Family Historical Background:
Early Visions and Frontier Revivalism - Joseph Smith Papers
Joseph Smith Chronology - Joseph Smith Timeline
Joseph Smith Sr. Historical Background Geni.Com, Wikipedia, Byu Papers, Ensign Dec 1973, Church History  July 12, 1771 Topsfield, Mass - Nauvoo Ill Sept 14, 1840
Joseph, Sr., was as gentle as he was big. Heber C. Kimball recalled he was “one of the most cheerful men I ever saw, and he was harmless as a child.”vLucy said he was “an affectionate companion and tender father as ever blessed the confidence of a family.”

July 12 1771 - 3rd son of eleven children born to Asael and Mary Duty Smith - 5 generations of Smiths had lived in Topsfield
Jan 24, 1796 - Married Lucy Mack - Tunbridge dowry of 1000$ Narative of the Life of Solomon Mack

Had belief that there was not then upon the earth a religion that she sought

1805 Father of Joseph Smith Jr. - prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
1811 Had a series of dreams within an eight year period 

1812 Lived in Vermont - ran mercantile store, and invested in Ginseng root - export to china - both ventures failed lost dowry

Through the deceit of partner in business - who fled to Canada - he became in debt 1800$
Paid debts and moved - had to use dowry, and all resources to pay debts.
Was a farmer and school teacher in the winter

1812-1813 Joseph became sick with typhoid fever - absess in leg
1813-1816 After three successive crop failures in Norwitch, Vermont - moved to Palmyra, NY in 1816
1817-1819 Religious man but remained aloof from Religions - had seven dreams that reflected yearnings for redemption
1816 Purchased 100-acre farm in Manchester, NY - lost it in 1825 unable to make payment of $100
1818 A master Freemason of the Ontario Lodge No. 23 of Canandaigua, New York May 7, 1818
1829 Called to participate in restoration
Moved to Kirtland, Ohio
1829 One of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon
1830 Baptised a member of the church 
1830 Arrested in New York and spent a month in jail - 14$ debt
1833 First Presiding Patriarch of the Church - Dec 18, 1833- Setp 14, 1840 
1834 Called as a member of the high council -
moved from New York to Kirtland Ohio and ran a farm
1837 Charged with riot in connection with confrontation with apostates in Kirtland Temple
1838 moved to Far West, Missouri operated a boardinghouse
1838 assisted 100's of saints fleeing from Missouri to Qunicy Illinois
1839 illness from cold and rain - plauged him to his death in 1840
1837-1840 Assistant counselor of the first presidency of the church 

Joseph Smith Jr. Historical Background Geni.Com, Wikipedia Dec 23, 1805 Sharon Vermont - June 27 1844 Carthage Jail, Illinois

Journals: 1832, History Of Church
Timeline of Joseph Smith's Life 
History of Joseph Smith by Lucy Mack Smith
Joseph Smith The First Vision
Joseph Smith - Prophet of the Restoration Video
Joseph Smith - and the minister Video
1812-1813 Joseph became sick with typhoid fever - absess in leg - special operation - walked with crutches for 3 years
1813 attended a common grammar school for a brief period

1816 Moved to Palmyra  NY - Year without a summer - crops failed 3 times in a row

Forced to walk many miles even though not fully recovered from operation

Indigent circumstances - labor for support of family - limited education - reading, writing, mathmatics
1817 Began to be interested in welfare of my own soul

Was disturbed because people did not live according to religion they professed
Pondered situation of world and mankind, contentions, divisions and wickedness
Became convicted of my sins - and believed I and all mankind had apostatised from the truth
No way to know truth - multiple interpretations - confusion 

1820 Moved to Manchester NY - Father's family lives there
1821 unusual excitement about religion - I cried in the wilderness for the welfare of my own soul - ask of God - first vision

1822 I cried again unto the Lord - Moroni sent - plates told about

refused by the angel to take the plates after attempting 3 times to get them
I had sought the plates to obtain riches and not for the glory of god
Persecutions ocured - forbiddent to join other churches

1824 Alvin dies
1825 Began working for Josiah Stoal - Moved to Stoals - searching for treasure - silver mine
1827 Sept 22 Married to Emma Hale - Eloped maried in the house of Mr Stoal
1827 Left Stoal's and farmed with his father
1827 Obtained the plates (21 years old)
1828 Rumours and persecution concerning plates - forced to leave manchester

Translates 116 pages of the plates
Loses the Plates to Martin Harris - after pestering the Lord 3 times to let them go
Commanded to not retranslate the 116 pages

1829 Calls his father to the work
1829 The three witnesses are determined
 

Comparison and Contrast of the following Accounts of the First Vision
Primary Accounts of the first Vision: JSP
Analysis of the First vision Accounts:
1832 Account - Written History of the Church - Josephs History

Notice the spelling/grammar issues here.  This is easily one of the reasons why perhaps people complained about Joseph's word choice and manner of speaking.
Born in Sharon Vermont - 1805 - Dec 23
Moved to Palmyra - at age of 10 - indigent circumstances - labor hard for support
Worked as a child to help support his family - deprived of education - basic reading/math
At the age of 12 seriously impressed with welfare of his own soul - searched scriptures
He learned people didn't actually live their religion as found in the scriptures
From 12-15 pondered many things - concerning situation of the world/mankind and I was distressed and convicted of my sins
Through the scriptures I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord but had apostized from him
I felt to mourn for my own sins - and the sins of the world - God is the same now and forever
Only a fool can say there is no God! - all things bear testimony of him
I cried unto the Lord for mercy in the wilderness
The Lord heard my cry - and while I was thus calling upon the Lord
I saw a pillar of light above the brightness of the sun at noon day
It rested upon me - and I was filled with the spirit of God
I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying - Joseph thy sins are forgiven thee - go thy way and keep my commandments
The world lieth in sin - and none doeth good, no not one - they have turned asside from the gospel
They keep not my commandments - they draw near to me with their lips but their hearts are far from me
Mine anger is kindled against the inhabitants of the earth - to bring to pass that which hath been spoken.
I come quickly - I come in the clouds - in the glory of my father.
I was filled for many days - but could find none that would believe the heavenly vision
Nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart.

