

joseph sought the god of love.

you can listen to a beautiful version of the song in full here.

it goes on with further verses as so:

humbly kneeling, sweet appealing,

'twas the boys first uttered prayer

when the powers of sing assailing

filled his soul with deep despair

but undaunted still he trusted

in his heavenly fathers care

but undaunted still he trusted

in his heavenly fathers care

suddenly a light descended

brighter far then noonday sun

and a shining glorious pillar

over him fell, around him shone.

while appeared two heavenly beings

god the father and the son

while appeared two heavenly beings

god the father and the son.

joseph this is my beloved,

hear him! oh how sweet the word!

joseph's humble prayer was answered,

and he listened to the lord.

oh, what rapture filled his bosom, 

for he saw the living god.

oh, what rapture filled his bosom, 

for he saw the living god.

it will never cease to amaze me, the incredible things that took place that day. that a teenage boy had enough faith to be ready to see god himself and his son jesus christ and be the one chosen to restore their gospel to the earth in the latter days.

how very blessed i feel to know the truth and to be able to raise my family in the gospel.

d&c 76:22-24 

and now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: that he lives! for we saw him, even on the right hand of god; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the only begotten of the father- that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters of god.