Podcasts about seer stone

The seemingly sorcerous origins of The Book of Mormon

Some say Joseph Smith strictly used the Urim and Thummim to translate the scriptures. Others, mostly haters, claim he used a stone in a hat. Is their truth somewhere in between? We don't know, but Luke and Shannon Tracy seem to! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wardradio/support

Subconscious Realms Episode 283 - Occult Mormons/Seer Stone & Abraxas PT1 - Unfiltered Rise Podcast - Heidi Luv. Ladies & Gentlemen, on this Episode of Subconscious Realms we welcome the Host & Creator of Unfiltered Rise Podcast; Heidi Luv to discuss Occult Mormons, Joseph Smith, Seer Stone, Abraxas..... PT1 - Absolute Mind-Blowing Killer Episode & Heidi?!!

In this episode, Zach, Sarah, and Jennifer discuss the mechanics and methods of the translation process. Throughout this 6 part series, Me, My Shelf, & I will tackle and refute claims about the seer stones head-on using facts from the historical narrative. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (2:58) The Mechanics of Translation (4:24) Curtains (8:12) Methods of […] The post Me, My Shelf, & I – Episode 4 – Seer Stones: How did Joseph use the Seer Stone? appeared first on FAIR.

Was the seer stone or Urim & Thummim used for translating the Book of Mormon. Scott Vance tells why he thinks a seer stone was used. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/9Rjv9Cj2WVs Don't miss our other conversations with Scott: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqbGWEo-o2A&list=PLLhI8GMw9sJ5XhDtDEr-SKFuqaWHPPlrJ transcript to follow Copyright © 2023 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission transcript to follow Copyright © 2023 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

This week we pick up in part two of our conversation with author and missionary to Latter-Day Saints Bill McKeever. Bill continues to share with the Watchman Fellowship 2023 mission team to Utah more difficulties about the official LDS Church accounts of the gold plates as well as some historical and textual difficulties with the LDS Book of Abraham. Bill McKeever founded Mormonism Research Ministry in 1979 with the hope of informing the Body of Christ about the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. He has also made an effort to reach out the many individuals who are members of the LDS Church, desiring to show them in gentleness and respect the truth about God's Word. His writings include In Their own Words: A Collection of Mormon Quotations (Morris Publishing, 2010), Answering Mormons' Questions: Ready Responses for Inquiring Latter-day Saints (co-authored with Eric Johnson, Kregel, 2013), and Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints (Baker, 2015). Related Links: Free links to some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Watchman Fellowship articles on Mormonism: watchman.org/LDS Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: watchman.org/Mormonism Bill McKeever's ministry - Mormonism Research Ministry: MRM.org Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  watchman.org/GordonWalker  Apologetics Profile podcast "Jesus' Resurrection and Joseph's Visions," with Rob Bowman: watchman.org/1stVision Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is founded upon the Book of Mormon. But from where did the Book of Mormon originate? According to Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS Church, the Book of Mormon comes from sacred gold plates he uncovered in 1827 near his home in Manchester, New York. What were these plates? How did Smith obtain them? How did he bring them back to his home? Where are they now? Find out this week and next as the Watchman Fellowship 2023 mission team to Utah sat down with author and missionary to LDS, Bill McKeever, of Mormon Research Ministry (mrm.org) to discuss these and other questions. Bill shares with us the history and stories behind the gold plates.Bill McKeever founded Mormonism Research Ministry in 1979 with the hope of informing the Body of Christ about the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. He has also made an effort to reach out the many individuals who are members of the LDS Church, desiring to show them in gentleness and respect the truth about God's Word. His writings include In Their own Words: A Collection of Mormon Quotations (Morris Publishing, 2010), Answering Mormons' Questions: Ready Responses for Inquiring Latter-day Saints (co-authored with Eric Johnson, Kregel, 2013), and Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints (Baker, 2015). Related Links: Free links to some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Watchman Fellowship articles on Mormonism: watchman.org/LDS Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: watchman.org/Mormonism Bill McKeever's ministry - Mormonism Research Ministry: MRM.org Apologetics Profile podcast What Is the Gospel? with Mormon apologist Scott Gordon and Christian apologist James Walker (YouTube):  watchman.org/GordonWalker  Apologetics Profile podcast "Jesus' Resurrection and Joseph's Visions," with Rob Bowman: watchman.org/1stVision Additional ResourcesFREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook. SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Meghan is joined by Hannah Stoddard to discuss Joseph Smith and his ongoing role in the Kingdom of God, preparatory to the return of Jesus Christ. Topics Include: - Joseph Smith's key importance- Our individual mandates as disciples of Jesus Christ- What stopped the early saints from building Zion?  What stops us?- Joseph Smith's vision of establishing Zion-Joseph as the latter-day Moses.L. Hannah Stoddard is the lead author of Faith Crisis, Volume 1: We Were NOT Betrayed!, Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim: Book of Mormon Translation on Trial, Faith Crisis, Volume 2: Behind Closed Doors, Joseph Smith's Plural Wives: Helen Mar Kimball, and A Christ-Centered Home. She is the director of the Joseph Smith Foundation, and producer or director of seven documentary feature films.Nephites in Europe (Episodes 1 & 2, Quest for the Nephite Remnant) (2019)Hidden Bloodlines: The Grail & the Lost Tribes in the Lands of the North (2017)Unlocking the Mystery of the Two Prophets: Revelation 11 Part 1 (2017)The Prophet Joseph: More than we know (2015)Statesmen & Symbols: Prelude to the Restoration (2014)For Our Day: Divinely Sanctioned Governments (2013)For Our Day: Covenant on the Land (2013)In addition to directing Joseph Smith Foundation projects for over a decade, she is often invited to speak on various radio and video programs. Hannah helped direct her first documentary film, beginning at age 16. She has worked as a history and literature teacher, graphic design artist, software developer, videographer, project manager, agriculturist and research assistant. Her work focuses on Church history and doctrine, answers to Latter-day Saint faith crisis questions, educational philosophy, culture, and defending the Prophet Joseph Smith. Hannah's research supports the writings and teachings of ancient and latter-day prophets.

