1:26 I had now got my mind satisfied so far ass=hlgree>as the sectarian world wass=hlblue>as concerned-- that it wass=hlblue>as not my duty to join with any of them, but to continue ass=hlgree>as I wass=hlblue>as until further directed. I had found the testimony of James to be true-- that a man who lacked wisdom might ass=hlblue>ask of God, and obtain, and not be upbraided.

 1:27 I continued to pursue my common vocations in life until the twenty-- first of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, all the time suffering severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men, both religious and irreligious, because I continued to affirm that I had seen a vision.

 1:28 During the space of time which intervened between the time I had the vision and the year eighteen hundred and twenty-three-- having been forbidden to join any of the religious sects of the day, and being of very tender years, and persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends and to have treated me kindly, and if they supposed me to be deluded to have endeavored in a proper and affectionate manner to have reclaimed me-- I wass=hlblue>as left to all kinds of temptations; and, mingling with all kinds of society, I frequently fell into many foolish errors, and displayed the weakness of youth, and the foibles of human nature; which, I am sorry to say, led me into divers temptations, offensive in the sight of God. In making this confession, no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins. A disposition to commit such wass=hlblue>as never in my nature. But I wass=hlblue>as guilty of levity, and sometimes ass=hlblue>associated with jovial company, etc., not consistent with that character which ought to be maintained by one who wass=hlblue>as called of God ass=hlgree>as I had been. But this will not seem very strange to any one who recollects my youth, and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament.

 1:29 In consequence of these things, I often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections; when, on the evening of the above-mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, ass=hlgree>as I previously had one.

 1:30 While I wass=hlblue>as thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room wass=hlblue>as lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.

 1:31 He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It wass=hlblue>as a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrist; so, also, were his feet naked, ass=hlgree>as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, ass=hlgree>as it wass=hlblue>as open, so that I could see into his bosom.

 1:32 Not only wass=hlblue>as his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person wass=hlblue>as glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room wass=hlblue>as exceedingly light, but not so very bright ass=hlgree>as immediately around his person. When I first looked upon him, I wass=hlblue>as afraid; but the fear soon left me.