“After this third visit, he again ascended into heaven as before, and I was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what I had just experienced.” — Joseph Smith Jr.1
On September 21, 1823, Joseph knelt once more in fervent prayer, seeking forgiveness for his sins and wanting to know his standing before God. In response, the room lit up and a heavenly messenger appeared by Joseph's bedside.2
The messenger, clothed in white and glorious beyond description, identified himself as Moroni and told the boy that God had a work for Joseph to do. He warned Joseph that Joseph would be spoken of for good and evil. Moroni also spoke of a record on golden plates buried in a hill nearby before quoting from Malachi, Isaiah, Joel, and the book of Acts.3
Moroni appeared three more times that night to repeat the same message, and the visits lasted nearly all night.1
