Nephi next writes words which Joseph will remember and incorporate into his 1838 account of the First Vision: “And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him: Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men—Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid.” (2 Nephi 27: 24-26, emphasis added.)
The words in bold are almost identical to the statement Joseph later attributed to Christ in the First Vision: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (JS-H 1: 19.)
In the first written account of the First Vision in 1832, Joseph attributes to Christ less exact statements. It will not be until 1838 that Joseph adopts Nephi’s language. In between these two versions, Joseph’s 1835 account has no statement directly quoted from Christ. When Joseph had time to reflect on the matter, and to consider what ought to go into the telling of the event, he settles on language which closely mirrors the language given to him by Nephi.
You may think this process odd. However, those with experience in communications from God have explained enough to help us understand it. God does not generally speak English to those granted an audience with Him (although He could). He communicates in thought, in concepts, and in ideas. It is a much more exact, clear and understandable way of communicating things. It is left to the individual to put into words what they learn from such an encounter. Persons having such experiences could never fully relate what they know or what they experienced. They can, however, attempt to reduce to words concepts a reader may be able to understand. The clarity of seeing, beholding, feeling, grasping and viewing while in God’s presence cannot be replicated with just words. It is little wonder Joseph attempted several times to write it down, before settling on the version in 1838 as a fair enough statement of what he thought we ought to understand from the encounter. Even in his final version, however, Joseph let us know he couldn’t get it all into words. Joseph wrote: “many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time.” (JS-H 1: 20.) As we read in D&C 76:116, speaking about the great visions God grants to man: “Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him.” Joseph, like Nephi, was put into a position in which he saw so much more than he could say. It is left to us to see with the eyes of the Spirit these same things through an inspired reading of the words chosen.