What I Know About Mormonism

Our country has had Presidents that were Episcopalian (11), Presbyterian (10), Methodist (4), Baptist (4), Unitarian (4), Disciples of Christ (3), Congregationalist (2), Quaker (2), Dutch Reformed (2), Catholic (1), Church of Christ (1) and Jehovah's Witness (1) (Eisenhower, who became Presbyterian soon after his 1st inauguration). Jefferson was a deist and Lincoln did not claim a denomination. Many of these men, including Washington, and in recent history FDR, Truman, LBJ, and Ford, were also members, and some quite high leaders, of Masonic lodges. It seems that lodge membership was the type of thing that many wealthy and/or ambitious men saw as a way to advance their financial and/or political careers.

It bothers me that there are occult symbols throughout everything Masonic, and that various Egyptian and other false gods are honored, with oaths given, through each level of advancement. I believe that evil spirits hang around those symbols and that invoking those names give those spirits certain legal rights to latch onto anyone who does so. Most of the denominations listed above have warnings about occult involvement. Yet many of the men involved may have belonged to a church for the same reason they belonged to a lodge. Perhaps they actually were ignorant of the spiritual dangers involved with their activities. I hope so.

We have not yet had a President who was Mormon, but with the current political environment I thought it might be interesting to know a little bit more about that religion.

The Mormon religion carries with it a mindset of deception that began with the circumstances of its very beginning and which carries through even to today. The religion was created by a man, Joseph Smith Jr., who came from a family that was heavily involved with occult practices, who incorporated occult practices and symbolism into the activities of that religion, who communicated with demonic spirits, and who had at least 30 wives, many of them quite young and many who were still married to other men. He encouraged his followers to engage in this adultery and polygamy. To get away with this they would only legally record one marriage with the State, an example of an early incorporation of deception into the fabric of the religion.

Most of the first followers of Smith were also heavily involved in the occult, as was Brigham Young who became the Mormon leader after Smith was killed in 1844. Young moved most of the followers to the Utah territory and saw to the design and construction of the early Mormon temples, the first being the current one in Salt Lake City. This temple has many occult symbols, and the temple ceremonies have many Masonic/occult features. Almost no one could advance in leadership positions in the church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) without having "plural" marriages, with incestuous arraignments not unheard of. This officially continued until 1890, when wanting the Utah Territory to become a state the LDS leaders "agreed" to end the practice. Privately it was still encouraged by the leadership at least until 1915 or 1920, and perhaps even much longer than that.

As a young man Joseph Smith Jr. and his father engaged in something called money digging. This was a combination of folk magic and scamming, the purpose being to make people think there was something of value which could be found. The process worked this way. After being paid a certain amount Mr. Smith would make an animal sacrifice to confuse the guardian evil spirit over the treasure and then gaze into his sear stone. The sear stone would indicate where the treasure was (previously salted by Smith) leading them to find enough so the person would pay again, hoping to find more.

The term used in that day which applied to people who did this was called "juggling". It is defined as "manipulating and practicing deceit in order to achieve a desired end". I believe the formation of the LDS scriptures are a result of both the influence of evil spirits as well as the practice of juggling.

I have a relative who knew Brigham Young and some of the early leaders of the Mormon faith in Utah. Here is an excerpt from EARLY STEAMBOAT NAVIGATION ON THE MISSOURI RIVER by H.M. Chittenden which writes about my great great grandfather Captain Joseph La Barge. “While in Salt Lake City the Captain renewed his acquaintance with Brigham Young and other Mormons whom he had known on the Missouri. An old friend of his of the name of Hooper, who had turned Mormon, and later became a delegate from the Territory to Congress, called as soon as he heard that La Barge was in town. He also found there another friend, Hopkins by name, whom he had known from boyhood. Hopkins tried his best to induce La Barge to join the Mormons. He assured the Captain that if he would sell out in St. Louis and come to Utah it would be his fortune. As proof of this, he referred to himself and others, who, he said, had gone into Mormonism, not for any love of the doctrine, but as a simple business proposition.

The Captain called on Young several times. That dignitary received him very hospitably, took him to the Tabernacle and other places of interest, and presented him to several of his families. They went to the theater together, where they sat in a box with Young's favorite wife, the other wives being ranged in seats below. Young never said anything intended to convert La Barge to his religion. Other members of the Church did, and particularly Orson Hyde, who was a man of education and a very persuasive talker. La Barge heard a sermon by Herber Kimball – a rough old fellow who took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and waded in. His language was coarse and vulgar, and would not bear repetition in refined ears.” (pg. 333 - 335)

Mormon theology is derived from the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price and the Documents and Covenants. The Book of Mormon came from gold tablets that were either found in a field in Upstate New York or given to Smith by an angel (the story varies) and translated by Smith while he had a blanket over his head. The tablets (which no one but Smith ever saw) seem to be along the same line as a sear stone. All of the original Mormon ideas can be traced to writings that came from within a 50 mile range from where Smith lived, or from ideas, theories, or beliefs that were common in the time and area he lived. And if there was a problem with what he claimed an angel or God told him (could be either because there are at least 3 documented versions of his first vision, a keystone belief for most Mormons), it was revised without objection from his followers.

One of his biggest tricks was to claim the Bible as a Mormon sacred scripture and then announcing that all  translations and interpretations of those translations were corrupt and could only be correctly understood by God's prophet (meaning Joseph Smith Jr. and his successors). So even today revelation from Joseph Smith can be revised because God can speak to the reigning prophet (president/apostle), trumping any past revelation. That is why polygamy and the idea that blacks are a cursed race could later be changed (at least "officially").

Today the LDS officially condemns occult practices. The problem here is that Mormon ceremonies include many things that I would consider occult but which they do not define as such. Examples would be the symbols in and on the Mormon temples and temple clothing, and the objects and words used in the temple ceremonies. Many of these are borrowed from Masonic imagery. Mormonism claims that the Book of Mormon has a "familiar spirit", but officials do not see anything wrong with that.

Mormons say that they listen to the spirit but theologically they are not talking about the same Holy Spirit that I would. When Mormons say that salvation only comes through Jesus they all know that Mormonism defines Jesus and God the Father much differently than traditional Christianity does. Salvation for a Mormon has a totally different meaning than with other Christian traditions. In their missions and everyday dealings with Christians Mormons initially disguise the true meaning of their spiritual language in order to gain acceptance.

A basic Mormon belief is that we can become like God the Father (who is god of our particular universe) and someday rule over our own planets and maybe even our own universes. They believe that their status in the next life will be enhanced by you becoming a Mormon. This was one of the keystones beliefs behind multiple marriages and missions. It is multi-level marketing to the extreme. Mormonism is intentionally deceptive to the outside world in order to juggle you.

Perhaps this is what bothers me about Romney. He is known for changing and shaping his views to best appeal to the people who might vote for him. True, other politicians are known to do the same. And in this regard I believe there are evil spiritual beings that help maneuver many men and women into positions of authority. I have a feeling that there is a particularly strong spirit involved with Mormonism which has been wanting to push someone to a critical position in our country for a long time.