JOSEPH SMITH THE WARLOCK?
by Larry Hall
"For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD:
and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth
drive them out from before thee." (Deuteronomy 18:12)

In August 1996, Sword of the Spirit APOLOGETICS presented its first investigative report on the satanic connection between the Mormon Church, the Masonic Lodge, and witchcraft. We began by removing the carefully placed satanic veil so that Mormon Temple architecture could be examined. Readers were shown the inverted satanic pentagrams, the planetary stones that relate to the witchcraft Tree of Life, and Aleister Crowley's all-seeing "Eye of Horus" over the highest window of the east central tower.

Since that first article, we have revealed many carefully guarded secrets regarding the Mormon temple initiation and Endowment ceremonies, the washing and anointing embarrassment, sacred "underwear" and the Masonic-related Hermetic symbols, the "new name," the occultic shield, and the Luciferian apron from hell! (See the Photo Gallery)

In spite of this overwhelming evidence that links Mormonism with the author of death, we feel compelled to put more fuel on the fire. As always, it is not our intention to cause unnecessary embarrassment or aggravation to Mormons or their families. They have the right to worship and serve in any manner they choose. But we believe they deserve to know the truth in order to make an intelligent choice.

Could We Be Wrong About Joseph?

Is it possible that we have been mistaken about Joseph Smith's intentions for the church he founded? Even though we have demonstrated that Mormon symbols and ceremonies are directly related to witchcraft (and pre-date Mormonism by many centuries), could Smith have somehow attached a "Christian" meaning to them? Are we misjudging poor Joseph?

The best way to answer these questions is to look carefully into Smith's occultic history. What about the magick and mystical world of his family and friends? What did his neighbors think and write about him? Did he make an honest conversion of faith after his so-called "first vision" with the Father and Son? And what does his criminal history and eventual death in the Carthage, Illinois, jail reveal about his character?

The topics in this article will examine factual information, affidavits, and physical evidence that positively identify Joseph Smith as a follower of the Lord of Flies. They will cover (albeit to a limited degree) his entire life from birth into a family of witches up to and including the events surrounding his cowardly death.

I saw an interesting bumper sticker on a fancy Jeep not too long ago that read, "Get in, sit down, shut up, and hang on." I suggest that you do the same as we now ride through the life of Joseph Smith the Warlock.

His Neighbors Speak Out

A fairly good-sized book would be required to explain all the details surrounding the occultic life of Joseph Smith, "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator." For the purpose of this article, only a very basic overview will be attempted.

The fact that Joseph was deeply involved in magic is not just a modern-day impression used by "Mormon-bashers" to discredit him. Mr. E. D. Howe, in his 1834 book entitled Mormonism Unvailed [sic], gives an account of the general public opinion of Smith during the time he wrote the Book of Mormon. Howe explains,

"All who became intimate with them [the Smith family] during this period, unite in representing the general character of old Joseph and wife, the parents of the pretended Prophet, as lazy, indolent, ignorant and superstitious--having a firm belief in ghosts and witches; the telling of fortunes; pretending to believe that the earth was filled with hidden treasures; buried there by Kid or the Spaniards. Being miserably poor, and not much disposed to obtain an honest livelihood by labor, the energies of their minds seemed to be mostly directed towards finding where these treasures were concealed, and the best mode of acquiring their possession. Joseph, Jun. in the mean time, had become very expert in the arts of necromancy [communication with the dead], jugling, the use of the divining rod, and looking into what they termed a 'peep-stone' [crystal gazing]." ¹

Money Digging

It is abundantly clear that Joseph's parents were deeply involved in magic and divination and taught the same to their children. Fayette Latham, who visited the Smith family around 1830, stated, "This Joseph Smith, Senior, we soon learned, from his own lips, was a firm believer in witchcraft and other supernatural things; and had brought up his family in the same belief." ²

The evidence against the Smith family is so overwhelming that Mormon Historian B. H. Roberts declares, "...it may be admitted that some of them believed in fortune telling, in warlocks and witches..." ³ And the fact that this demonic behavior had been practiced by the Smith family for a long time is obvious. Joseph, Sr., told the Mormon council in Kirtland, "I know more about money digging than any man in this generation, for I have been in the business more than thirty years." ⁴

The Faculty of Abrac...