1835 Account - An account given to one Robert Matthews - Prophet Matthias
In Albany, New York, in 1830 and in Rochester, New York, in 1831, Matthews launched his career as a prophet with attempts to win over recent converts from Charles G. Finney’s revivals. In 1832, Matthews converted Elijah Pierson and a few of his Bowery Hill Kingdom disciples in New York City. Following the death of Pierson, Matthews was charged with his murder. Although acquitted, Matthews was jailed for whipping his daughter and for contempt of court. Suffering from internal dissension, public spectacle, and Matthews’s four-month incarceration, Matthews’s kingdom crumbled. Three months after his release from county jail, Matthews was reported to be traveling in Ohio and asking for directions to Geauga County A few days later he arrived at the home of JS. His visit prompted JS to relate, as JS characterized it, a “brief history of the establishment of the Church of Christ in these last days.” A visitor later in the week heard a similar recounting, though one recorded in much less detail.
This man aproached Joseph Smith - called himself Joshua the Jewish minister - and even after inquiry after his name was given - no resonse was forthcoming.

I was confused and not able to determine who was right and who was wrong concerning religion.
Considering that it was very important that I should know the truth concerning eternal consequences of my actions
I retired to the silent grove, bowed down before the Lord - knowing the Bible to be true - that if ye seek ye shall receive
If a man lack wisdom let him ask of God ...
I made a fruitless attempt to pray - my toung swollen in my mouth - I could not utter
I heard noises behind me like someone was following me - and I again strove to pray
the noise of walking seemed to draw nearer - I sprung up to my feet again - but saw no one
I called upon the Lord in mighty prayer - a pillar of fire appeared and rested upon me
Filling me with unspeakable joy 
I saw a personage in the midst of this pillar - which was spread all around - yet nothing burned
Another person appeared like the first and said unto me - thy sins are forgiven thee
I saw many angels in this vision - I was about 14 years old.

1838 Account - Because of the many reports of evile disposed, and designing persons in regarts to this church - this is written

I was born in 1805, 23 Dec in Sharon Vermont
We moved to Palmyra when I was 10 years old (1815)
Four years later we moved to Manchester in Ontario County (1819)
There were 11 people in my family

Joseph Smith Sr	Lucy Mack Smith
Alvin	Hyrum	Joseph Smith
Samuel Harrison	William	Don Carlos
Saphronia	Cathrine	Lucy

2 Years after we moved to Manchester - there was an unusual excitement concerning religion. (1821-1822)
The whole district of the Country seemed affected by it
Contention among Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist - for followers
great love expressed - but Clergy and convert actively contending - so much so that all good feelings were lost
Strife of words - and a contest of opinions
I was in my 15th year - and although uneasy with all this I kept myself aloof from all these parties
I attended their meetings - but so great was the confusion and strife - I couldn't tell what was true
Amongst all this confusion and strife I would often ask myself "What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right? Are they all wrong together?"
I was one day reading in James 1:5 - if any of you lack wisdom - never did any scripture impress me so much - how to act I did not know
There was no means of settling any dispute by an appeal to the Bible - to many opinions and beliefs
Morning of beautiful clear day - early in the spring 1820 - I wnt to make an attempt to pray vocally.
As I began I was seized upon by some power - entirely overcame me so I could not speak
Thick darkness gathered around me - I thought I was going to die!
Just as I thought I was about to be destroyed - I saw  a pillar of light over my head - which descended gradually until it fell upon me
I was delivered from the enemy which held me bound
Two personages appeared in the air - and one spoke to me by name - introducing the other as the Son of God
I asked which church was correct (It had not yet entered into my mind that they were all wrong!)
All their creeds were an abomination - professors were all corrupt - draw near to me with lips, hears far from me
They teach for doctrines the commands of men - but deny the power thereof
When I cam to myself I found myself lying on my back looking up into Heaven.

1842 Account - At the request of John Wentworth - Editor and Proprietor of the "Chicago Democrat" - He requests it be published without misrepresentation!

My Father was a farmer, and taught me the art of husbandry
When I was 14 years of age I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future state
Upon inquiring concerning the plan of salvation I found that there was a great clash in religious sentiment
As I went betweeen different congregations - they refered me to one plan - or another to another plan.
Each had their own particular creed - considering that all could not be right
And that God was not the author of confusion I determined to investigate the subject more fully
If God taught one group one way - he wouldn't teach another group another way to worship and act opposed to the first!
Believing the Bible 1 James 1:5 - that if any man lacked wisdom he could ask of God
I retired to a secret place in a grove and began to call upon the Lord
My mind was wrapped in a heavenly vision and I saw two personages who exactly resembled each other
In features, lickeness and surrounded with a brilliant light that eclipsed the sun at noon day
They told me that all religious denominations were beliving incorrect doctrine, none were acknowledge of God as his church
I was expressly commanded to go not after them - but that at some future time the Gospel would be made known to me

An account of the Murder of the Prophet Joseph smith given by his mother Lucy Mack Smith - History of Joseph Smith by Lucy Mack Smith