JOSEPH SMITH THE GLASS-LOOKER
Anti-Mormon Claim: Joseph Smith was arrested in 1826 in Bainbridge New York and found guilty of Glass-Looking, meaning he pretended to find buried treasure in the earth with his peepstone, and deceived people this way, proving he deceived people and was using Black Magick and was not a Prophet of God. |
Mormon Answer
In 1826 Joseph Smith Jr. was in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Chenago, New York. Part of this time he is digging for an old Spanish Silver mine on the property of one Josiah Stowell. He lodges at the home of one Isaac Hale, and later elopes with his daughter, Emma Hale. In 1826, Joseph Smith is arrested on charges of being "a disorderly person" and brought to trial under one Justice Albert Neely. The charge was that Joseph Smith claimed to have the ability to look into a stone to find lost objects and buried treasure, which was illegal by New York State Law at the time, which read:
"Disorderly Persons: all jugglers, and all person pretending to have skill in physignomy, palmistry, or pretending to tell fortunes, or to discover where lost goods made be found...shall be deemed disorderly persons." (Laws of the State of New York, 1813, 1:114sec.1)In the October 1835 issue of The Latter-day Saints' Messenger & Advocate, Oliver Cowdery, a friend and scribe of Joseph Smith Jr., writes:
"On the private character of our brother [Joseph Smith Jr.] I need add nothing further at present, previous to his obtaining the records of the Nephites, only that while in that country [i.e. Chenago County New York], some very officious person complained of him as a disorderly person, and brought him before the authorities of the county; but there being no cause of action, he was honourably acquitted."In 1831 a man named ????? claimed that Joseph Smith Jr. was found "guilty" but allowed to escape because of his young age (he was 20 at the time).
In In the 1870 an Methodist Episcopal bishop named Bishop Daniel S. Tuttle was sent on a mission to Utah by the Methodist Episcopal Church to be a "missionary bishop". His mission was to convert the Mormons to Christianity (i.e. the Methodist Episcopal Church), by any means necessary. His secretary was a Miss Emily Pearsall; who just happened to be a niece of Justice Albert Neely, who presided over Joseph Smith's 1826 trial.
Bishop Tuttle
Bishop Tuttle found that merely preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as he understood it, did very little good with Mormons. Faithful Mormons were not interested in the "Christianity" Tuttle had to offer; with the promised afterlife of one singing hymns in one huge Heavenly Choir, looking down upon their Mormon loved ones burning in Hell-fire for all eternity. Mormons were more interested in eternal marriage, and in eternal families, and in becoming gods and goddesses, creating their own worlds then peopling those worlds with their spirit-childrne. They were not interested in the "Eternal Heavenly Choir" that Bishop Tuttle and other Protestant missionaries in Utah were offering.
What to do? How could he convince Mormons that they were going to eternal Hell? How could he convince them of the error of their ways, and that they had to leave Mormonism and become good Methodists in order to be saved?
Bishop Tuttle then became Anti-Mormon; meaning he would publish and write things trying to prove Mormonism to be fraudulent; thereby destroying the faith of Mormons, and then offering them "Christianity" (i.e. the Episcopal Church) to fill in the void of their now wrecked and bewildered souls.
Bishop Tuttle became an avid "student" of Mormonism and Mormon history; pouring over everything published, Mormon and Anti-Mormon, to use as "evidence" against Joseph Smith Jr.
But Bishop Tuttle wanted proof. He wanted "proof" that Joseph Smith Jr. was a fraud and impostor. But he could not find any. He had anti-Mormon claims, but he wanted "proof" that would convince the Mormons that they were believing a lie, and that to be saved they had to become Methodists.
Bishop Tuttle knew that Joseph Smith Jr. had to arrested in 1826, in Bainbridge New York, on the grounds of being a "disorderly person". It was recorded by Oliver Cowdery, scribe of Joseph Smith, that Joseph Smith Jr. was arrested, and honorably acquitted.
In 1872 Bishop Tuttle's secretary, Emily Pearsall, died. Bishop Tuttle claims that while looking through her belongings to send back to her family, he found a "court record"; the 1826 trial record of Joseph Smith Jr. What luck! What coincidence! Does not God work in mysterious ways? It seems that his secretary was the niece of Justice Neely, the judge over the 1826 trial in Bainbridge, New York. Before coming to Utah, Emily had found Justice Neely's docket book in her father's house, and tore out the pages which contained the Joseph Smith 1826 "Court Record".
