The First Vision Family Home Evening Lesson

This lesson is just a short video and discussion. Additional activities are suggested to do throughout the week.

Start by asking your family to tell you what they know about the First Vision. For little children hold up a picture of the First Vision like this one or this one and ask them to tell you about it.

Watch Ask of God: Joseph Smith’s First Vision together.

Ask your family if they learned anything new about Joseph’s experience. Or ask them what impressed them about what happened in the Sacred Grove. Discuss their observations.

To further the lesson here are some additional activities based on age to do on different days.

Toddlers

1. Print these scripture figures on heavy paper, cut out, and use them to tell the story of the First Vision. Have your child use the figures to tell the story to you.

2. Color this picture of Joseph Kneeling in the Sacred Grove.

3. Have your child draw a scene from the story like Joseph reading the Bible or trees or Joseph kneeling.

4. Show this picture of Joseph reading the Bible. Talk about how we can get answers to our questions when we read the scriptures. Have your child color this picture of a young child reading their scriptures.

4. More scripture figures for your child to color and use to tell the story of the First Vision.

5. Print out these other coloring pages: Joseph Smith Reading the Scriptures, Joseph Praying in the Sacred Grove, Joseph Sees a Light Overhead, Joseph Sees God and Jesus Christ, See if your child can put them in the correct order. Let them color the pictures.

Children

1. Create a shoe box panorama of the First Vision. This activity requires a little prep work of printing the pictures, gathering scissors and glue, and finding an empty shoe box.

2. If your children like graphic novels they will like to read this retelling of Joseph Smith’s First Vision from The Friend. Print page 1 and page 2 to get the whole story.

3. Color and cut out these figures to tell the story of the First Vision.

4. Assemble this picture pinwheel that depicts scenes like Joseph reading the Bible and the First Vision.

5. Watch Joseph Smith’s First Vision a video created from the Doctrine & Covenants Scripture Reader.

6. Listen to this Primary teacher and children as they discuss Joseph Smith’s First Vision. (22:57)

7. Color this picture of Joseph ‘s First Vision.

Teens & Adults

1. Look at The First Vision: An Art Exhibit online. Click on each picture to make it larger and see details better. Create your artwork depicting the First Vision.

2. Listen to episodes of The First Vision: A Joseph Smith Papers podcast. There are six so you can listen to one each day of the week.

3. Read James 1:5-7. What does James teach about receiving revelation? Why did Joseph receive such a remarkable vision when many others have prayed with faith without seeing the Father and Son? Read The First Vision: A Pattern for Revelation by President Henry B. Eyring.

4. Compare the First Vision to the baptism of Christ (Matthew 3) and the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13). Read Doctrine & Covenants 130:22. Discuss how you are created in the image of God. What difference does it make to you that God knows your name and everything about you?

5. Write down some truths that were restored or revealed because of Joseph’s vision. Read the Ensign article Eight Truths from the First Vision. How does your list compare?

6. Watch Joseph Smith’s First Vision | Now You Know.

Download the lesson below.

Click here to go back to the eight week restoration study guide