Joseph, Jr.'s mother (Lucy) also seems to have been influential in the occultic upbringing of her family. Let's turn our attention to the word Abrac for a moment. Robert Hullinger defines the term, "Abrac, from abracadabra and abraxis, is a magic word or formula used on amulets to work magic charms. Eighteenth century Masons were said to know how to conceal 'the way of obtaining the faculty of Abrac,' which implied that they knew how to get it." ⁵

John Thompson adds, "A very Ancient Masonic charm, or the way of winning the Faculty of Abrac,--is meant the chimerical virtues ascribed to the magical term -- Abracadabra, written or repeated in a particular manner, and is thought to be efficacious in curing agues, and preventing FITS and other Masonic diseases." ⁶

Now back to Lucy! Investigator Wesley P. Walters provides this quote by Lucy that appeared in the preliminary draft of her early history, but was omitted from the printed version: "...let not the reader suppose that...we stopt [sic] our labor and went at trying to win the faculty of Abrac, drawing magic circles, or soothsaying, to the neglect of all kinds of business. We never during our lives suffered one important interest to swallow up every other obligation." ⁷

In the previous quote, Lucy Smith is telling us that her family was not only involved in the Faculty of Abrac, magic circles, and soothsaying, but that they were all "important interests." With that kind of family support and guidance, it is no wonder that Joseph Smith, Jr., would become the most well-known con man and charlatan of his time!

Not only did Joseph, Sr., teach his children about divination and "working with the stone," but he apparently instructed others as well. On one occasion, he approached Peter Ingersoll for this very purpose. In a sworn affidavit (December 2, 1833), Ingersoll explains: "I accepted the invitation.--When we arrived near the place at which he thought there was money, he cut a small witch hazel bush and gave me direction on how to hold it. He then went off some rods, and told me to say to the rod 'work to the money,' which I did, in an audible voice. He rebuked me severely for speaking it loud, and said it must be spoken in a whisper. This was rare sport for me. While the old man was standing off some rods, throwing himself into various shapes, I told him the rod did not work."

Mr. Ingersoll then went back to work but was again approached by Joseph Smith, Sr. He continues, "...I picked up a small stone and was carelessly tossing it from one hand to another. Said he, (looking very earnestly) what are you going to do with that stone? Throw it at the birds, I replied. No, said the old man, it is of great worth; and upon this I gave it to him. Now, says he, if you only knew the value there is back of my house, (and pointing to a place near)--there, exclaimed he, is one chest of gold and another of silver. He then put the stone which I had given him, into his hat, and stooping forward, he bowed and made sundry maneuvers, quite similar to those of a stool pigeon....His son Alvin then went through with the same performance, which was equally disgusting." ⁸

The Holy Bible is very specific about this type of activity. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 plainly states, "There shall not be found among you any one that...useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD:..."

Joseph the Glass Looker...

It is a common belief among Mormons that Joseph Smith translated his so-called golden plates with a special set of "interpreters" provided by God. They are mentioned in the History of the Church in this way: "...two stones in silver bows--and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim--deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted 'Seers' in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book." ⁹

The Urim and Thummim (lights and perfections) are supposedly the very ones spoken of in Exodus, Chapter 28. They have been described as: "...gems or stones carried by the high priest and used by him to determine God's will in certain matters. Many scholars believe these gems were cast, much as dice are thrown, to aid the high priest in making important decisions. The Urim and Thummim were either on, by, or in the high priest's breastplate. For this reason the breastplate is often called the breastplate of judgment, or decision." ¹⁰

The assumption that Smith used the Urim and Thummim has been proven to be false. There is no documented evidence that supports the use of any such interpreters. On the contrary, all evidence points to the exclusive use of his occultic "peep stone." Let's look at some of this evidence.

David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon explains: "I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing." ¹¹

Martin Harris, also one of the three witnesses, concurs: "...the Prophet possessed a seer stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone." ¹²

Joseph Smith's wife, Emma, related the translation process to her son, "In writing for your father I frequently wrote day after day, after sitting by the table close to him, he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us." ¹³

And according to Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "In a letter dated March 27, 1876, Emma Smith said that the entire Book of Mormon, that we have today, was translated by the use of a single stone." ¹⁴

The reason I have outlined the use of a "seer stone" placed in a hat is because this is an excellent example of crystal gazing (or scrying). These ancient and occultic practices are described in various books on superstition, witchcraft, and magical practices.

Scrying can be performed with mirrors as well and was a technique used by Nostradamus to bring forth his "Quatrains." According to the Tanners, "Crystal balls and 'seer stones' are closely associated with necromancy--i.e. 'the pretended art of divination through communication with the dead.'" ¹⁵

Have you ever wondered why Mormons are so consumed with baptism for the dead, genealogy, and speaking with the spirits of the deceased?