Obviously, Pearsall knew the "Court Record" was very vital evidence against Joseph Smith, and could be used in Utah to convince the Mormons that Joseph Smith was a fraud and imposter.
Why Pearsall apparently never told Bishop Tuttle about the record while she was living is unknown. But, after she died, he found them among her things. What a stroke of luck! This was "the evidence" Bishop Tuttle needed all along to finally PROVE Joseph Smith Jr. a fraud!
Bishop Tuttle then publishes the "Court Record" which reads as follows:
PEOPLE OF STATE OF NEW YORK, VS.This "Court Record" made Joseph Smith Jr. look like a fraud (although it says he described Josiah Stowell's farm accurately looking into a stone in Palmyra several hundred miles away).
JOSEPH SMITH.Warrant issued upon written complaint upon oath of Peter G. Bridgman 3 who informed that one Joseph Smith of Bainbridge was a disorderly person and an Impostor. Prisoner brought before court 20 March. Prisoner examined, says, that he came from town of Palmyra, and, had been at the house of Josiah Stowels in Bainbridge most of time since, had small part of time been employed in looking for mines,—but the major part had been employed by said Stowell on his farm, and going to school. That he had a certain stone, which he had occasionally looked at to determine where hidden treasures in the bowels of the earth were, that he professed to tell in this manner where gold mines were a distance under ground, and had looked for Mr. Stowell several times and informed him where he could find those treasures, and Mr. Stowel had been engaged in digging for them—that at Palmyra he had pretended to tell by looking at this stone, where coined money was buried in Pennsylvania, and while at Palmyra he had frequently ascertained in that way where lost property was of various kinds; that he has occasionally been in the habit of looking through this stone to find lost property for 3 years, but of late had pretty much given it up on account of injuring his Health, especially his eyes, made them sore-that he did not solicit business of this kind, and had always rather declined having anything to do with this business.
Josiah Stowel sworn, says that, prisoner had been at his house, something like 5 months, had been employed by him to work on farm part of time—that he pretended to have skill of telling where hidden treasures in the earth were by means of looking through a certain stone—that Prisoner had looked for him some times once to tell him about money buried on Bend Mountain in Pennsylvania, once for gold on Monument Hill, and once for Salt Spring 4 and that he positively knew that the Prisoner could tell and possessed the art of seeing those valuable treasures through the medium of said stone—that he found the digging part at Ben and Monument Hill, as prisoner represented it—that prisoner had looked through said stone for Deacon Attlton [Attleton or Attelon] 5—for a mine did not exactly find it but got a p---[pot? piece?] of oar which resembled gold, he thinks; that Prisoner had told by means of this stone where, a Mr. Bacon had buried money, that he and prisoner had been in search of it; that prisoner said that it was on a certain Root of a stump 5 feet from surface of the earth, and with it would be found a tail feather that said Stowel and prisoner thereupon commenced digging, found a tail feather, but money was gone, that he supposed that money moved down—that prisoner did not offer his services; that he never deceived him,—that Prisoner looked through stone and described Josiah Stowels house and out houses, while at Palmyra at Simpson Stowels correctly, that he had told about a painted tree with a man's hand painted upon it by means of said stone; that he had been in company with prisoner digging for gold, and had the most implicit faith in Prisoners skill. Horace Stowel sworn, says he see Prisoner look into that strange stone, pretending to tell where a chest of dollars were burried in Windsor a number of miles distant, marked out size of chest in the leaves on ground.Arad Stowel sworn, says that he went to see whether Prisoner could convince him that he possessed the skill that he professed to have, upon which prisoner laid a Book open upon a White Cloth, and proposed looking through another stone which was white and transparent; held the stone to the candle, turned his back to book and read, the deception appeared so palpable that went off disgusted.
McMaster, sworn, says he went with Arad Stowel, to be convinced of Prisoner's skill, and likewise came away disgusted, finding the deception so palpable. Prisoner pretended to him that he could discern objects at a distance by holding this white stone to the sun or candle; that prisoner rather declined looking into a Hat at his dark-colored stone as he said that it hurt his eyes.
