The Seer of Palmyra

THE SEER OF PALMYRA, Reflections Of The First Vision defines what is a prophet, seer and revelator. The importance of a modern prophet is established. This includes the spiritual and historic legacy of Joseph Smith and his family and the religious environment at Palmyra and in upstate New York. The reasons why Joseph's vision and early persecutions are not found in the Palmyra Register newspaper of the 1820s are discussed. Research in the 21st century shows contemporary religious revivals were mentioned in that local paper. The Benaijah Williams diaries of that time period also support Joseph Smith's claims of religious revival. The Book of Enoch and U.S. Army weather records may help pinpoint the actual date of the First Vision. Each of the eleven primary accounts in fourteen documents of the Prophet Joseph Smith's First Vision of 1820 are identified and investigated from historical, cultural and doctrinal viewpoints. The harmony and contemporary witnesses of the different accounts are also considered. These reflections from the First Vision continue to shine their light by taking us briefly from the First Vision itself to Joseph Smith becoming a seer and using his seer stones and the Urim and Thummim.