ABSTRACT
Joseph Smith lived in a visionary culture in which men and women expected to have visions and trusted that others had them as well. Joseph Smith's initial vision seems to have had little immediate impact on his life, except that he heeded the heavenly admonition not to join any of the current churches. Smith's first audience for his original vision in 1820 was his mother, who without hesitation affirmed his experience. Smith's visions were indispensable for the emergence of Mormonism. They gained true significance, however, only after converts such as Louisa and Addison Pratt believed that they heralded the divine restoration of God's true church. Louisa Barnes was attracted to Mormonism's fundamental principles and practices of "Baptism for the remission of sins, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, healing the sick by faith, casting out devils, speaking in tongues and prophesying."
