Editing First Vision (section)

====Dating the Smith family conversions to Presbyterianism====
In the 1838 version of the First Vision (first published in 1842) that has been canonized by the LDS Church, his family's decision to join the Presbyterian Church occurs in the same year as his First Vision.<ref>[[Joseph Smith–History]] [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1.5-7?lang=eng 1:5–7].</ref>

The draft copy of Lucy Mack Smith's history does not mention the first vision at all.<ref>{{harvp|Smith|1844–1845|loc=[https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/49 bk. 4, p. 7]}}</ref> However, the [[fair copy]], penned by the same scribe as the draft copy, and which was in the possession of Lucy and on which she registered a copyright, includes in the narrative a copy of the 1838 version of the first vision, beginning with Joseph's words "I was at this time in my fifteenth year."{{sfnp|Smith|1845|p=73}} After the first vision account, Lucy continues with "From this time until the 21st of Sep. 1823, Joseph continued as usual to labor with his father; and nothing during this interval {{sic|occur|ed|nolink=y}} of very great importance..."{{sfnp|Smith|1845|p=78}} At this point Lucy describes the visitations of Moroni and the promise of the golden plates, followed by the death of [[Alvin Smith (brother of Joseph Smith)|Alvin]], in November 1823.

Lucy then states that she and some of her children sought comfort in the religious revival after Alvin's death. This statement has been taken to refer to her and three of the children ([[Hyrum Smith|Hyrum]], [[Samuel H. Smith (Latter Day Saints)|Samuel]], and Sophronia) joining the Presbyterian church.<ref>"Lucy said that soon after Alvin's death, Palmyra experienced 'a great revival in religion, and the whole neighborhood was very much aroused to the subject, and we among the rest flocked to meeting house to see if there was a word of comfort for us that might relieve our over charged feelings.' She eventually decided to join the Presbyterian church."{{Harv|Vogel|2004|p=58}}.</ref> If so, and if Joseph's statement that they joined this church in the same year as his first vision is accurate, then the first vision would have taken place in 1824.<ref>{{Harvp|Hill|1982|p=39}}. "I am inclined to agree that the religious turmoil that Smith described which led to some family members joining the Presbyterians and to much sectarian bitterness does not fit well into the 1820 context detailed by Backman. ... Indicating that the angel had told Smith of the plates prior to the revival, Lucy added that for a long time after Alvin's death the family could not bear any talk about the golden plates, for the subject had been one of great interest to him and any reference to the plates stirred sorrowful memories. She said she attended the revival with hope of gaining solace for Alvin's loss. That kind of detail is just the sort that gives validity to Lucy's chronology. She would not have been likely to make up such a reaction for herself or the family nor mistake the time when it happened. I am persuaded that it was 1824 when Lucy joined the Presbyterians."</ref> However, this conclusion requires ignoring both Joseph's statement that the first vision occurred during his fifteenth year and Lucy's chronology in the fair copy. Alternatively, [[D. Michael Quinn]] says that Joseph Smith's account is a conflation of events over several years, a typical biographical device for streamlining the narrative.{{sfnp|Quinn|2006|p=12}}