Jonathan Thompson, says that Prisoner was requested to look Yoemans for chest of money—did look and pretended to know where it was, and that Prisoner, Thompson and Yoemans went in search of it; that Smith arrived at Spot first, was in night, that Smith looked in Hat while there and when very dark, and told how the chest was situated—after digging several feet struck upon something sounding like a board or plank—Prisoner would not look again pretending that he was alarmed, the last time that he looked on account of the circumstances relating to the trunk being buried came all fresh to his mind, that the last time that he looked, he discovered distinctly, the two Indians who buried the trunk, that a quarrel ensued between them and that one of said Indians was killed by the other and thrown into the hole beside of the trunk, to guard it as he supposed—Thompson says that he believes in the prisoners professed skill, that the board he struck his spade upon was probably the chest but on account of an enchantment, the trunk kept settling away from under them while digging, that notwithstanding they continued constantly removing the dirt, yet the trunk kept about the same distance from them, Prisoner said that it appeared to him that salt might be found in Bainbridge, and that he is certain that Prisoner, can, divine things by means of said Stone and Hat; that as evidence of fact—Prisoner looked into his hat to tell him about some money Witness lost years ago, and that he described the man that Witness supposed had taken it, and disposition of money. And therefore the court find the defendant guilty—cost Warrant, 19cts, complaint upon oath 25.7 [25 1/2] Witnesses 87 1/2, Recognizance 25, Mittimus 19, Recognizance or [of] witness 75, Subpoena 18—$268 [$2.68].
The Mormons, reading the "Court Record" accounts published in various newspapers, want to see the originals. Ah, but Bishop Tuttle doesn't have them anymore. He says he gave the Court Record "to the Methodists". What Methodists? Bishop Tuttle refuses to elaborate. The Methodist "lose" the original.
In 1950, Hugh Nibley, a Mormon history professor, challenges the "Court Record". He writes:
COURT RECORDNibley wants to know "WHY" (a screaming "WHY?") Miss Pearsall did not show this damning evidence to Bishop Tuttle? Miss Pearsall tore out the "Court Record" from Justice Neely's book which happened to be in her father's house, takes it to Utah with her, but apparently never shows this Court Record to Bishop Tuttle! Why? Why take the thing to Utah as "evidence" against Joseph Smith Jr. and never show the "evidence" to the man whose "mission in life" was to collect and publish such "evidence"?
In 1970, a Presbyterian minister named Wesley P. Walters, who is also an Anti-Mormon, goes to Chenago County to find "evidence" that that Tuttle's "Court Record" is authentic. He finds a the following:
The purported "bill" of Justice Neely in the case of the People of the State of New York vs. Joseph Smith
The "charge bill" by Justice Neely agrees with the "Court Record" in which Justice Neely charges $2.68 (a good day's wages back then) for hearing the case, proving to Anti-Mormons that Tuttle's "Court Record" must be authentic and that Bishop Tuttle did not invent it out of thin air as Mormons claimed.
But Mormons never claimed that.
Mormons never claimed that Emily Pearsall did NOT have a "Court Record". They simply wanted to see the original, and compare it with what Bishop Tuttle published as the "Court Record"; to see if Tuttle "added" things to it to make Joseph Smith look bad. But Tuttle said he gave the original "to the Methodists" who conveniently "lost" the original.
Hugh Nibley questions the authenticity of Tuttle's "Court Record". Wesley P. Walters read what Hugh Nibley writes, and decides to go to Chenago County to look for "proof" that Tuttle's "Court Record" is authentic. And he finds it!
Mormons disagree, for the following reasons:
1. The page which Wesley P. Walters "found" was heavily damaged by water, and "restored". Walters refuses to say who "restored" it. This too is not the original but a "restored" copy. Where is the original? Walters was threatened to be sued by Chenago County to return to original to them. Walter had taken it without their knowledge (stole County records). Walters returned the "restored" records. I received this from the Chenango County Historian:
"Dear Darrick:What Walters claimed to have was NOT the original "Court Record", but simply a "Billing Sheet" by Judge Neeley that agreed with the amount given in Tuttle's "Court Record" ($2.68). Anti-Mormons claim that Walter's "Billing Sheet" which he admittedly stole "PROVES" that Tuttle's "Court Record" is TRUE!
Wesley Walters took some records of Joseph Smith arrests – not a trial – in 1971 without permission. He called the County to say he had them and returned them all within 6 weeks. The County did not sue him, although letters from our County Attorney were sent demanding the return of the records.
All of the correspondence concerning this between Wes Walters and various County Officials is public access. A copy of all of it will cost $35.00. However, you can come to our office Monday through Friday, 9 to 12, 1 to 5 and read the file.
