One of the best things to come out of Deseret Book in recent years has been the “Journal Editions” of the scriptures, complete with the much needed improvement of more room in the margins for notes. For Christmas last year, I got myself one of each (The Old Testament, The New Testament, The Book of Mormon, and the double Doctrine & Covenants / Pearl of Great Price).
I had used my main set from when my parents gifted them to me at my baptism, through my mission, and throughout my undergrad. They were becoming so full of notes and highlights that I was finding it difficult to gain any “new” revelations or insights. My new Journal Edition set has been a huge blessing and a great opportunity to look at the scriptures in a fresh way.
(By the way, I promise I’m not getting anything from Deseret Book from talking about the Journal Editions—I really do just like them.)
At the beginning of 2025 as I followed along with Come Follow Me, I found myself wishing I had a pamphlet with which I could study the various first- and second-hand accounts of the First Vision side-by-side (or within close proximity). Finding nothing that really satisfied my particular study needs, I decided to make my own.
And thus, “Accounts of the First Vision: Journal Edition” was born! It includes:
- Text for each of Joseph’s three firsthand accounts of the First Vision (excluding the 1838 account found in Joseph Smith—History)
- Text for each of the five secondhand accounts of the First Vision
- Section Headings providing historical context amalgamated from The Joseph Smith Papers and the Church’s website
- Paragraph numbers for easy referencing
- Wide margins with lines for note-taking
I’m posting it here for all who may be interested in using it. Hopefully, it helps you in your studies as it has helped in mine.
Sources
- “Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision”, The Joseph Smith Papers
- Church and Gospel Questions: Multiple Accounts of the First Vision
- Gospel Topics Essay: First Vision Accounts
- Joseph Smith’s Four Written Accounts of the First Vision on ChurchOfJesusChrist.Org: