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Joseph Smith’s First Vision in the Book of Mormon: The Earliest Accounts?

The earliest known account of First Vision may not be the one in 1832, but many esoteric accounts in April-June 1829, in the Book of Mormon text itself.

Joseph Losing the “Plates” and “Interpreters” was Mystical not Literal

The "Urim & Thummim" were perhaps Joseph's own eyes, which in a mystical state of consciousness could "see" the visionary "plates." He lost these "gifts" for a time.

Early Secondhand Details about Joseph Smith’s First Vision in 1830-1833?

A late thirdhand account of the First Vision from John Alger in 1893 may be corroborated by some early secondhand (esoteric) references in some songs and hymns recorded in 1833, which may also have connections to a recorded revelation in 1830.

The Perennial Cycle from Mysticism to Religion to Politics

What is the relationship between mysticism and religion? It is perhaps a cycle, which begins in mysticism and ends in fundamentalist dogmatic religion, and politics, where it begins again.

An Introduction to the BHT Translation of Joseph Smith’s First Vision

I introduce a new translation of Joseph Smith's First Vision, giving some background to this interpretation of his mystical experience, the nature of translation, its pseudepigraphal nature, how it was done, and more.