helemon
1st September 2005, 08:28 PM
from Poky-man on RfM
Over on the FAIR boards there is an interesting thread about JS's first vision. http://www.fairboards.org/index.php?showtopic=10014
Seems there was a man named Solomon Chamberlain that lived close to the Smith family farm and in 1816 had some sort of angelic vision as he was wondering which church was right. He was told none were right but all were corrupt. He was told that a true Church would soon come forth. (does this sound familiar) Years later he heard about the Gold plates story and felt directed to the JS home where he talked with Hyrum at first and presented him with a pamphlet about his 1816 vision and his search for the true Church. As the first vision story of JS did not come out until years later, well after the LDS Church had been organized, it seems possible the JS came up with his idea for his first vision story from this man. BTW, Solomon Chamberlain was baptized in the Church by JS and ended up following mormonism until his death in Southern Utah years later.
Of course they dismiss this on the FAIR board just as they dismiss all the various accounts of the JS first vision but what do you think here?
Yet one more instance of Joseph Smith borrowing elements of his story from those around him.
Over on the FAIR boards there is an interesting thread about JS's first vision. http://www.fairboards.org/index.php?showtopic=10014
Seems there was a man named Solomon Chamberlain that lived close to the Smith family farm and in 1816 had some sort of angelic vision as he was wondering which church was right. He was told none were right but all were corrupt. He was told that a true Church would soon come forth. (does this sound familiar) Years later he heard about the Gold plates story and felt directed to the JS home where he talked with Hyrum at first and presented him with a pamphlet about his 1816 vision and his search for the true Church. As the first vision story of JS did not come out until years later, well after the LDS Church had been organized, it seems possible the JS came up with his idea for his first vision story from this man. BTW, Solomon Chamberlain was baptized in the Church by JS and ended up following mormonism until his death in Southern Utah years later.
Of course they dismiss this on the FAIR board just as they dismiss all the various accounts of the JS first vision but what do you think here?
Yet one more instance of Joseph Smith borrowing elements of his story from those around him.