Table of Contents
Joseph Smith—History Chapter 1 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. (Verses 1–20.)
Joseph Smith’s Childhood
Joseph Smith was prepared to be a prophet of God.
The home life and nurture provided by Joseph Smith’s parents and siblings shaped much of Joseph’s early prophetic work. His attention to prayer and Bible study owed much to his parents’ religious commitments. (Church History Topics: Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family)
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26”
- Learning about Joseph Smith’s youth could help your children relate to him as they learn from his experiences. Maybe they could hold a picture of Joseph Smith and share what they know about him. If needed, you might add some facts about him from Joseph Smith—History 1:3–14 (see also “Chapter 1: Joseph Smith and His Family,” in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 6–8, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library). What did Joseph experience that helped prepare him to become a prophet? What might God be preparing us to do?
Doctrine and Covenants Stories “Chapter 1: Joseph Smith and His Family” Images and Video
Friend January 2017 “The Smith Family”
Primary 5 Manual “Doctrine and Covenants and Church History” “Lesson 1: Joseph Smith and the First Vision,” (See the lesson for additional story, activity, and question ideas.)
Joseph Smith was born in 1805 in the state of Vermont in the United States of America. He was the fourth of nine children. When Joseph was ten years old, he and his family moved to the state of New York, settling near the town of Palmyra (point out this area on the map). The Smith family was poor, and all the members of the family had to work hard to provide food and other necessities for the family. The family had moved many times before settling near Palmyra, where they found farmland on which crops would grow well.
Joseph did not have much opportunity to attend school, so he learned only the basics of reading, writing, and simple arithmetic. Joseph’s mother said that he seemed just like other boys his age until the time of his vision. She said he was quiet and well-mannered and liked to study and think about important things. He was a tall, athletic, cheerful boy who seldom got angry.
Friend February 2008 “An Operation on Joseph’s Leg”
Latter Day Kids “”My Servant Joseph” Lesson, story, and song ideas
See more about Joseph Smith’s childhood here
Joseph Smith’s First Vision
Primary 5 Manual “Doctrine and Covenants and Church History” “Lesson 1: Joseph Smith and the First Vision,” (See the lesson for additional story, activity, and question ideas.)
Ask a child to leave the room for a moment. Show the two containers to the rest of the class without letting them see inside. Divide the class into two groups and give each a container. Tell the children in each group that when the child who left the room returns, they are to try to persuade him or her to choose their container. Invite the child to return to the room and choose one of the containers. Ask the child who chose the container questions such as the following:
- Why did you choose that container?
- How did you feel when others were trying to tell you what to do?
Explain that when Joseph Smith was fourteen years old, he was confused about a choice he needed to make. He was trying to decide which church he should join. Other people tried to help him choose a church, but he only became more confused. He felt that he needed more information to make a wise decision: he wanted to know which church was true. Joseph’s situation was similar to that of the child who had to choose between the two containers. Everyone wanted him to choose their church, but he did not know which church was the right choice.
Why was Joseph confused about which church he should join? (JS—H 1:5–10.)
New Era February 2020 “Joseph’s Search for the Truth”
God can answer my questions through the scriptures.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26” and CMF for D&C Primary 2021
- Consider showing your children a variety of books, (like an encyclopedia or a cookbook), and help them think of questions these books could answer. Then show them a copy of the scriptures. What questions can these books answer? Then you could read together Joseph Smith—History 1:10–11 to find out what questions Joseph Smith had and what answers he found in the scriptures.
- Your children might be able to find words in verse 12 that describe how reading James 1:5 affected Joseph. Then you could share experiences with each other in which a passage of scripture had a powerful influence on you.
Friend November 2023 “James Says “Ask of God”
New Era January 2017 “Line upon Line: James 1:5–6”
Come Follow Me Kid Hop from one scripture line to another and read it out loud and then discuss what it means. For memorizing the scripture have them do it again and say the phrases, and maybe a little faster each time.
Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26” and CMF for D&C Primary 2021
To start a discussion about how we communicate with Heavenly Father, perhaps you and your children could ask each other questions using various communication methods, like a text message, a phone call, or a handwritten note.
How do we ask questions to Heavenly Father? How do we show Him that we love and honor Him in our prayers? Read together Joseph Smith—History 1:16–19 and discuss how Heavenly Father answered Joseph Smith’s prayer. You and your children could then share experiences when you asked God for help and received an answer.
New Era February 2020 “Joseph’s Search for the Truth”
Friend January 2025 “Coloring Page: Heavenly Father Hears and Answers My Prayers”
Friend January 2025 “My Own Sacred Grove” I Can Play It
Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26” and CMF for D&C Primary 2021
- Young children might enjoy standing with outstretched arms pretending to be trees in the Sacred Grove while you tell them about the First Vision. Ask the children to sway as if being blown by the wind while you talk about Joseph praying. Then ask them to stand very still and quiet when you tell them Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to Joseph.
Gospel Art Picture: “The First Vision”
- Older children might enjoy using one or more of the pictures in this outline to tell you what they know about the First Vision. Encourage them to refer to Joseph Smith—History 1:14–17 and to share their thoughts and feelings about Joseph’s experience (see also “Chapter 2: Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 9–12, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library).
- To review the account of the First Vision, write summaries of each verse from Joseph Smith—History 1:14–19 on separate slips of paper. Place the papers in a container, and invite the children to choose them one by one and place them on the board in the correct order.
Invite the children to color this week’s activity page and use it to tell the story of the First Vision.
Primary 5 Manual “Doctrine and Covenants and Church History” “Lesson 1: Joseph Smith and the First Vision,” (See the lesson for additional story, activity, and question ideas.)
I can remain true to what I know, even if others reject me.
- Read together Joseph’s testimony in Joseph Smith—History 1:25. Ask the children to look for words and phrases that show Joseph’s faith. How can we remain faithful to God and our testimonies when other people disagree with us?
Friend November 2019 “Jesus is Real” Everyone at Ismay’s table at school were excitedly talking about Christmas and their favorite traditions such as going to a church service. Suddenly Charlotte spoke up and said, “Jesus isn’t even real.” Ismay was sad to hear this and she quietly bore her testimony to Charlotte that Jesus was real, and that she felt it in her heart. She was glad she had spoken up and planted a seed about Jesus.
Additional Resources
More resources about the First Vision can be found here