In this episode, we hear from a longsuffering listener and member in Wisconsin, who take a brief break from constantly filling baptismal fonts to let us know there are members still in Wisconsin.  We discuss a rising trend/movement among Church members to adamantly reject that Joseph Smith used seer stones placed into a hat (in order to block out the light) to translate the Book of Mormon.  We discuss the multiple Church publications and statements on the topic. ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠⁠ Please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com⁠

- Urim and Thummim vs Seer Stone  - The use of folk magic in the early 19th century - Why was Abinadi killed?   Website - www.cwicmedia.com 

How many sets of plates were there? Was the large repository of records at Cumorah in New York? What does "Translate" mean? Did the Book of Moses come from Nephite records in the repository? What is the "Demonstration Hypothesis? Website - www.cwicmedia.com 

L. Hannah Stoddard is the lead author of Faith Crisis, Volume 1: We Were NOT Betrayed!, Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim: Book of Mormon Translation on Trial, Faith Crisis, Volume 2: Behind Closed Doors, Joseph Smith's Plural Wives: Helen Mar Kimball, and A Christ-Centered Home. She is the director of the Joseph Smith Foundation, and producer or director of seven documentary feature films. In addition to directing Joseph Smith Foundation projects for over a decade, she is often invited to speak on various radio and video programs. Hannah helped direct her first documentary film, beginning at age 16. She has worked as a history and literature teacher, graphic design artist, software developer, videographer, project manager, agriculturist and research assistant. Her work focuses on Church history and doctrine, answers to Latter-day Saint faith crisis questions, educational philosophy, culture, and defending the Prophet Joseph Smith. Hannah's research supports the writings and teachings of ancient and latter-day prophets. She joins Tom and me to discuss her faith, family, and what it means to survive spiritually. Support the Joseph Smith Foundation at josephsmithfoundation.org Follow her on the interwebs Telegram: https://t.me/hannahstoddard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lhannah.stoddard Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lhannahstoddard/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LHannahStoddard

The question of just how church founder Joseph Smith produced the faith's signature scripture, the Book of Mormon, continues to be debated. Did Smith “translate” the Reformed Egyptian writing from gold plates or did he invent the story of a Hebrew civilization living in the ancient Americas who welcomed Jesus Christ after his crucifixion in Jerusalem? In recent years, the scholarly consensus in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seems to be that Smith produced most of the text using a “seer stone” in a hat, where words somehow appeared on the revelatory rock, without really referring to the plates. In a forthcoming book, titled “By Means of the Urim and Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration,” authors James Lucas and Jonathan Neville argue that the evidence for the seer stone is “inconsistent and unreliable.” Instead, they believe the traditional theory that Smith used “interpreters” called the urim and thummim, which the first Latter-day Saint prophet described as “two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate.” On this week's show, Lucas discusses why he and his co-writer believe their theory is correct.

