... the 'Intelligence of Mars,' the zodiac sign for Scorpi

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Occult Origins of Mormonism
2
JOSEPH SMITH AND MORMON ORIGINS

• A BELIEF IN WITCHCRAFT WAS PASSED THROUGH THE
  SMITH GENERATIONS. EVEN ORLANDO SAUNDERS, WHOM
  MORMON APOLOGISTS CONSIDER TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
  FAVORABLE WITNESSES TO JOSEPH SMITHS CHARACTER,
  SAID IN AND INTERVIEW THAT BOTH
• JOSEPH SMITH SR. AND JOSEPH SMITH JR. BELIEVED IN
  WITCHCRAFT.
• (FREDRIC G. MATHER, THE EARLY DAYS OF
  MORMONISM,
• LIPPINCOTTS MAGAZINE 26, AUG. 1880, P. 198)

3
COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE CHURCHVOL. 1, PP.
26-27

• Yes, the Prophets ancestors were credulous
  (ready to believe anything with slight evidence)
  It may be admitted that some of them believed in
  fortune telling, in warlocks and witches.To be
  credulous in such things was to be normal people.

4
HISTORICAL MAGAZINE 7 MAY1870, p. 306

• Fayette Lapham, who spoke with the Smiths at
  length to find out firsthand about Mormonism,
  said, This Joseph Smith, Senior, we soon
  learned, from his own lips, was a firm believer
  in witchcraft and other supernatural things and
  brought up his family in the same belief.

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To The Mormon Money Diggers.By James Collin
Brewster, p.2

• In Kirkland, Joseph Smith Sr., the Prophets
  father said in Council (Meeting) I know more
  about money digging than any man in this
  generation, for I have been in the business more
  than thirty years.

6
INVENTING MORMONISM p. 64Marguart Walters
7
Inventing Mormonism p. 64 William Stafford
speaking
8
History of the Church Vol.1 p. 17 Joseph Smith
speaking
9
Mormonism and the Magic World Viewp.44 D.
Michael Quinn
10
History of the Church vol. 1, p.29

• Tenth--- Was not Joseph Smith a money digger?
• Yes, but it was never a very profitable job for
  him, as he only got fourteen dollars a month for
  it.

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Mormonism Unvailed (Unveiled) (1834) pp. 234-235

• Joseph Smith eloped with Isaac Hales daughter
  and returned to the Hale household
• to sponge off Mr. Hale. Peter Ingersoll, who was
  helping Smith move furniture,
• observed a touching scene between Isaac Hale and
  Smith. His father-in-law
• (Mr. Hale) addressed Joseph, in a flood of tears
  You have stolen my daughter and
• married her. I had much rather have followed her
  to her grave. You spend your
• time in digging for money (you) pretend to see
  in a stone, and thus try to deceive
• people. Joseph wept, and acknowledged he could
  not see in a stone now, nor never
• could and that his former pretensions in that
  respect, were false. He then promised
• to give up his old habits of digging for money
  and looking into stones. Mr. Hale told
• Joseph, if he would move to Pennsylvania and work
  for a living, he would assist him
• in getting into business. Joseph acceded to this
  proposition.
• Instead of finding honest work as he had
  promised Isaac Hale, Smith returned to his
• peep stone and pretended to find golden
  plates.

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Peep Stones

• According to Joseph Capron, Joseph Smith
• Claimed to see infernal spirits in his peep-
• stone. (Mormonism Unvailed p.259)
• Joseph Smith was mesmerized by evil spirits.
• Spellbound, he could watch them in rapt
  absorption for hours. William Staffords
  affidavit notes Joseph Smiths protracted
  enthrallment with evil spirits
• next

13
Peep stones cont.

• He returned and said that Joseph had remained
  all the time in the house looking in the stone
  and watching the movements of the evil spirits.
• Given under oath before Judge Th. P. Baldwin,
  Dec., 1833
• (Charles A Shook, True Origin of the Book of
  Mormon, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1914, pp. 28-31

14
Early Mormonism and the Magic World View p.44
15
Josephs green seer stone
16
Peep Stones cont. Early Mormonism and the Magic
World View p.44
17
Peep stones cont. Early Mormonism and the Magic
World View p.44
18
Sidney Rigdon A Portrait of Religious Excess
p.57

• This stone, still retained by the First
  Presidency of the LDS Church, was the vehicle
  through which the golden plates were discovered
  and the medium through which their interpretation
  came.