Sincerely, Dale C. Storms (Email from Dale C. Storms to Darrick Evenson, July 16 2007)
It does NO SUCH THING!
Why?
Because:
a) Walter's had the original "restored" (altered). Thus nobody knows what the original billing sheet said except for Walters and the person he had "restore" it. Who that person is, nobody knows.
b) Even "if" Walter's "Billing Sheet" was restored correctly (and to believe that one must trust Walters the Thief), that does not mean that Tuttle's "Court Record" is completely authentic (i.e. Tuttle did not change or add things to it).
The original "Court Record" that Tuttle claims to have "found" among Emily Pearsall's belongings after she died is conveniently lost. The last named person who had it his posession was Bishop Tuttle; who conveniently "lost" it after Mormons demanded to see it! How convenient.
Walters had the sheet "restored" to the original (he claims) and he published it, and photocopies of the Billing Sheet (called also "Judge Neeley's Billing Docket") can be found in almost all anti-Mormon books and websites. Then Mormon apologists wanted to see the original, and Walters claimed he had it. Mormon apologists wondered how Chenango County gave him the original, and Walters eventually admitted he stole it! Why? He was "protecting it from the Mormons"!
Walters did NOT have to steal it to protect it from Mormon conspirators bent upon stealing it themselves. He could have simply had the Billing Sheet notarized right there at Chenango County, with the County Clerk, the very day he found it. Why didn't he? Walters refused to answer that, til his death.
Reason #2. Mormons NEVER claimed that there was no trial in 1826. Mormons always said, "Yes, there was a trial, and Joseph Smith was acquitted!" William D. Purple says the very same thing, that Joseph Smith was "discharged" (acquitted), and he attended the trail, and he was NOT a Mormon and NOT sympathetic to Mormons nor Joseph Smith! The Mormons never claimed that Emily Pearsall did NOT have something in her posession regarding the 1826 trial. They claim that Bishop Tuttle's "Court Record" is not wholly (entirely) authentic, because it disagrees with several other accounts of the trial on a number of points of fact.
For example, in 1877, a man named William D. Purple wrote an account of the trial. He claimed he was there. He said that Joseph Smith was "discharged" (meaning found "NOT" guilty). The "Court Record" published by Tuttle has Joseph Smith found "GUILTY". Also, Purple's account and Tuttle's "Court Record" disagree on a number of other points of fact.
Reason #3. If Emily Pearsall had "damning" evidence against Joseph Smith (i.e. the "Court Record" as published by Tuttle in 1873) why in the world did she not give this to her good Bishop the two years she worked for him in his own home as "a missionary sister" and assistant? Her very purpose in Utah was to help Bishop Tuttle PROVE Mormonism false? Why in the WORLD did she not give her Bishop the very "evidence" he needed to do this?
It appears to Mormon apologists that Miss Pearsall "did" have a "Court Record" which found Joseph Smith "NOT GUILTY" (as Olivery Cowdery and William D. Purple both claim) and Bishop Tuttle knew about about this court record because Miss Pearsall would have certainly shown him the original "Court Record" on the DAY she got to Utah! But there was nothing in the "Court Record" Tuttle could use against Joseph Smith. But two years later Emily Pearsall dies! Now, Tuttle can claim to have "found" it among her things, then publish it to the world finding Joseph Smith "guilty" of fraud! The only person in the world who would know that Tuttle had changed the "Court Record" to suit his needs was Miss Emily Pearsall, who was now deceased.
Mormons want to see the original, but the Methodists have "lost" it. Then Wesley P. Walters, in 1971, an Anti-Mormon looking to confirm the "Court Record", goes to Chenango County, "finds" exactly what he is looking for in Justice Neely's "billing" book (his record of billing the Chenango County for his services). Great! What does Walters do? Does he have it photocopied and notarized by the Chenango County Clerk? NO!!! Walters rips the page out of the book, conceals it under his jacket, and walks out of the Chenago County Clerk's Office (he steals the page). He has it "restored" by person or persons unknown and then publishes it to all the world as "proof" that Tuttle's "Court Record" is authentic.
