Joseph
Smith's
1842 Account of Moroni's Visit
On
the evening on the 21st of September, A.D. 1823, while I was praying
unto God, and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of
Scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer
and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room indeed
the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire;
the appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body; in a
moment a personage stood before me surrounded with a glory yet greater
than that with which I was already surrounded. This messenger
proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful
tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at
hand to be fulfilled, that
the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily
to commence; that the
time was at hand for the Gospel in all its fullness to be preached in
power, unto all nations that a people might be prepared for the
Millennial reign. I was informed that I was chosen to be an
instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in
this glorious dispensation." (History
of the Church, Vol.4:
p. 536)