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Harmony of Seven Contemporary Accounts of Moroni's Visitations (September 21-22 1823)

[The dates in the first set of parentheses refer to the approximate date when Joseph Smith wrote the account, and the letters in the second set refer to three other accounts written by close associates of the Prophet, namely Oliver Cowdery's letters published in the Latter-day Saints' Messenger and Advocate (Kirtland, Ohio) in 1834-1835 (identified as "C"); Orson Pratt's Several Remarkable Visions (1840) (identified as "P"); and Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Josph Smith, the Prophet, and his Progenitors for many Generations (1853) (identified as "LS"). Since Lucy Smith included in her biography of her son (Joseph) the Prophet's account that was written in 1838 and published in the Times and Seasons (Nauvoo, Illinois) in 1842, this harmony only includes statements by Lucy that are not direct quotations from Joseph Smith's 1838 history.]

Descriptions of That Which Joseph Learned and Beheld

Moroni was a heavenly messenger (1835, 1838) (C, P) who had a tangible body (a resurrected body). The angel was a little larger than most men of Joseph's time. (C, P)

The vision commenced about midnight.(C)

Joseph was told that his sins were forgiven.(1832) (C, P)

Joseph learned that he was a chosen instrument to bring about some of the purposes of God. (1838, 1842) (C, P)

Joseph learned that his name should be known for good and evil among all nations. (1838) (C, P)

Joseph learned about the composition of the Book of Mormon. (1832, 1835, 1838, 1842) (C, P) The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel as delivered by Christ to the ancient inhabitants of America. (1838) (C, P)

Joseph learned that the Book of Mormon plates were deposited in a hill near his home.(1832, 1835, 1838) (C)

Joseph learned that two transparent stones in silver bows were deposited with the plates and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted the Urim and Thummim. (1838, 1842) (P)

The Urim and Thummim was to aid Joseph in translating the record.(1835, 1838) (C, P)

Joseph was told to show the plates and Urim and Thummim only to those identified by revelation. (1835, 1838) (C)

The messenger appeared three times that night, repeating his instructions of the first visitation during the other visions. (1832, 1835, 1838, 1842)(C, P)

Joseph was warned that Satan would try to tempt him. (1838) (C)

The visions occupied most of the night. (1835, 1838) (C)

Moroni quoted a series of Biblical prophecies, informing Joseph of the characteristics and imminence of the Second Coming, including (1835, 1838, 1842) (C, P)

Malachi 3 (1838)