Much like thinking of the angels who sang at Christ's birth, I imagine many watching the events of 1820 unfold as Joseph Smith, a 14-year-old farmboy from a poor family in rural upstate New York prays to God in a grove of trees for both salvation through Christ and further enlightenment regarding which of all competing churches around him were truly Christ's church that he should join.

In answer to his prayer, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in a vision commonly referred to in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the "First Vision." In this vision, Joseph was told both that his sins were forgiven through Jesus Christ and that Christ's church was not on the earth at this time. Joseph knew he had received direction for his time, and in subsequent years, received many more visions which gave him further light and instruction regarding the Lord's Church and its restoration through heavenly angels and truths flooding the earth. The Book of Mormon, the restoration of Priesthood power through John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John, and further bestowal of keys to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ also culminated in Joseph Smith being called anew as a prophet and apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This version of "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" depicts the scene as if we were watching it unfold, in glorious anticipation and wonder at the beginning of the great days of Jesus Christ bringing the fulness of His Gospel administered by His Church to the earth to prepare for His Second Coming, which we are gratefully looking forward to.