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Comprehensive History of the Church Vol. 6, p. 230

• At the Dedication of the Manti Temple 1888
• Dedication of the Manti Temple with the Seer
  Stone on the Altar.
• One item mentioned by President Woodruff about
  the private dedicatory services at Manti is of
  more than passing interest. Before leaving, he
  writes, I consecrate upon the altar the Seer
  Stone that Joseph Smith found by revelation some
  thirty feet under the earth (ground), and carried
  by him through life. This is the very Seer Stone
  that the Prophet Joseph Smith used part of the
  time when translating the Book of Mormon the one
  he took from the well he was digging with his
  brother Hyrum, near Palmyra, for Mr. Clark
  Chase,

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Magic circles
21
Ceremonial Dagger

• Below is a photo of the actual dagger Joe Smith
  used for animal sacrifices to Satan. The Smith
  family dagger was listed in the inventory of
  Hyrum Smith's "relics." An authorized biography
  of Hyrum Smith described the artifact as "Dagger,
  Masonic ten inch, stainless steelwooden
  handleMasonic symbols on blade" (Pearson
  Corbett, Hyrum Smith, Patriarch, Salt Lake City
  Deseret Book, 1963, p. 453).
• Symbols on the blade are not "Masonic," but they
  are used in ceremonial magic. One side of the
  blade has the seal of Mars. The other side of the
  blade has a symbol for the "Intelligence of
  Mars," the zodiac sign for Scorpio and the Hebrew
  letters for "Adonai." Occult books recommend the
  inscription of "Adonai" for those seeking a
  treasure-trove (Agrippa, Fourth Book of Occult
  Philosophy, 1655, p. 81 Ebenezer Sibly, New and
  Complete Illustration of the Occult Sciences,
  illustration opposite p. 1103 Francis Barrett,
  Magus, 1801, II110).
• These magical signs were inscribed according to
  instructions for inscribing occult symbols (Henry
  Agrippa, Three Books of Occult Philosophy,
  London Gregory Moule, 1651, p. 245 Barrett,
  Magus, I illustrations opposite pp. 143, 174
  Melton, Encyclopedia of Occultism
  Parapsychology, vol. 2, p. 1179). Mars is the
  governing planet of Smith Sr.'s birth year
  (1771).

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Hyrums ceremonial dagger
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Markings on the dagger
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Markings on the dagger
25
Josephs Jupiter talisman
26
Jupiter talisman drawings
27
Smith Family Parchment
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Smith Family Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah parchment
29
The Smith familys Saint Peter Bind Them lamen
(fig.74)andthe familys Holiness to the Lord
magic parchment (fig. 75)with the letters for In
Hoc Signo meaning In this sign, conquer.
30
Brigham Youngs bloodstone
31
The use of black animal sacrifices
32
Dog sacrifice
33
Black dog sacrifice
34
Black clothes, black horse, lampblack for hands
35
Lampblack for hands Early Mormonism and the Magic
World View p.166
36
History of Joseph Smith by his mother, Lucy Smith
p. 83
37
The original Moroni

• That appeared to
• Joseph Smith

38
Inventing Mormonism p. 92 continues
39
Inventing Mormonismp. 92
40
Inventing Mormonism p.94 1
41
Inventing Mormonism p. 94 2
42
Joseph Smith Seniorinfluenced this belief

