One hundred and eighty years ago, a young farm boy wanted to know which church to join. After finding a passage of scripture inviting him to ask God for guidance, he sought his answer in prayer. What followed was a deeply personal and magnificent vision that shattered two millennia of spiritual darkness and ushered in the dispensation of the fulness of times.

"The experience of Joseph Smith in a few moments in the grove on a spring day in 1820, brought more light and knowledge and understanding of the personality and reality and substance of God and His Beloved Son than men had arrived at during centuries of speculation," said President Gordon B. Hinckley (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 141).

The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote: "My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right that I might know which to join . . . , I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong . . . . 'They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.'

"It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?

"I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true. . . .

"For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it." (Joseph Smith — History 1:18-25.)

President Hinckley said, "For more than a century and a half, enemies, critics and some would-be scholars have worn out their lives trying to disprove the validity of that vision. Of course they cannot understand it. The things of God are understood by the Spirit of God. There had been nothing of comparable magnitude since the Son of God walked the earth in mortality. Without it as a foundation stone for our faith and organization, we have nothing. With it, we have everything. (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, pp. 548-9.)

Those who accept the Prophet Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision receive a burning testimony of this work. They understand that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth today. They see the priesthood blessing the lives of countless individuals. They know that the Spirit of God resides in His temples and among His people. They testify about the need for living prophets and sustain Gordon B. Hinckley as God's anointed seer and revelator today. President Hinckley testifies boldly about the destiny the young Joseph fulfilled by going into those sacred woods that day in 1820. Likewise, the work started 180 years ago continues to roll forth across the nations of the earth.

The First Vision is a keystone of the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

President Hinckley has issued this challenge to us: "If every one of us knew in our hearts that [Joseph Smith's] statement is true, then we would know that all else which follows it, which came through the restoration of the gospel, is true also. We would walk and live with greater faithfulness . . . . We would know it in our hearts if we had a solid, firm, immovable conviction of the truth and validity of that great vision. . . .

"I wish all of you would sit down with your families and read those words again, that testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, stated with simplicity, with honesty. Then ask the Lord to put it into your hearts and give you the privilege of a testimony of its truth. And whenever you have any doubt of the practice of this Church, you can reflect on that." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, pp. 225-6)

Those who have put President Hinckley's challenge to the test, have found peace in their souls. They invite others to share that peace and witness with them.