Come, Follow Me
Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 2:
January 4–10
“I Saw a Pillar of Light”
Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26
As you read Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26, what messages do you find for your life? What is of most value to you and your family?
JS-H 1:1-20: Joseph Smith tells of his ancestry, family members, and their early abodes—An unusual excitement about religion prevails in western New York—He determines to seek wisdom as directed by James—The Father and the Son appear, and Joseph is called to his prophetic ministry.
JS-H 1:21-26: Some preachers and other professors of religion reject the account of the First Vision—Persecution is heaped upon Joseph Smith—He testifies of the reality of the vision.
Resources on ChurchofJesusChrist.org
- Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
- Joseph Smith’s First Prayer,” Hymns, no. 26.
- The Restoration, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos
- Joseph Smith’s First Vision
- The First Vision
- How can I know for myself? , Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants
Resources Mentioned in the Lesson Manual
- Saints, 1:3–19
- 1 Nephi 10:17–19
- 1 Nephi 15:6–11
- “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,”, Russell M. Nelson, Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 93–96
- Gospel Topics: “First Vision Accounts”
- “Ask of God: Joseph Smith’s First Vision”
- Saints, 1:14–19
- “Hear Him”, Russell M. Nelson, Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 88–92
- “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer”, Hymns, no. 26
Resources on Interpreter Foundation
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 2: JS-History 1:1–26, Jonn Claybaugh
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 2 (JS-History 1:1–26)
Additional Posts & Roundtables on the Interpreter Foundation Website
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Introduction, Dennis B. Horne, Jan 1, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Some Doctrinal Teachings about the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Jan 8, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: President James E. Faust Teaches and Testifies of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Jan 15, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: In the Sacred Grove with Prophets, Dennis B. Horne, Jan 22, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: General Authority Teachings and Testimonies of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Jan 29, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Present and Past Church Leaders Teach and Testify of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Feb 5, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Teachings and Testimony about the First Vision Given at The 100 Year Centennial General Conference Commemoration, Dennis B. Horne, Feb 12, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Elder Joseph F. Merrill Teaches and Testifies about the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Feb 19, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: President J. Reuben Clark Jr. Teaches and Testifies of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Feb 22, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Must Accept the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Feb 26, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: President Joseph Fielding Smith Teaches and Testifies about the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Feb 29, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Orson F. Whitney’s Dream-Vision of the Savior, Dennis B. Horne, Mar 4, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Elder Bruce R. McConkie Teaches and Testifies of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Mar 7, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Joseph Fielding McConkie Discusses the First Vision and Tolerance, Dennis B. Horne, Mar 11, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: President Marion G. Romney Teaches and Testifies of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Mar 14, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Sister Ida Romney Obtains a Testimony of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Mar 18, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: A Missionary Receives a Testimony of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Mar 21, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: President Gordon B. Hinckley’s Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Mar 25, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: President Hinckley Comments on Joseph Smith’s and the Church’s Critics, Dennis B. Horne, Mar 28, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Pure Apostolic Witness and Testimony of the First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Apr 1, 2020
- Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: An Amalgamation of Joseph Smith’s First Vision, Dennis B. Horne, Jan 18, 2020
- The Dawning of a Brighter Day, Stephen O. Smoot, Sep 4, 2018
- Interpreter Radio Show — February 2, 2020, Administration, Feb 11, 2020
- Interpreter Radio Show — January 12, 2020, Administration, Jan 21, 2020
- Interpreter Radio Show — January 19, 2020, Administration, Jan 21, 2020
- Interpreter Radio Show — July 15, 2018, Administration, Jul 17, 2018
- Interpreter Radio Show — July 5, 2020, Administration, Jul 13, 2020
- Interpreter Radio Show — March 1, 2020, Administration, Mar 5, 2020
- Interpreter Radio Show — March 8, 2020, Administration, Mar 16, 2020
- The First Vision with Spencer W. McBride, LDS Perspectives, Feb 5, 2020
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 3, "I Had Seen a Vision", Administration, Jan 24, 2017
Articles in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship
- How Joseph Smith’s Grammar Differed from Book of Mormon Grammar: Evidence from the 1832 History, Stanford Carmack, June 9, 2017
- Evaluating Three Arguments Against Joseph Smith’s First Vision, Steven C. Harper, Oct 12, 2012
- Looking Deeper into Joseph Smith’s First Vision: Imagery, Cognitive Neuroscience, and the Construction of Memory, Robert A. Rees, Apr 21, 2017
- Rediscovering the First Vision, Neal Rappleye, Apr 17, 2015
- The Cowdery Conundrum: Oliver’s Aborted Attempt to Describe Joseph Smith’s First Vision in 1834 and 1835, Roger Nicholson, Dec 6, 2013
- Variants in the Stories of the First Vision of Joseph Smith and the Apostle Paul, John A. Tvedtnes, Nov 2, 2012
Resources on Other Sites
- Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26, FAIR
- Joseph Smith History 1:1-26 – “I Saw a Pillar of Light”, BYU Studies
- Come, Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 1/JSH 1:1-26), Book of Mormon Central
- Come, Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 1/JS:H 1:1-26), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me /w Casey Paul Griffiths (Joseph Smith History 1:1–26, Jan 4–10), Book of Mormon Central
- Why was it Easy to Join a Church in Joseph Smith’s Day?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #589
- Come Follow Me Insights (Joseph Smith History 1:1–26, Jan 4–10), Taylor Halverson and Tyler Griffin
- Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Joseph Smith History 1:1–26, Jan 4–10), Book of Mormon Central
- Come, Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Joseph Smith History 1:1–26, Jan 4–10), Book of Mormon Central
- Come, Follow Me with John Hilton III (Joseph Smith History 1:1–26, Jan 4–10), Book of Mormon Central
- Why Could Joseph Smith Testify in Court at Age 13?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #590
- Hard Questions in Church History: Joseph Smith’s First Vision, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Hard Questions in Church History: The Angel Moroni’s Visitations, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- PLAYLIST: The First Vision, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- The Unfolding Restoration Lesson 2: Understanding Doctrine, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Come Follow Me Don’t Miss This Joseph Smith—History 1:1-26 (Jan. 4-10), Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me – Joseph Smith-History 1:1-26: “I Saw a Pillar of Light”, Unshaken
- Come Follow Me Podcast #2: “I Saw a Pillar of Light”, Joseph Smith History 1: 1-26, Meridian Magazine
- January 4-10, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
Legacy Resources
- Remembering the First Vision from A Reason for Faith: Navigating LDS Doctrine & Church History
- The Appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith in 1820 from Exploring the First Vision
- Joseph Smith’s Accuracy on the First Vision Setting: The Pivotal 1818 Palmyra Camp Meeting from Exploring the First Vision
- The Significance of Joseph Smith’s “First Vision” in Mormon Thought from Exploring the First Vision
- The Earliest Documented Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision from Exploring the First Vision
- The Expanding Role of Joseph Smith’s First Vision in Mormon Religious Thought from Exploring the First Vision
- Early Life of and Religious Influences on Joseph Smith from Alexander Campbell and Joseph Smith: Nineteenth-Century Restorationists
- A Seeker’s Guide to the Historical Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision from Religious Educator Vol. 12 No. 1 · 2011
- The Probation of a Teenage Seer: Joseph Smith’s Early Experiences with Moroni from The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder
- Reconciling Joseph Smith—History 1:10 and 1:18–19 from Religious Educator Vol. 14 No. 2 · 2013