Fresh from presenting at the Mormon History Association, Jonathan Neville returns to give us a report on how his paper was received. On this special episode of Mormon Book Reviews, the process of translating the Book of Mormon is also discussed. Was the Seer Stone merely a diversion for the plates and the spectacles (aka the Urim & Thummin)? Jonathan makes a very bold proposal that the spectacles were the main vehicle used to translate the BOM! He also previews a project he is starting to work on called "The Myth of the Mound Builder Myth". It is a response to Thomas Murphy's Mound Builder hypothosis, first discussed on this channel. Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, I think you'll find this discussion fascinating. #jonathanneville #thomasmurphy #moundbuildermyth #lds #mormon

I'm excited to announce that Trevor Miller is the contest winner for Visions of a Seer Stone by Dr. William Davis. I also want to remind some of my new listeners that I value respectful comments, especially on my YouTube page.  Rude comments will be deleted and/or blocked.

In our ongoing conversation Evangelical Steven Pynakker finally gets to ask all of his questions on his list to the Fundamentalist Intellectual Benjamin Shaffer! In this "rapid fire" round of questioning many topics are covered including the "Godmakers" cartoon, "Mormon Prophet" Art Bulla, gay marriage, abortion, the role of women in Christ's Church, the Word of Wisdom, the Sabbath, the End of Days, the Lafferty Brothers, the show "Big Love", the 2nd Anointing, BOM Geography, the Seer Stone, the evolution/creation controversy, would he run for political office, how many wives he has, and much more! I really enjoyed my conversations with Benjamin and many members of Christ's Church. I know that these dialogues have opened many LDS and Christians eyes to a perspective of Mormon Fundamentalism that is rarely heard.Link to Godmakers cartoon

About The Art of Floundering Podcast https://twitter.com/artofflounder https://artoffloundering.podbean.com/ https://www.facebook.com/artoffloundering https://www.instagram.com/artoffloundering/ https://www.youtube.com/c/theartofflounderingpodcast https://open.spotify.com/show/63CkIMZQZx7TqENd7zjc3y https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-art-of-floundering-pod-53149110/

We're continuing our conversation with Dr. Brian Hales on Book of Mormon authorship.  What are some naturalistic explanations are there to explain how Joseph Smith could have written the Book of Mormon? Brian will tackle a few more theories, such as automatic writing, as well as Bill Davis recent book, “Visions in a Seer Stone.”  […] The post Automatic Writing/Bill Davis's Visions of Seer Stone appeared first on Gospel Tangents.

William Davis is the author of Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon published last year by the University of North Carolina Press. It is this book that William and I discuss at length in the podcast today. We try to cover some of the most interesting topics in the book, Joseph Smith's history with seer stones, his early experiences with exhorting and debate society, and aspects of 19th century sermon culture familiar to Smith that end up within the text of the Book of Mormon. Whether you believe the Book of Mormon is a translation of ancient records, or that Joseph Smith was the author, Davis' work sheds greater light on the production process. William also spends time addressing common apologetics around Joseph Smith's level of education and whether he was capable of producing a work like the Book of Mormon naturalistically. You can find the book at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Visions-Seer-Stone-Joseph-Making-ebook/dp/B07XFH7T9P

Welcome back Campers! In todays Holier-Than-Tho Character Creation Challenge, Lucas has thrown the Holy Grail down for Justin and Michael to immaculately concept their very best version of a lvl 3 Cleric. Hope you packed some Golden Plates, and a Seer Stone, because this Hajj won't end until someone reaches Heavens Gate and is declared Bodhi. Don't forget to catch the gang every Monday night 7ish central on www.twitch.tv/TheNegotiators and follow the podcast on twitter @FantasyCG for all updates, news and announcements.

