Jones situates Smith’s First Vision narratives within the Methodist conversion narratives of his era. He argues that this context helps make sense of differences between the early and later accounts while allowing each version to retain its distinctive emphasis.
- Christopher C. Jones, “The Power and Form of Godliness: Methodist Conversion Narratives and Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” Journal of Mormon History 37, no. 2 (2011): 88–114.
- Christopher C. Jones, “We Latter-day Saints are Methodists: The Influence of Methodism on Early Mormon Religiosity,” BYU ScholarsArchive; thesis abstract and repository record (2009).