What was Joseph Smith's first vision?

Defcon found some concise videos that demonstrate the conflicts existing between the various LDS accounts of  Joseph Smith's first vision.  This vision is the linchpin to Mormon doctrine, at least in the late LDS president Gordon B. Hinckley's eyes.  Here are the videos from LDSVideo.org and some related material:



Consider the consequences: if Smith was wrong in his reinterpretation of God's past revelation, then the LDS faithful are destined for outer darkness, what Christians call Hell.  Their efforts to obtain perfection will fail;  Jesus says we must "be perfect" (Mt 5:48), that is today, right now, not at some point down the line.  Every time a person transgresses the Law, he proves that he is imperfect and has no hope of being exalted to life with Heavenly Father.

If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, consider Hebrews 10:10-18 (KJV):
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Christ does not just save from death, He also saves us from the wrath of God and sanctifies us in this life. In Him alone there is hope - a hope which abides, once and for all.

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