Please join me as I interview Dr. William L. Davis about his book "Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon." In this interdisciplinary work, William L. Davis examines Joseph Smith's 1829 creation of the Book of Mormon, the foundational text of the Latter Day Saint movement. Positioning the text within the history of early American oratorical techniques, sermon culture, educational practices, and the passion for self-improvement, Davis elucidates both the fascinating cultural contexts for the creation of the Book of Mormon and the central role of oral culture in early nineteenth-century America. Drawing on performance studies, religious studies, literary culture, and the history of early American education, Davis analyzes Smith’s process of oral composition. How did he produce a history spanning a period of 1,000 years, filled with hundreds of distinct characters and episodes, all cohesively tied together in an overarching narrative? Eyewitnesses claimed that Smith never looked at notes, manuscripts, or books—he simply spoke the words of this American religious epic into existence. Judging the truth of this process is not Davis's interest. Rather, he reveals a kaleidoscope of practices and styles that converged around Smith's creation, with an emphasis on the evangelical preaching styles popularized by the renowned George Whitefield and John Wesley. William L. Davis, an independent scholar, holds a Ph.D. in theater and performance and has published in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought; John Bunyan Studies: A Journal of Reformation and Nonconformist Culture; Leviathan: A Journal of Melville Studies; Style; Text and Performance Quarterly; and Textual Cultures.

Please support this Free Come Follow Me Series by subscribing to https://www.BookofMormonEvidenceStreaming.com!Rod's Guest: L. Hannah Stoddard Director – For Our Day Film Series Website: josephsmithfoundation.orgHannah's Presentations at BookOfMormonEvidenceStreaming.com:1. Ezra Taft Benson & Leonard J. Arrington: Battling Over the New History2. Reliable Primary Sources & the Seer ‘Stone in a Hat’3. Is the ‘Miracle of the Gulls’ Story Reliable History? Faith Crisis 2: Behind Closed Doors4. Latter-day Nephites in Scripture: The Scriptures Say You Are Likely a NephiteL. Hannah Stoddard is the co-author of Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim: Book of Mormon Translation on Trial. She is the founder of Joseph Smith’s Legacy and the producer or director of six documentary films. In addition to directing Joseph Smith Foundation projects for over a decade, she is often invited to speak on various radio and video programs. Hannah helped direct her first documentary film, beginning at age 16. She has worked as a history and literature teacher, graphic design artist, software developer, videographer, project manager, agriculturist and research assistant. Her work focuses on Church history and doctrine, answers to Latter-day Saint faith crisis questions, educational philosophy, culture and defending the Prophet Joseph Smith.Documentary Films – For Our Day: Covenant on the Land (2013), For Our Day Divinely Sanctioned Governments (2013), Statesmen & Symbols: Prelude to the Restoration (2014), The Prophet Joseph: More than we know (2015), Unlocking the Mystery of the Two Prophets: Revelation 11 (2017), Hidden Bloodlines: The Grail & the Lost Tribes in the Lands of the North (2017).Support the show (http://www.bookofmormonevidencestreaming.com)

Please support this Free Come Follow Me Series by subscribing to https://www.BookofMormonEvidenceStreaming.com!Rod's Guest: L. Hannah Stoddard Director – For Our Day Film Series Website: josephsmithfoundation.orgHannah's Presentations at BookOfMormonEvidenceStreaming.com:1. Ezra Taft Benson & Leonard J. Arrington: Battling Over the New History2. Reliable Primary Sources & the Seer ‘Stone in a Hat’3. Is the ‘Miracle of the Gulls’ Story Reliable History? Faith Crisis 2: Behind Closed Doors4. Latter-day Nephites in Scripture: The Scriptures Say You Are Likely a NephiteL. Hannah Stoddard is the co-author of Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim: Book of Mormon Translation on Trial. She is the founder of Joseph Smith’s Legacy and the producer or director of six documentary films. In addition to directing Joseph Smith Foundation projects for over a decade, she is often invited to speak on various radio and video programs. Hannah helped direct her first documentary film, beginning at age 16. She has worked as a history and literature teacher, graphic design artist, software developer, videographer, project manager, agriculturist and research assistant. Her work focuses on Church history and doctrine, answers to Latter-day Saint faith crisis questions, educational philosophy, culture and defending the Prophet Joseph Smith.Documentary Films – For Our Day: Covenant on the Land (2013), For Our Day Divinely Sanctioned Governments (2013), Statesmen & Symbols: Prelude to the Restoration (2014), The Prophet Joseph: More than we know (2015), Unlocking the Mystery of the Two Prophets: Revelation 11 (2017), Hidden Bloodlines: The Grail & the Lost Tribes in the Lands of the North (2017).Support the show (http://www.bookofmormonevidencestreaming.com)