In 1945, Fawn Brodie published her book, No Man Knows My History, The Life of Joseph Smith the Mormon Prophet. She summed up Joseph very well: "...a likable ne'er-do-well who was notorious for tall tales and necromantic arts and who spent his leisure leading a band of idlers in digging for buried treasure." ¹⁶

Fawn Brodie also declared that Joseph Smith had been found guilty of "glass looking" in a Bainbridge, New York, court in 1826. "On the basis of the testimony presented, including Joseph's own admissions of indulging in magic arts and organizing hunts for buried gold, the court ruled him guilty of disturbing the peace." ¹⁷ Brodie was excommunicated from the Mormon Church for being so forthright.

Mormon authorities and apologists were quick to discount Brodie's comments as fiction and her court testimony as a forgery! They were aware of the very serious ramifications that would result if the document was proven genuine. It would mean that Joseph was involved in witchcraft and occultic arts at the very same time he was being tutored by the Angel Moroni, four years before publication of the Book of Mormon.

Mormon Apostle Widtsoe became very defensive. He fumed, "...supposed records...held before a justice of the peace in 1826 in a time when county justices...did not record the testimonies of those who came before their courts. ...a literary attempt of an enemy to ridicule Joseph Smith by bringing together all the current gossip of the day and making him confess to it. ...clearly the invention of an enemy; ...the babblings of an old man...There is no existing proof that such a trial was ever held." ¹⁸

Mormon Apologist Dr. Francis W. Kirkham also denied that such a court record was ever made and then adds: "...had he [Joseph Smith] made this confession in a court of law as early as 1826, or four years before the Book of Mormon was printed, and this confession was in a court record, it would have been impossible for him to have organized the restored church." ¹⁹

"If such a court record could be identified and proved, then it follows that his believers must deny his claimed divine guidance." ²⁰

Mormon apologist Hugh Nibley gave his opinion, "...if this court record is authentic it is the most damning evidence in existence against Joseph Smith. ...the most devastating blow to Smith ever delivered." ²¹

Eureka!

"I have found it!" must have been going through the mind of Pastor Wesley P. Walters in the basement of the Bainbridge, New York, jail in 1971. Court Justices did keep records in 1826! Stacks of old dusty court ledgers and spider webs could not prevent the discovery of one of the most important documents to ever surface regarding Mormonism.

Walters had found Justice Albert Neely's bill for hearing the case against "Joseph Smith The Glass Looker" on March 20, 1826. The record indicates that the offense was a "misdemeanor," and the fee set to examine the case was $2.68.

The court document was supported by an additional record found by Pastor Walters. It was the bill sent by Constable Phillip M. DeZeng for "Serving Warrant on Joseph Smith...." Pastor Walters' discovery confirmed the date, place, and fee set in the Joseph Smith criminal case and is exactly as stated in the printed record by Fraser's Magazine in 1873. (The entire document can be found in Major Problems of Mormonism, 1989, by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, p. 123.)

In light of this positive proof that Joseph was involved in witchcraft during the writing of the Book of Mormon, I agree with Mormon apologist Kirkham: Believers must deny Joseph Smith's claimed divine guidance! It's the only sensible thing to do! I pray daily for this to happen!

References:
(1) E. D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, 1884, p. 11
(2) Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Mormonism, Magic, and Masonry, 1983, p. 18 (from Historical Magazine, May 1870, p. 306)
(3) Ibid., p. 18 (from A Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol. 1, pp. 26-27)
(4) Ibid., p. 19 (from Very Important!, Brewster, 1843)
(5) Ibid., p. 20 (from Mormon Answer to Skepticism, Hullinger, 1980, p. 105)
(6) Ibid., p. 21 (from The Philalethes, Thompson, 1982, pp. 9, 15)
(7) Ibid., p. 20 (from Joseph Smith's Bainbridge, N. Y. Court Trials, Wesley Walters, pp. 126-27)
(8) E. D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, pp. 232-233
(9) History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 12
(10) Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers
(11) David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, 1887, p. 12
(12) Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Major Problems of Mormonism, 1989, p. 130 (from Historical Record, Vol. 6, p. 216)
(13) Ibid., p. 130 (from The Saints' Herald, May 19, 1888, p. 310)
(14) Ibid.
(15) Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Mormonism, Magic, and Masonry, 1983, p. 22
(16) Fawn Brodie, No Man Knows My History, 1975 printing, p. 16
(17) Ibid.
(18) John A. Widtsoe, Joseph Smith--Seeker After Truth, 1951, p. 78
(19) Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Major Problems of Mormonism, p. 124 (from A New Witness for Christ in America, Kirkham, Vol. 1, pp. 385-387)
(20) Ibid. (from A New Witness for Christ in America, Kirkham, Vol. 1, pp. 486-487)
(21) Ibid., p. 125 (from The Myth Makers, Hugh Nibley, 1961, p. 142)

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