When Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in the grove, they only appeared to him. Spirit aside, we have to take his word for it. Some people nitpick at that point.





What is harder to nitpick is the visions JS had with other people in tow. There are quite a few of those, you know. These other people saw the visions with him. In fact, there was even one where JS saw God & Jesus again - with others who also saw them:





Zebedee Coltrin shared the following sacred experience: “At one of these meetings after the organization of the school, (the school being organized on the 23rd of January, 1833), when we were all together, Joseph having given instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling, with our hands uplifted each one praying in silence, no one whispered above his breath, a personage walked through the room from east to west, and Joseph asked if we saw him. I saw him and suppose the others did and Joseph answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother. Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in prayer, which we did. Another person came through; he was surrounded as with a flame of fire. … The Prophet Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him.” ( https://www.lds.org/ensign/1993/01/house-of-revelation?lang=eng )

Here’s another remarkable one. JS and the entire first presidency shared a vision of the Kirtland Temple when it was in the planning stages. It was a waking vision that encompassed them all:

“Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams — who, at that time, constituted the First Presidency of what would shortly thereafter be called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — saw the temple prior to its construction, in a remarkable vision. Some years afterward, when the temple was actually complete, Williams recounted what he had experienced:

““Joseph received the word of the Lord for him to take his two counselors Williams and Rigdon and come before the Lord, and he would show them the plan or model of the house to be built. We went upon our knees, called on the Lord, and the building appeared within viewing distance: I being the first to discover it. Then all of us viewed it together. After we had taken a good look at the exterior, the building seemed to come right over us, and the makeup of this hall seems to coincide with what I there saw to a minutia.”” ( https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865665194/The-inspired-plans-for-the-Kirtland-Temple.html )

Here’s another one that happened to Joseph and two others. The heavens opened and two grand, angelic beings were seen:

“Once after returning from a mission, he [Zebedee Coltrin] met Brother Joseph in Kirtland, who asked him if he did not wish to go with him to a conference at New Portage. The party consisted of Presidents Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery and myself [Zebedee Coltrin]. Next morning at New Portage, he noticed that Joseph seemed to have a far off look in his eyes, or was looking at a distance and presently he, Joseph, stepped between Brothers Cowdery and Coltrin and taking them by the arm, said, "Let's take a walk." They went to a place where there was some beautiful grass and grapevines and swamp beech interlaced. President Joseph Smith then said, "Let us pray." They all three prayed in turn—Joseph, Oliver, and Zebedee. Brother Joseph then said, "Now brethren, we will see some visions." Joseph lay down on the ground on his back and stretched out his arms and the two brethren lay on them. The heavens gradually opened, and they saw a golden throne, on a circular foundation, something like a light house, and on the throne were two aged personages, having white hair, and clothed in white garments. They were the two most beautiful and perfect specimens of mankind he ever saw. Joseph said, "They are our first parents, Adam and Eve." Adam was a large, broad-shouldered man, and Eve as a woman, was large in proportion.” ( https://scottwoodward.org/josephsmith_visions_adamandevewithOCandZC.html )

Here’s another interesting one. It’s regarding John the Beloved. Notice how he disappears as the others approach:

4) “While the Camp of Zion was on the way to Missouri in 1834, Joseph was ahead of the company one day, when there was seen a stranger talking with him by the roadside. When the company came up there was no person with him. At camp that night, Heber asked the Prophet who that man was. Joseph replied that it was the beloved disciple, John, who was then on his way to the Ten Tribes.” (Personal Glimpses of the Prophet Joseph SMith, Andrus, P. 116)

And this wasn’t the only time the the Beloved was seen in Smith’s company. Not even close. Here’s a lesser known reference:

5) “ After ordinances had been performed in the Kirtland Temple in 1836, Elder Heber C. Kimball reported that “the beloved disciple John was seen in our midst by the Prophet Joseph, Oliver Cowdery, and others.”” ( https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/selected-articles/john-beloved-latter-day-scripture )

And then, of course, there’s the Latter-Day Saint 101 vision of John the Baptist to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery:

6) “ While translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery read several passages concerning authority and baptism, prompting them to pray about those subjects. According to later accounts, John the Baptist appeared to Smith and Cowdery on 15 May 1829 and bestowed on them the “priesthood of Aaron,” which gave them the authority to baptize; he then promised that they would later receive a higher authority to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost.” ( https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/priesthood-restoration )

And as long as we’re talking about Latter-Day Saint 101, there’s the visit of Peter, James & John - also to Joseph and Oliver:

7) “The appearance of Peter, James, and John to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery is attested to in numerous sources. A revelation to Joseph Smith spoke of the visitation of Peter, James, and John, “whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry.” In a blessing Joseph Smith gave to Oliver Cowdery that was recorded in October 1835, he spoke of Oliver’s receiving “the holy priesthood under the hands of they who had been held in reserve for a long season, even those who received it under the hand of the Messiah.” In several letters late in his life, Oliver Cowdery spoke of this sacred occasion. In one he related the sense of awe with which he stood “in the presence of Peter, to receive the Greater” priesthood.” ( https://www.lds.org/study/history/topics/restoration-of-the-melchizedek-priesthood?lang=eng )

And then, of course, there’s the coup de grâce of all Joseph Smith shared visions. The visit of Moroni to JS, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and then (a little later) to JS & Martin Harris. This one is recounted in the first few pages of the Book of Mormon. Here is a lesser known account given by William E. McLellin. In a tense time he had Cowdery and Whitmer cornered. He took advantage of the situation:

8) In 1833, when mobbing reigned triumphant in Jackson Co. Mo. I and O. Cowdery fled from our homes, for fear of personal violence on Saturday the 20th day of July. The mob dispersed, agreeing to meet again on the next Tuesday. They offered eighty dollars reward for any one who would deliver Cowdery or McLellan in Independence on Tuesday. On Mond[a]y I slipped down into the Whitmer’s settlement, and there in the lonely woods I met with David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery. I said to them, “brethren I have never seen an open vision in my life, but you men say you have, and therefore you positively know. Now you know that our lives are in danger every hour, if the mob can only catch us. Tell me in the fear of God, is that book of Mormon true? Cowdery looked at me with solemnity depicted in his face, and said, “Brother William, God sent his holy angel to declare the truth of the translation of it to us, and therefore we know. And though the mob kill us, yet we must die declaring its truth.” David said, “Oliver has told you the solemn truth, for we could not be deceived. I most truly declare declare to you its truth!!” Said I, boys I believe you. I can see no object for you to tell me false <hood> now, when our lives are endangered…” ( https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2016/11/a-little-known-account-of-the-book-of-mormon-witnesses.html )





Years after the fact, Martin Harris was sticking to his Angel-seeing guns:





9) "It is not a mere belief, but is a matter of knowledge. I saw the plates and the inscriptions thereon. I saw the angel, and he showed them unto me." ( https://scottwoodward.org/bookofmormon_witnesses_3witnesses_literalwitness.html )





This is not a complete list, but it is long enough to serve its purpose. If you wonder if the first vision actually happened, knowing these shared experiences exist could make it easier to accept. And to feel.

Something to think about.