Have you ever heard about Joseph Smith's seer stone?  How did he use it in translating the Book of Mormon?  Why don't we hear about it more?  Let Cali and Kristen strengthen your family's testimonies of the Book of Mormon with our discussion of its translation and Joseph Smith as a prophet.  Anthony Sweat Art: https://www.fairmormon.org/blog/2015/04/30/artwork-of-joseph-smith-translating-the-book-of-mormon One Minute Scripture Study Journal: https://rubygirl.org/shop/ Big Picture/Little Picture Study Guide: https://comefollowmestudy.com/shop/ Church "Now You Know" Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1esI8cbCtc  

Script – https://talkingtomormons.com/ether-6-11-come-follow-me-podcast/ Is it possible to travel in primitive submarines for nearly a year without replenishing food for the occupants and their animals?  Did horses, sheep, oxen, and elephants exist in the Western Hemisphere in pre-Columbian times?  Is it anachronistic to claim the Jaredites made steel swords in 2000 BC?  How are secret combinations […] The post Ether 6-11 appeared first on Talking to Mormons.

Script – https://talkingtomormons.com/ether-6-11-come-follow-me-podcast/ Is it possible to travel in primitive submarines for nearly a year without replenishing food for the occupants and their animals?  Did horses, sheep, oxen, and elephants exist in the Western Hemisphere in pre-Columbian times?  Is it anachronistic to claim the Jaredites made steel swords in 2000 BC?  How are secret combinations […] The post Ether 6-11 appeared first on Talking to Mormons.

Script – https://talkingtomormons.com/mormon-7-9-who-will-judge-us-at-the-last-day Moroni has, to finish his father’s record, since Mormon has died. Moroni teaches that God is unchangeable and is the same yesterday, today, and forever – but Joseph Smith strongly disagrees. Who will judge us at the last day? Will it be a hierarchy of judges, or only Jesus Christ? What happens […] The post Mormon 7-9 appeared first on Talking to Mormons.

Script – https://talkingtomormons.com/mormon-7-9-who-will-judge-us-at-the-last-day Moroni has, to finish his father’s record, since Mormon has died. Moroni teaches that God is unchangeable and is the same yesterday, today, and forever – but Joseph Smith strongly disagrees. Who will judge us at the last day? Will it be a hierarchy of judges, or only Jesus Christ? What happens […] The post Mormon 7-9 appeared first on Talking to Mormons.

Script – https://talkingtomormons.com/mormon-1-6-is-the-book-of-mormon-a-racist What are the striking similarities in the lives of Mormon and Joseph Smith, Jr.?  Is it reasonable that the Nephites would choose an inexperienced 16 year-old to lead their entire army?  Could the Book of Mormon be considered racist Scripture? Talking to Mormons YouTube – https://goo.gl/Pe2LiV Website – https://TalkingToMormons.com/ Facebook – https://goo.gl/s2vADr […] The post Mormon 1-6 appeared first on Talking to Mormons.

Script – https://talkingtomormons.com/mormon-1-6-is-the-book-of-mormon-a-racist What are the striking similarities in the lives of Mormon and Joseph Smith, Jr.?  Is it reasonable that the Nephites would choose an inexperienced 16 year-old to lead their entire army?  Could the Book of Mormon be considered racist Scripture? Talking to Mormons YouTube – https://goo.gl/Pe2LiV Website – https://TalkingToMormons.com/ Facebook – https://goo.gl/s2vADr […] The post Mormon 1-6 appeared first on Talking to Mormons.

A review of William L. Davis, Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 2020, 264 pp. paperback $29.95, hardcover $90, e-book $22.99, ISBN: 1469655675, 9781469655673.   Abstract: Within the genre of Book of Mormon studies, William L. Davis’s […] The post Theories and Assumptions: A Review of William L. Davis’s Visions in a Seer Stone first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

A review of William L. Davis, Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 2020, 264 pp. paperback $29.95, hardcover $90, e-book $22.99, ISBN: 1469655675, 9781469655673.   Abstract: Within the genre of Book of Mormon studies, William L. Davis’s […] The post Theories and Assumptions: A Review of William L. Davis’s Visions in a Seer Stone first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

A review of William L. Davis, Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 2020, 264 pp. paperback $29.95, hardcover $90, e-book $22.99, ISBN: 1469655675, 9781469655673.   Abstract: Within the genre of Book of Mormon studies, William L. Davis’s […] The post Theories and Assumptions: A Review of William L. Davis’s Visions in a Seer Stone first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

[Page 151]A review of William L. Davis, Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 2020, 264 pp. paperback $29.95, hardcover $90, e-book $22.99, ISBN: 1469655675, 9781469655673.   Abstract: Within the genre of Book of Mormon studies, William L. […] The post Theories and Assumptions: A Review of William L. Davis's Visions in a Seer Stone first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In his 1886 "An Address to All Believers in Christ" David Whitmer said Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon by placing his seer stone in a hat.  1886 is a very late recollection, The Book of Mormon translation was completed nearly 60 years earlier, so this description may not be accurate.  But if it is, why would this be seen as a problem by critics?  Physical objects, for example, Moses' and Aaron's rods, the burning bush, brass snake on a pole, pillar of fire and pillar of cloud, the tassels on Jesus' robe, Paul's handkerchiefs and aprons, and other items, were used in Old and New Testament times to aid in spiritual endeavors.  No one should therefore see Joseph Smith's use of a seer stone as in any way improper, even if it was placed in a hat.  

Our good friend Danny Hunt sits down with us to teach us how Mormonism was influenced by early American folk magic, hermeticism, and alchemy. In the first part of our discussion, we talk about Joseph Smith's scrying seer stones, wicked Zone Leaders, and how the basic Mormon principle of Godhood actually stems from Kabbalah. The discussion continues on Patreon!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we tell a story.  This story involves the Seer Stone used for the translation of the Book of Mormon but a story you likely have never heard.  We set all the messiness of Mormonism aside and instead focus deeply on the Seer Stone itself.  This small rock has a history of its own and […] The post Mormon Discussion: 317: Dowsing Rods, Banded Jasper, and Gizzard Stones appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Today we tell a story.  This story involves the Seer Stone used for the translation of the Book of Mormon but a story you likely have never heard.  We set all the messiness of Mormonism aside and instead focus deeply on the Seer Stone itself.  This small rock has a history of its own and […] The post Mormon Discussion: 317: Dowsing Rods, Banded Jasper, and Gizzard Stones appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

This podcast series features a FairMormon Conference presentation each month. Please join us for the 2018 FairMormon Conference coming up August 1-3. You can attend in person or purchase the video streaming. You can watch older conference presentation videos on our YouTube channel and FairMormon TV for Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV. Transcripts […] The post FairMormon Conference Podcast #6 – Brant Gardner, “The Book of Mormon as a Seer Stone: Having Faith In and Through the Book of Mormon” appeared first on FairMormon.

Details around the first object in the history of the Mormon Church, the seer stone

Happy New Year! Holy cow what a way to start it off! Miranda and Colleen discuss the way a faith transition impacts your annual resolutions. Miranda discusses a Reddit post regarding Joseph Smith’s Seer Stone. AND OMG, will there be a bigger story this year in Mormonism than Thomas Monson passing away? We hash out … Continue reading "MHH05: New Year, Death of Monson, Seer Stone"

Denis' (latest) post-apocalypse intro; Mailbag: Listener "disproves" Christianity with "algebra"; The Pope and Kim Davis; Oklahoma to finally remove 10 Commandments from Capitol; Scottish politicians creep a little closer to rational position on religion/science; Mailbag: Religion in Schools; What we've been up to lately; Jeff's gofundme gamer project; SIAS - Complaint about Well-Behaved Mormon Woman; related story - "Seer Stone"; Gamer stuffCopyright 2015, Atheist Community of Austin

With The Church releasing photos of the Seer Stone it seems to beg the question what really is at the root of our discomfort with this narrative.  For me the answer is obvious….. Treasure Digging and Folk Magic and the depth of the details of how all the characters involved are just that……. involved. We […] The post 168: Seer Stones, Folk Magic, and Alvin’s Hand appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Rob Bowman joins us to talk about Mormonism and the seer stone of Joseph Smith.

On Tuesday, August 4th, the LDS Church in conjunction with the Community of Christ held a press conference announcing the newest volume in the ongoing Joseph Smith Papers project. This new two-volume work contains high definition color pictures of each page of the Book of Mormon "printers manuscript" (owned by the Community of Christ) on one side of each page spread, with a transcription on the other. It will be a wonderful boon to scholars and others interested in the Book of Mormon and processes by which it came into print. What has overshadowed the news of this important publishing effort, however, is the fact that the book contains four full-color photographs of a chocolate-colored, striated stone that is purported to be the seer stone Joseph Smith used to receive the English words he used in dictating the Book of Mormon. Scholars and others well-read in Mormon origins have long known about this seer stone and its use in the translation process (and the Church last year actually released an essay in its Gospel Topics series that speaks about the stone), but actually seeing it has forced them to confront again--and startled others who are learning of it for the first time--just how steeped Joseph Smith and early saints were in what D. Michael Quinn has labeled a "magic world view." This publishing event now calls for careful and informed exposition. Didn’t Joseph Smith say there were interpreters (what Latter-day Saints came to refer to as Urim and Thummim) in the stone box containing the plates that were like spectacles attached to a breastplate? Did he use those interpreters at all? What, exactly (or as best we can tell from a scattered record), was the process by which the Book of Mormon came about? How did the words to speak come to Joseph? Were they printed English words that appeared on the interpreters/seer stone that he then said aloud to his scribes, or was the process less mechanical than that, more of a conceptual and revelatory process? With D. Michael Quinn, Ann Taves, and Ron Barney as expert guides, this two-part Mormon Matters episode explores these and many other questions about the processes. It also spends a significant amount of time on the more meta-issues that are now arriving for those startled to learn of or see the stones. How could we as a church allow for so long such a mismatch between the typical version, told both in prose and visual images, of Smith’s translation of the plates and what the historical record actually shows? Has there been a deliberate cover up, or something less deceptive and more understandable given the historical knowledge level of LDS leaders? How do these panelists, as well as Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, frame for their scholarly and/or faith lives a full awareness of Smith’s use of stones and other "magical" objects?

After a long long weekend, Utah Outcasts returns with a new episode and this one is a whopper! The panel this week consisted of Kyle, Amanda, Felicia, Rena (our guest), and your host…me! We have a great show this week and one that will eat up big chunk of your boring Monday. We bring you the heavy and depressing news, a good chunk of pop-culture chat as we discuss how bad Fant4stic was. I interject with various clips from some of the worst that humanity has to offer and of course we move onto our BIG discussion this week. As much as we wanted to talk about how amazing the GOP debates were, we couldn't in good conscience let the latest news of the amazing stone egg that the LD$ church showed the world. For most of the people on the panel we wonder how people can continue believing this nonsense after revealing that Joe Smith DID IN FACT use a stone in a hat to read golden plates…also we go a bit Mormonism 101. Then to cap off the entire show we had our end-of-the-show features. If you wish to get in touch with anyone from the panel, please do so via the following. Email: UO@PodHell.com Voicemail/SMS line: 347-669-3377 Facebook: Click Here Twitter: Click Here KEEP IN MIND THAT WE WILL USE YOUR EMAILS/TEXTS/VOICEMAILS ON THE SHOW FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES. OPENING SONG – Faith No More – “Last Cup of Sorrow” CLOSING SONG – X Japan – “X” Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe via Stitcher Support us via Patreon Buy some Merch!

