Get to know Joseph Part 4: Persecution and Perseverance
Read part 3 here
Joseph Receives Persecution Over His Vision
I would imagine any 14-year-old boy like Joseph Smith Jr. would want to share such an overwhelming vision to validate their experience. Joseph shared his vision with a methodist preacher and rather than positive reception, Joseph experienced persecution. Joseph describes that “He treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying, it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be any more of them.” (Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1:56-57).
This attitude toward Joseph would only be one of the first of many. Joseph tells that he experienced “the most bitter persecution and reviling.” The persecution would continue throughout his life and I would add that it continues today.
All of this persecution lead Joseph to reflect throughout his life that he should be a “character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day”.
Joseph Sticks to His Convictions Amid the Persecution
Even with all of the hatred young Joseph was true to his experience. Joseph continued to share his first vision and said, “I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of of that light I saw two personages and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart, why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision, and who am I that I can withstand God? or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dare I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.” (Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1:56-57).
Personal Thoughts and a Challenge
As I wrote this I was reflecting on how lightly and with what level of respect or contempt do I treat Joseph’s account of the First Vision? What Joseph had to share is of great importance! I believe that Joseph Smith did, in fact, see God the Father and Jesus Christ in that grove of trees in New York, but do I fully appreciate God’s design behind it all?
I hope you are reading this because you are seeking information about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so my challenge to you is to not take what I’ve written as either true or false, but that you would take this matter up with the Creator and pray to Him about whether Joseph Smith truly saw God and Christ or not. Also, go back and reread Joseph’s First Vision I recounted in part 3. As yourself, “why would Joseph repeatedly tell such a fantastic story if he kept getting persecuted for it unless what he said was really true?”
For me, I’m going to be praying to ask for a better understanding and appreciation for what Joseph Smith’s vision means in the great Plan of Salvation.
Continue the story in Part 5
Image Credit: Screenshot from film Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration