Seer Stones and Western Esotericism
William L. Davis
May 25, 2020 DOI: 10.5149/northcarolina/9781469655666.003.0002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Joseph Smith's seer stone practices were rooted in contemporary folk magic, Western esotericism, and Christian occultism, reflecting a worldview that mixed esoteric and religious pursuits. |
Abstract
Chapter One contextualizes Joseph Smith's use of a "seer stone" to compose the Book of Mormon within contemporary folk magic practices, the philosophies of Western esotericism, and Christian occultism. The seer stone (sometimes described as a "Urim and Thummim") represented one of several folk magic practices that the Smith family pursued, most notably in relation to "money digging" or treasure hunting with mystical objects as guides. Such mystical pursuits entangled esoteric thought with religious efforts to discover God's mysteries, and Smith's practices reflected this magical worldview.