Rev. Wesley P. Walters
Again, Mormons demand to see the original. Walters refuses. Mormons then ask how he got the original out of the Chenango County Hall of Records. One Mormon apologist goes to Cenango County and finds the incriminating page "missing"; ripped out from the book. Walters admits later he torn it out and smuggled it out. Why? Why not just have the County Clerk photocopy it? Well, there were no photocopy machines in those days (1971). Why didn't he have it mimeographed? Mimeographs were the photocopy machines of that day. Well, the copy would be very poor quality! Walters said he feared the Mormons would steal the book and destroy it. By ripping out the page and stealing it himself, he was preserving it and keeping the evidence safe from evil Mormons who might rip the page out themselves then "lose" the original. Mormon apologists tell what Walters told them to Chenango County officials, who then threaten to sue Walters for the return of the original. Walters then returns the now "restored" Billing Sheet.
NO EVIDENCE IS "NOT" EVIDENCE
There IS NO EVIDENCE that Joseph Smith used his seerstone to deceive people! The only "proof" is Tuttle's "Court Record"; the original of which was conveniently lost. Even Wesley's Walter's "billing sheet" does NOT prove the "Court Record" is authentic. There is no proof that Wesley Walter's "billing sheet" is authentic, since he had the sheet "restored" before returning it to Chanango County.
Anti-Mormons still offer the "Court Record" as authentic because of Wesley Walter's "billing sheet" he "found" in 1971. Such "evidence" would not stand up in any court-room in the civilized world! Anti-Mormons know that, but, I can assue you in the Name of God, they don't care! They could not care LESS if the Court Record is authentic or not. For them, that is totally besides the point! The "point" is for them that Joseph Smith is a fraud, and whatever it takes to convince you of that, is whatever it takes. They simply want to convince you that Mormonism is false, by any means necessary.
WHY WAS JOSEPH SMITH ARRESTED IN 1826?
Joseph Smith was arrested in 1826, brought to trail before Justice Neely, and, according to Oliver Cowdery and William D. Purple (who was there), he was "discharged" (found not guilty).
But why weas he arrested in the first place?
According to Willard Chase, an aquaintance of Joseph Smith, a small chocolate colored stone was found on his father's farm while a well was being dug. The stone was cast out of the well, and Joseph Smith Jr., probably one of the diggers, took the stone and kept it, claiming he could see things in the well that the natural eye could not see. The sister of Willard Chase, Sally Chase, also claimed to be a seer and to have visions using a "seerstone". So valuable did the Chase family consider the stone that they once tried to get the stone back by asking Joseph's mother, Emma, to return it.
M.C.R. Smith (a non-mormon and no relation to Joseph Smith) wrote:
"Sallies Chase, a Methodist, had one [a peepstone], and people would go to her to find lost or hidden or stoken things." (Naked Truths About Mormonism, p.1)The seerstone was shaped like an egg, chocolate color, and had white stripes on it. According to testimony from Martin Harris and others, Joseph Smith claimed to have the ability to look into the stone and find lost objects.
Joseph Smith, the Prophet, while living in Harmony, Pennsylvania, in 1825, apparently bought a Seerstone from Jack Bulcher, whose son had previously used it. Emily C. Blackman, a non-mormon, wrote:
"The stone which he afterwards used was then in the possession of Jack Belcher, of Gibson, who obtained it while at Salina, N.Y., engaged in drawing [digging for] salt. Belcher bought it because it was said to be "a seeing stone." I have often seen it. It was a green stone, with brown, irregular spots on it. It was a little longer than a goose's egg, and about the same thickness. When he brought it home and covered it with a hat, Belcher's little boy was one of the first to look into the hat, and as he did so he said he saw a candle. The second time he looked in he exclaimed, "I've found my hatchet!" — (it had been lost two years) — and immediately ran for it to the spot shown him through the stone, and it was there. The boy was soon beset by neighbors far and near to reveal to them hidden things, and he succeeded marvellously. Even the wanderings of a lost child were traced by him — the distracted parents coming to him three times for directions, and in each case finding signs that the child had been in the places he designated, but at last it was found starved to death." (History of Susquehanna County Pennsylvania, 1873, p.577)Belcher's son apparently had the ability to "see" things in the stone, and it worked.
Joseph Smith Jr. bought the seerstone from Jack Belcher in Harmony, Pennsylvania, which is very close to Bainbridge, New York, in 1825.
JOSIAH STOWELL
Joseph Smith was hired by Josiah Stowell to dig for a Spanish mine on his property. Apparently Stowell had heard (not from Joseph Smith Jr.) that a Spanish mine had once existed on his property, the Spanish had briefly visited the area in the the late 1500s. He heard about Joseph Smith Jr., who had the ability to see supernaturally with his seestone, so he asked Joseph Smith if there was any "treasure" on his (Stowell's) property. According to Stowell, