Joseph Smith first Vision

Was Joseph Smith an honest man?

Joseph Smith is the founder of the Mormon Church. I have already offered evidence showing he was a false prophet. Next is
the question was he himself deluded or was he dishonest? If a heavenly messenger visited me and had conversations with me
I am quite sure it is something I would not forget. In the case with Joseph Smith there seems to be a lot of confusion
surrounding the events of Joseph's first visions or encounters. It would seem that either Joseph Smith cannot seem to recall the
facts surrounding these events, or other L.D.S authorities changed or made up the stories that are now the foundation of the
L.D.S Church. Although there are several versions I will only bring up a couple concerning his first vision and a later one where
he was told about some gold plates.

First vision #1 found in BYU studies volume 9 1968-1969, Number 3- Spring 1969, The Early accounts of Joseph Smith's first
vision pp.280-281. In this account Joseph was 16 years old and he was not praying to find out which church was true he
already knew they were all wrong. He was seeking forgiveness of sin and Jesus alone appeared to him and granted him
forgiveness.

First vision #2 found in BYU Studies,
Vol. 9, No. 3, p.283
In this account Joseph was 14 and his tongue seemed swollen so he could not pray. Two beings appeared to him in this
account which are unidentified and he also seen many angels.

First vision #3 Found in the current edition of the Pearl of Great price, Joseph Smith-History chapter1:7-20. In this account
Joseph was 15 and he was seeking to know which church was true and 2 beings appeared to him one of them said " this is my
beloved Son hear Him" so it is presumed to be God the Father and Jesus and he was told to join none of the churches. There
is no mention of forgiveness of sins or angels.

Gold plates message # 1 found in an early L.D.S periodical called Messenger and Advocate (Feb 1835) Oliver Cowdery
"Letter IV," p.77 In this account Joseph was 17 years old and it was the angel Moroni who appeared to him and forgave him of
his sins and proceeded to inform him of the Plates which he was to later translate into the Book of Mormon.

Gold plates message # 2 found in an early L.D.S periodical called Times and Seasons Vol. 3, pg. 748 - 753 In this account
Joseph was between 14 and 15 years old and it was the angel Nephi who appeared to him then proceeded to inform him of
the Plates which he was to later translate into the Book of Mormon. There is no mention of forgiveness of sins here.

Some Mormons would have us believe that these accounts are various views of the same events. I can understand how one
might forget exactly how old they were at the time but you would think that you would certainly remember if the angel that told
you about some sacred gold plates was named Moroni or Nephi. Certainly you would remember if Jesus alone appeared to
you or whether it was God the Father and Jesus or whether there was also lots of angels or not. Also in sharp contrast is that he
was praying to see what church was true and that he already knew none of them were true and was merely praying for
forgiveness of sins. One cannot help to consider that the reason why the story changes so much is perhaps there was no first
vision at all and Joseph Smith or some other early church leader made up the whole story. The contrast in the stories hold
stronger to the idea that the stories are a lie than they do simply different versions of the same stories.

Other interesting quotes concerning this subject.
Journal of Discourses, Vol.2, p.171, Brigham Young, February 18, 1855

But as it was in the days of our Savior, so was it in the advent of this new dispensation. It was not in accordance with the
notions, traditions, and pre-conceived ideas of the American people. The messenger did not come to an eminent divine of any
of the so-called orthodoxy, he did not adopt their interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. The Lord did not come with the armies
of heaven, in power and great glory, nor send His messengers panoplied with aught else than the truth of heaven, to
communicate to the meek the lowly, the youth of humble origin, the sincere enquirer after the knowledge of God. But He did
send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith Jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator,
and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong; that they were
following the precepts of men instead of the Lord Jesus; that He had a work for him to perform, inasmuch as he should prove
faithful before Him.

Journal of Discourses, Vol.20, p.166 - p.167 - p.168, John Taylor, March 2nd, 1879
(John Taylor was the 3rd President of the church)

I had a visit from some of your folks during the session of the Legislature. How was it, and which was right? None of them was
right, just as it was when the Prophet Joseph asked the angel which of the sects was right that he might join it. The
answer was that none of them are right. What, none of them? No. We will not stop to argue that question; the angel merely
told him to join none of them that none of them were right

Journal of Discourses, Vol.12, p.334, George Albert Smith, November 15, 1868
(George Albert Smith was sustained first counselor in the first presidency in 1868)

Joseph Smith had attended these meetings, and when this result was reached he saw clearly that something was wrong. He
had read the Bible and had found that passage in James which says "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to
all men liberally and upbraideth not," and taking this literally, he went humbly before the Lord and inquired of Him, and the Lord
answered his prayer and revealed to Joseph, by the ministration of angels, the true condition of the religious world. When the
holy angel appeared, Joseph inquired which of all these denominations was right and which he should join, and
was told they were all wrong,--they had all gone astray, transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances and broken the
everlasting covenant, and that the Lord was about to restore the priesthood and establish His Church, which would be the only
true and living Church on the face of the whole earth.

Why do they not teach it was an angel that appeared to Joseph now?