Brett C's Reviews > Early Mormonism and the Magic World View

"While active in the treasure-quest, the Smith's possessed traditional implements of folk magic and the occult...it's irrational to claim that the Smiths did not actually use those objects they possessed, which were so important to their acknowledged interest in buried treasure. Joseph Smith, his family, and other early Mormons saw themselves as simply drawing upon a larger frame of reference in their religious quest." pg 322-3

This was an exhaustive research & narrative explaining the early LDS church. This narrative was neither disparaging nor pro-LDS; this was a fact & heavily-cited work. The premise of the narrative argues that Joseph Smith, his family, & the origins of the LDS church were a reflection of early America, working knowledge of occult practices & the resurgence of religious spirituality in America's Second Awakening (1790s through the 1860s...roughly).

The "magic milieu" of the Smith family included seer stones, astrology, a talisman, a dagger for drawing magic circles of treasure-digging and spirit invocation, as we as magic parchment for purification, protection, and conjuring a spirit. It is one thing to demonstrate that such beliefs and artifacts were consistent with early America's environment. It requires a different kind of analysis to determine to what extent such magic beliefs and possessions were consistent with what Jospeh Jr. amd his family described as their most important experiences. pg 134-5

The author further expounded thr occult connection to the first vision, thr development of the Book of Mormon, the Mormon scriptures, the magic world view, and rural New York. Hermetic texts and ideas were part of the occult revival occurring in Europe and the United States from the 1790s to 1820s, as astrology alchemy, the Cabala, and ritual magic. Joseph Smith lived in the midst this occult resurgence which manifested itself in published works and oral history, among common people and privileged classes, among mainstream clergymen and sectarian leaders, among Mormons and non-Mormons (pg 187).

D. Michael Quinn gave lots of arguments: etymological explanations, countless references of occult literature and concepts, origins of LDS theology from occult practices, workings dueong the equinox, the Salamander & reptile story, and 94 templates of occult sigils, parchment, & other pictures all explaining the early occult origins of the early LDS Church.

This book was a heavy reference source. Out of a total 646 printed pages, 39 were the introduction, 326 were narrative text, and 319 pages of notes & index. Overall I felt I learned quite a bit; some of the information I remember reading years ago in The Angel and the Sorcerer: The Remarkable Story of the Occult Origins of Mormonism and the Rise of Mormons in American Politics. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in early American religions history and LDS studies. Thanks!