• The newspaper Palmyra Reflector noted that Joseph
  Smiths father envinced sic a firm belief in
  the existence of hidden treasure, and that this
  section of country abounded in them. He also
  revived, or in other words propagated the vulgar,
  yet popular belief that these treasures were held
  in charge of some EVIL spirit, which was supposed
  to be either the Devil himself, or some one of
  his trusty favorites.
• (as cited in A Witness for Christ in America,
• vol. 2, pp.68-69)

43
Benjamin Saunders interviewSept. 1884, RLDS
library archives

• I heard Joe tell my mother and sister how he
  procured the plates. He said he was directed by
  an angel where it was. He went in the night to
  get the plates. When he took the plates there was
  something down near the box that looked like a
  toad that rose up into a man which forbid him to
  take the plates. He told his story just as
  earnestly as any one could. He seemed to believe
  all he said.
• Next--

44
In books on the occult, the toad is associated
with Satanism, witchcraft, and sorcery.(Henry
Agrippa, Three Books of Occult Philosophy,
London, Gregory,1635, p. 472Barrett, Magus
I46).
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Occult practices of Joseph Smith

• The Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ
  of Latter-day Saints were offshoots and natural
  progressions of Smiths involvement with peep
  stones, money digging, Freemasonry, astrology,
  fortune telling, water witching, a Jupiter
  talisman, magic parchments, a ceremonial dagger,
  talking toads, magic circles of black lambs and
  black dogs blood, hemlock juice, necromancy,
  blood spurting ghosts, wizardry, demonic
  possession, etc.
• To Joseph Smith, these enchantments needed to be
  broken. Appeasement through blood sacrifice to
  Satan was Joseph Smiths method of choice to
  break the enchantment and to get at the treasure.
• Next--

46
Conclusion

• Later unidentified Mormon authorities
  rewrote Joseph Smiths account and deleted the
  blood-spurting Spaniard ghost, the transforming
  amphibian, the animal sacrifices to evil spirits
  and other clear giveaways to the true nature of
  Mormonism. Before Mormons rewrote the story,
  Moroni was an apparition who had his throat cut
  from ear to ear, blood streaming down his
  clothing. Josephs story was similar to the kind
  of tale he told his money digging associates. The
  social setting and content were identical to that
  of his money digging tales. The requirements to
  arrive at a new moon, during an autumnal equinox,
  to wear black clothing, to smear his hands with
  lampblack, to bring a specific person, etc., were
  taken from specific books on the occult.

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Joseph supposedly gets the plates

• Joseph took the pillow-case and started for
  the rock. Upon passing a fence, a host of devils
  began to screech and to scream, and made all
  sorts of hideous yells. Joseph then turned the
  rock back, took the article in the pillow-case,
  and returned to the wagon the devils, with more
  hideous yells than before, followed him to the
  fence as he was getting over the fence, one of
  the devils struck him a blow on his side, where a
  black and blue spot remained three or four
  days. (Historical Magazine, 7 May 1870, p.
  306).
• Compare this account to the official account.

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The official story

• Joseph Gets the Plates

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The Plates shown to Joseph

• "Convenient to the village of Manchester, Ontario
  Co. New York, stands a hill of considerable size,
  and the most elevated on any in the neighbor
  hood on the west side of this hill not far from
  the top, under a stone on considerable size, lay
  the plates deposited in a stone box this stone
  was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper
  side, and thinner towards the edges, so that the
  middle part of it was visible above the ground,
  but the edge all round was covered with earth.
  Having removed the earth and obtained a lever
  which I got fixed under the edge of the stone and
  with a little exertion raised it up, I looked in
  and there indeed I beheld the plates, the Urim
  and Thummim and the Breastplate as stated by the
  messenger. The box in which they lay was formed
  by laying stones together in some kind of cement
  in the bottom of the box were laid two stones
  crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the
  plates and the other things with them. I made an
  attempt to take them out but was forbidden by the
  messenger and was again informed that the time
  for bringing them forth had not yet arrived,
  neither would until four years from that time."
  (Times and Seasons, vol. 3, p. 771 Comp. with
  Pearl of Great Price, p. 54-55)

