"I Saw the Lord": Joseph's First Vision Combined from Nine Accounts

The Prophet Joseph testified, “I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it” (JS—H 1:25). This is the best documented vision of God in the history of the world. Yet, because the details of the vision are spread over several different accounts, many people do not know all they could about this remarkable and world-changing experience. At the same time, many people today have questions, sometimes even doubts, about Joseph Smith's First Vision, in part because the nine recorded accounts differ in emphasis and some details. Kerry Muhlestein, BYU professor of ancient scripture, presents one compelling harmonized account to show how each of the various accounts might relate select aspects of the vision, yet all be consistent with the actual event experienced by Joseph Smith.