Category: Magic and Money Digging
-
Joseph Smith—Seer and Translator?
Does a “seer” and “translator” give the same message as a scholar would, rendering a specific text from one language to another? How are we to understand “translate” in Joseph Smith’s writings using the Book of Mormon plates, seer stones, and magic practices?
-
Magic Rock or Sacred Seer Stone?
Was Joseph Smith’s ‘seer stone’ a divine instrument from God or just a magical prop in creating a story?
-
“Upon This Rock”
Joseph Smith’s Seer Stone By Robert M. Bowman, Jr.Director of the Institute for Religious Research – www.irr.org On August 4, 2015, the LDS Church issued a press release that was picked up and reported on National Public Radio and Fox News, by the Associated Press, and by many other news outlets. The focus of the…
-
Joseph Smith — The Early Years
Some influences in Joseph Smith’s youth can be seen in his later writings such as the religious environment in his family and surroundings, his family’s dabbling in folk magic, and the public interest in the American Indians.
-
1826 New York Court Documents Relocated
By Sandra Tanner In 1971 Presbyterian minister and scholar Wesley P. Walters scoured the areas surrounding Bainbridge, New York, looking for early documents relating to Joseph Smith. He was able to locate two documents connected to Smith’s 1826 arrest for practicing magic while working for Josiah Stowell. We immediately published the documents and since then…
-
Was Joseph Smith a Magician?
By Jerald and Sandra Tanner How did Joseph Smith translate the supposed ancient record he found in the hill? The eye-witnesses to the translation process of the Book of Mormon seem to be describing a magical event. Joseph Smith would put a stone in his hat and then the “translation” of the plates would appear…
-
The Mormon Prophet Attempts to Join the Methodists
The significance of Joseph Smith trying to join the Methodist church is that he did so AFTER being told by God that the Methodists are “not my People,” (specifically), and that all Christian denominations were “an abomination,” (in general).
-
State of New York vs. Joseph Smith
By Jerald and Sandra Tanner In 1945 Fawn M. Brodie first published her book No Man Knows My History. In Appendix A of that work she included what she claimed was a “Record of the trial of Joseph Smith for disorderly conduct, Bainbridge, New York, March 20, 1826” (1971 edition, page 491). This document, which…
-
Magic in Mormonism
A wealth of research shows that Joseph Smith was involved in magic practices, not just as a dabbling fancy, but to the point of incorporating them into his prophetic pursuits.
-
Jesus a Magician?
By Jerald and Sandra Tanner In 1978 Dr. Morton Smith charged that Jesus had used a “magical formula” at the time of the “raising of Jairus’ daughter” (Jesus The Magician, page 95). In his attempt to excuse Joseph Smith for the role he played in the magic arts, Dr. D. Michael Quinn [BYU professor] tries…