On Tuesday, August 4th, the LDS Church in conjunction with the Community of Christ held a press conference announcing the newest volume in the ongoing Joseph Smith Papers project. This new two-volume work contains high definition color pictures of each page of the Book of Mormon "printers manuscript" (owned by the Community of Christ) on one side of each page spread, with a transcription on the other. It will be a wonderful boon to scholars and others interested in the Book of Mormon and processes by which it came into print. What has overshadowed the news of this important publishing effort, however, is the fact that the book contains four full-color photographs of a chocolate-colored, striated stone that is purported to be the seer stone Joseph Smith used to receive the English words he used in dictating the Book of Mormon. Scholars and others well-read in Mormon origins have long known about this seer stone and its use in the translation process (and the Church last year actually released an essay in its Gospel Topics series that speaks about the stone), but actually seeing it has forced them to confront again--and startled others who are learning of it for the first time--just how steeped Joseph Smith and early saints were in what D. Michael Quinn has labeled a "magic world view." This publishing event now calls for careful and informed exposition. Didn’t Joseph Smith say there were interpreters (what Latter-day Saints came to refer to as Urim and Thummim) in the stone box containing the plates that were like spectacles attached to a breastplate? Did he use those interpreters at all? What, exactly (or as best we can tell from a scattered record), was the process by which the Book of Mormon came about? How did the words to speak come to Joseph? Were they printed English words that appeared on the interpreters/seer stone that he then said aloud to his scribes, or was the process less mechanical than that, more of a conceptual and revelatory process? With D. Michael Quinn, Ann Taves, and Ron Barney as expert guides, this two-part Mormon Matters episode explores these and many other questions about the processes. It also spends a significant amount of time on the more meta-issues that are now arriving for those startled to learn of or see the stones. How could we as a church allow for so long such a mismatch between the typical version, told both in prose and visual images, of Smith’s translation of the plates and what the historical record actually shows? Has there been a deliberate cover up, or something less deceptive and more understandable given the historical knowledge level of LDS leaders? How do these panelists, as well as Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, frame for their scholarly and/or faith lives a full awareness of Smith’s use of stones and other "magical" objects?

For decades, and heavily over the past ten years, Mormon historians, podcasters, and critics have been urging the LDS Church to be more open and honest about Joseph Smith's use of folk magic and a peep stone/hat in his production of the Book of Mormon text. On August 4th, 2015 the LDS Church released the third volume of the Joseph Smith Papers, which includes the printer's manuscript of the Book of Mormon. It also released photos of the seer stone that Joseph Smith used as a scryer to search for buried treasure, and that he also placed in a hat to produce the text for the Book of Mormon.  (for detailed discussions of Joseph's use of a seer stone in the Book of Mormon's creation, see CES Letter, Mormon Think, or D. Michael Quinn's "Early Mormonism and the Magic World View." An October 2015 Ensign article is set to appear called "Joseph the Seer" which attempts to explain Joseph's practice of using a seer stone. In this episode John Hamer, J. Seawright, Micah Nickolaisen, Jamie Hanis Handy, and Jonathan Streeter join us to analyze these events.

Images of the seer stone are new. Otherwise there's nothing "new" about the LDS Church's publication of the Printer's Manuscript for the Book of Mormon.

I'll sit down with #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, P.C. Cast on Thursday, April 9th @6:00pm EST about her latest novel, Redeemed, Book 12 in the House of Night Novels. This spellbinding new book series follows fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird as she enters the mysterious House of Night school, gains astonishing powers and searches for eternal love. Redeemed is the final electrifying installment in the #1 New York Times bestselling vampyre series by PC and Kristin Cast. Book Blurb: Zoey Redbird is in trouble. Having released the Seer Stone to Aphrodite, and surrendered herself to the Tulsa Police, she has isolated herself from her friends and mentors, determined to face the punishment she deserves--even if that means her body will reject the change, and begin to die. Only the love of those closest to her can save her from the Darkness in her spirit; but a terrible evil has emerged from the shadows, more powerful than ever… Neferet has finally made herself known to mortals. Crowning herself a Dark Goddess, she is evil unleashed and is enslaving the citizens of Tulsa. The vampyres of the House of Night have banded with the police, and are gathering every last resource they have, but they know that no single vampyre is strong enough to vanquish her--unless that vampyre has the power to summon the elements as well as the ability to wield Old Magick. Only Zoey is heir to such power…but because of the consequences of using Old Magick, she is unable to help.  In the final novel in the House of Night series, an epic battle of Light versus Darkness will decide who is redeemed…and who is forever lost.