There are three texts, each purporting to give a separate episode of this dream or vision. (1) Lehi's account in 1 Nephi 8 ( Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision, 1 Nephi 8:2). (2) Nephi's account and commentary, scattered throughout 1 Nephi 11-15 ( I sat pondering in my heart [and] I was caught away . . . [to] an exceedingly high mountain, 1 Nephi 11:1). (3) Joseph Smith, Sr.'s dream of 1811, as recounted by Lucy Mack Smith in her memoir History of Joseph Smith (Bookcraft, 1958, is the edition I own). This book is an invaluable reference; a critical edition of the text (whose transmission is messy and is subject to some dispute) is now available as Lucy's Book (Signature Books, 2001). Some excerpts relating to five of Joseph Smith, Sr.'s visions are posted online at this link. The first account available to the modern era (and to Joseph Smith) appears to be Joseph Sr.'s dream in 1811. Here is my edited version of that account, as related by Lucy Mack Smith (as recorded in the Bookcraft 1958 edition, p. 48-50), with terms familiar to readers of the 1 Nephi 8 version and the 1 Nephi 11-15 commentary highlighted:
"I thought," said he, "I was travelling in an open, desolate field, which appeared to be very barren. . . . My guide, who was by my side, as before, said, 'This is the desolate world; but travel on.' Traveling a short distance further, I came to a narrow path. This path I entered, and, when I had traveled a llittle way in it, I beheld a beautiful stream of water, which ran from the east to the west. . . . I could see a rope, running along the bank of it, about as high as a man could reach, and beyond me was a low, but very pleasant valley, in which stood a tree such as I had never seen before. . . . Its beautiful branches spread themselves somewhat like an umbrella, and it bore a kind of fruit, in shape much like a chestnut bur, and as white as snow, or, if possible, whiter. . . . [T]he fruit . . . was of dazzling whiteness. I drew near and began to eat of it, and I found it delicious beyond description. . . . I went and brought my family, which consisted of a wife and seven children, and we all commenced eating and praising God for this blessing. . . . I beheld a spacious building standing opposite the valley which we were in, and in appeared to reach to the very heavens. It was full of doors and windows, and they were all filled with people, who were very finely dressed. When these people observed us in the low valley, under the tree, they pointed the finger of scorn at us, and treated us with all manner of disrespect and contempt. . . . [My guide] told me [the fruit] was the pure love of God, shed abroad in the hearts of all those who love him, and keep his commandments. . . . The more we ate, the more we seemed to desire, until we even got down upon our knees and scooped it up, eating it by double handfuls. . . . [My guide] replied [concerning the building], 'It is Babylon, it is Babylon, and it must fall.'"
Some have argued that Lucy Mack Smith's account of Joseph Sr.'s dream of 1811, recorded in 1845, reflects influence of the Book of Mormon accounts. At the same time, the recital of details unique to the 1811 account (rope, eating by handfuls, Babylon) suggests much of the account is independent of the Book of Mormon versions. In any case, Joseph Sr.'s dream of 1811 is of some importance for understanding the context in which Joseph translated the other accounts in 1829.
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