The First Vision
“My name is Joseph Smith. When I was young, there was, in the place where we lived, an unusual excitement on the subject of religion. My mind became seriously impressed with regard to the welfare of my soul. I pondered many things in my heart. I felt to mourn for my own sins and the sins of the world, but upon inquiring about the plan of salvation, I found that there was a great clash in religious sentiment. This was grief to my soul. I knew not who was right or who was wrong and I considered it of the first importance that I should be right in matters that involved eternal consequences. I wanted to get religion, too. I wanted to feel and shout like the rest, but could feel nothing. I was one day reading the epistle of James, ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God … and it shall be given him.’ It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. After I retired [in]to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I cried unto the Lord for mercy, for there was none else to whom I could go to obtain mercy. It was the first time in my life that I had made the attempt to pray vocally.”
To read more about Joseph Smith’s First Vision: ChurchofJesusChrist.org/topics/restoration