I was born in the town of Sharon in the state of Vermont, North America, on the twenty-third day of December 1805 of goodly parents who spared no pains instructing me in the Christian religion.
At the age of about ten years my Father Joseph Smith Sr. moved to Palmyra, Ontario County in the state of New York; and being in indigent circumstances we were obliged to labour hard for the support of a large family, having nine children; and as it required the exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the family, therefore we were deprived of the benefit of an education. Suffice it to say I was merely instructed in reading and writing and the ground rules of arithmetic, which constituted my whole literary acquirements.
At about the age of twelve years, my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all important concerns for the welfare of my immortal soul, which led me to search the scriptures, believing as I was taught, that they contained the word of God.
Thus applying myself to them and my intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations, led me to marvel exceedingly, for I discovered that they did not adorn their profession by a holy walk and godly conversation, agreeable to what I found contained in that sacred depository. This was a grief to my soul.
Thus from the age of twelve years to fifteen, I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world of mankind, the contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations and the darkness which pervaded the minds of mankind
My mind became exceedingly distressed, for I became convicted of my sins and by searching the scriptures I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith; and there was no society or denomination that built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament; and I felt to mourn for my own sins and for the sins of the world, for I learned in the scriptures that God was the same yesterday, today and forever, that he was no respecter of persons, for he was God.
For I looked upon the sun, the glorious luminary of the earth, and also the moon, rolling in their majesty through the heavens, and also the stars shining in their courses, and the earth also upon which I stood, and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters, and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in majesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intelligence in governing the things which are so exceeding great and marvelous, even in the likeness of Him who created them.
And when I considered upon these things, my heart exclaimed: “Well hath the wise man said, it is a fool that saith in his heart there is no God”. My heart exclaimed: “All these bear testimony and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent Power, a Being who maketh laws and decreeth and bindeth all things in their bounds; who filleth eternity, who was and is and will be from all eternity to eternity.
And the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age, a pillar of fire, light above the brightness of the sun at noon day, came down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of God. And the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying:
“Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes and keep my commandments. Behold I am the Lord of glory. I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life.”
“Behold, the world lieth in sin at this time and none doeth good, no not one. They have turned aside from the gospel and keep not my commandments. They draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me.”
“And mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them according to their ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and apostles. Behold and lo, I come quickly as it is written of me, in the clouds, clothed in the glory of my Father.”
And my soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great Joy. And the Lord was with me but I could find none that would believe the heavenly vision. Nevertheless, I pondered these things in my heart.
