Posted on 10/28/2013 8:22:29 AM PDT by Colofornian
Joseph's maternal grandfather Solomon Mack, claimed to have experienced divine visitations from heaven. When he was seventy-eight years of age, the accounts of these visions were published in a little book which he peddled to friends, neighbors and anyone who would purchase them.2 Lucy Mack Smith, the mother of Joseph Smith, Jr. was ambitious but limited in formal education. She was highly mystical and was given to strange dreams. She was, however, the most enterprising member of her family. People who knew her best said she would look you straight in the eye and weave an unimaginable tale, and when challenged she would defend her exaggerated statements without shame.
From the article:
Mormon scholar D. Michael Quinn, has carefully documented that Smith was influenced by the culture of his day and particularly by his immediate family. His father and uncle both used divining rods.5 Luman Walters was likely the individual who introduced Joseph Smith, Jr. to using the "seer stone" for the pretense of discovering treasure.6 The Palmyra Reflector dubbed him as "Walters the Magician" who operated by the use of "familiar spirits," using instruments of witchcraft such as a "stuffed toad," "an old sword," and a "seer stone."7 Dr. Reed Durham, former president of the Mormon History Association, and Professor of Religion at the University of Utah, in a 1974 lecture revealed that at the time of his death Joseph Smith was wearing what was formerly thought to have been a "Masonic jewel" was actually a "Jupiter talisman." This proves that Joseph Smith was engaged in occult practices until the end of his life in 1844.8 A talisman is an object engraved with astrological signs believed to have possessed power to avert evil and bring good luck. Such pieces are clearly identified with occult magic. This lecture, although true, brought the wrath of then President Spencer W. Kimbell down upon Dr. Durham. The talisman is currently kept in the LDS Archives.
An American Prophet Muhammad.
A final influence upon Smith was the Masonic order. Originally, while Smith was dictating the Book of Mormon he reflected the strong anti-Mason sentiment of the times.15 In fact, his brother Hyrum joined the Masonic Order in Palmyra at the time Joseph claimed to find the golden plates. It is likely that the idea for discovering the golden plates came from Jewish Cabalistic lore and carried into Masonic legend where Enoch is said to have found buried treasure of gold and brass plates. Characters on the plates were said to be in Egyptian hieroglyphics, all of which sounds remarkably similar to Smith's supposed discovery of the golden and brass plates in the hill Cumorah near his home. Despite this likely early plagiarism of Mormon lore, Smith later became a Mason through the influence of Dr. John D. Bennett at Nauvoo. He subsequently brought virtually every male member of his religion into the order. From the Masonic ritual Smith carried the secret names, tokens (handclasps), penalties, signs and phrases into the Mormon Temple ceremonies. Prominent Masonic symbols such as the beehive and sun face were transported into the fabric of Mormonism. The sun face with extending rays was placed on the Nauvoo temple and the beehive remains an important symbol of Mormonism today.
* Reviews [The OTHER World Series: 'The eyes of the dead are upon us' - ex-LDS 'prophet']
* Teachings Concerning The Spirit World [Lds: 'unseen...visitors'...from 'world beyond' close]
* Interesting Similarities between Mormonism and Spirit Release Therapy [The OTHER World Series...]
* Do Mormons Believe in Ghosts? [The OTHER World Series: 'spirits...not far from us']
* Opinion: Mormon zombies are hard to find — is Halloween fit for LDS? [The OTHER World Series]
* Is "Ghost Hunters" host Grant Wilson a member? [of the Mormon church? Yes]
* 25 years ago today - 1988 Oct.1 [Lds complete 100 million endowments for the dead in temples]
* What Is the LDS Standard For Discerning Between Spirits? [Smith: 'some revelations of the devil']
* Mormonism started by Familiar Spirits [ Demonism ] [[The Other World Series]]
Heretic.../s
The other World Series?
He used to cut our grass.
. . . . . and successfully gave the masonic fraternity a false reputation as a religion.
Who was Joseph Smith: an oculist, thief, liar, pedophile, adulator, con man, grifter, deceiver, manipulator, murderer, blasphemer....and that’s just the public info.
“The Shakers” - “”Getting the shake” is said to confer enlightenment, powers of healing and divination, and “second sight.””- http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/shaker-religion Also more here: http://shawcss.tripod.com/REL101/society/intro.htm Maybe I had heard of these people but I did not know much about them. I’m not even sure if the “Shakers” in the Canadian Encyclopedia are the same one’s discussed in the Watchtower article. The Canadian Encyclopedia seems to call it a religion from the Northwest, British Columbia involving at least in part, Native Americans.
Well, one thing a "religious" official (pastor/minister/priest) does is to perform marriage & funeral/memorial services. Indeed, Masonry has both -- including other-worldly commentary @ funerals/memorial services of where that person has "landed" on the other side.
Hence, anybody attempting to speak with such spiritual authority about other-worldly "landing points" is indeed deemed a "religion"...(not to mention other "religious" worldview dimensions taught in the degrees advancement as well as religious ritualism taught & passed down generation-by-generation)
Joseph Smith is an American Horndog Prophet
Joseph Smith Confesses he is a Vile, Dishonest Impostor"Josiah Stowell, a Mormonite, being sworn, testified that he positively knew that said Smith never had lied to, or deceived him, and did not believe he ever tried to deceive any body else. The following questions were then asked him, to which he made the replies annexed.
Did Smith ever tell you there was money hid in a certain glass which he mentioned?
Yes.
Did he tell you, you could find it by digging?
Yes.
Did you dig?
Yes.
Did you find any money?
No.
Did he not lie to you then, and deceive you?
No! the money was there, but we did not get quite to it!
How do you know it was there?
Smith said it was!
Addison Austin was next called upon, who testified, that at the very same time that Stowell was digging for money, he, Austin, was in company with said Smith alone, and asked him to tell him honestly whether he could see this money or not.
Smith hesitated some time, but finally replied, "to be candid, between you and me, I cannot, any more than you or any body else; but any way to get a living."
Here, then, we have his own confession, that he was a vile, dishonest impostor.
As regards the testimony of Josiah Stowell, it needs no comment. He swears positively that Smith did not lie to him. So much for a Mormon witness."
http://olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1877Purp.htm
Then I guess the Army is a religion since it was involved in both my father’s marriage and his funeral.
Colofornian,
I your religion “Anti-Mormon”? Just asking because I’ve never seen you promote a pro-christian article before!
As a praticing LDS member 52 years of age, I would like to express my love for my saviour, Jesus Christ, and thanfullness for his atonement which makes me capable of being cleansed from all sin.
I would also like to express my thankfullness for Joseph Smith who for the first time in over 1,000 years clarified that Jesus Christ was/is the literal son of Almighty God! Just as declared in the Bible!
Joseph Smith taught me that Jesus Christ is not the third leg of a 4th century extra-biblical political/religious construction that relies on a definition of a God with a three-way personality disorder (three-in-one, one-in-three, but never really three, but never really one, please find that in the Bible!).
As I delight in my knowledge of God the Eternal Father and in his literal Son, Jesus Christ, my saviour, I will forever be grateful for Joseph Smith’s insight which re-declared the Biblical truths of God the Father’s relationship with Jesus Christ!
What? And now we're supposed to believe that NONE of those military chaplains are "religious"...because...you say so???
Don't trigger such laughter...
But, hey, I needed that smile you brought to my face!
New thread...this time a YouTube 13-minute clip: Freemasonry & occult Mormonism (LDS) [The OTHER World Series: YouTube clip]
Smith was very like Muhamed.
Invented a religion to justify how he wanted to act.
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