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Joseph Receives the Gold Plates

• "At length the time arrived for obtaining the
  plates, and Urim and Thummim, and the
  breastplate on the 22nd day of September, 1827,
  having went as usual at the end of another year
  to the place where they were deposited, the same
  heavenly messenger delivered them up to me, with
  this charge that I should be responsible for
  them that if I should let them go carelessly or
  through any neglect of mine I should be cut off
  but that if I would use all my endeavors to
  preserve them, until he the messenger should call
  for them, they should be protected...by the
  wisdom of God they remained safe in my hands
  until I had accomplished by them what was
  required at my hands when according to
  arrangements the messenger called for them, I
  delivered them up to him and he has them in his
  charge until this day." (Times and Seasons, vol.
  3, p. 772 Comp. with Pearl of Great Price, p.
  55-56)

51
Joseph receives the plates
52
Joseph Saves the Plates from Three Assailants

• After removing the plates from the stone box,
  Joseph hid them in a birch log until preparations
  could be made at home for the plates. then he
  went to retrieve them.
• "The plates were secreted about three miles from
  home...Joseph, on coming to them, took them from
  their secret place, and wrapping them in his
  linen frock, placed them under his arm and
  started for home."
• After proceeding a short distance, he thought it
  would be more safe to leave the road and go
  through the woods. Traveling some distance after
  he left the road, he came to a large windfall,
  and as he was jumping over a log, a man sprang up
  from behind it, and gave him a heavy blow with a
  gun. Joseph turned around and knocked him down,
  then ran at the top of his speed. About half a
  mile further he was attacked again in the same
  manner as before he knocked this man down in
  like manner as the former, and ran on again and
  before he reached home he was assaulted the third
  time. In striking the last one he dislocated his
  thumb, which, however, he did not notice until he
  came within sight of the house, when he threw
  himself down in the corner of the fence in order
  to recover his breath. As soon as he was able, he
  arose and came to the house." (Lucy Mack Smith,
  mother of Joseph Smith, in Biographical Sketches
  of Joseph Smith the Prophet, 1853, pp. 104-105
  Comp. reprinted edition by Bookcraft Publishers
  in 1956 under the title History of Joseph Smith
  by His Mother, pp. 107- 108) Emphasis added.

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The Weight of the Plates

• The weight of the plates makes the story
  incredible. The heavenly messenger told Joseph
  Smith that plates were of gold. Joseph described
  the plates as being 6 inches wide, 8 inches long,
  and something near 6 inches in thickness. Gold
  has certain interesting properties. It is a very
  heavy metal, its specific gravity being 19.3. It
  is very soft and malleable. Plates made of gold
  would therefore pack down very tightly when
  stacked. A little figuring will reveal to the
  reader that the plates weighed 200.81 pounds or
  thereabouts!
• The base of the monument on the hill in New York
  where Joseph Smith allegedly found the golden
  plates depicts him kneeling and receiving the 200
  pound plates from the heavenly messenger with
  outstretched arms. Quite a physical feat!
• Imagine Joseph Smith wrapping his linen shirt
  around this 200 pound block of gold plates,
  tucking it casually under his arm and strolling
  off towards home, some three miles distance!
  Imagine him further, running at the top of his
  speed through the woods, jumping over logs, and
  knocking down not one or two, but three
  assailants in the process, all the while with the
  200 pounds of gold plates safely under his arm!
  If anyone would care to experiment, lead is the
  nearest common metal to gold in weight, its
  specific gravity being 11.35. Try tucking a 200
  pound block of lead under your arm, and running
  and leaping through the woods with it for three
  miles! Then ask yourself Can I believe Joseph
  Smith's Story?
• Joseph Smith made the ludicrous mistake because
  he was dealing with imaginary gold. While real
  gold is very heavy, imaginary gold weighs nothing
  at all. And that is what Joseph Smith's golden
  plates were -- imaginary.

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Church News Picture of Mormon holding the gold
plates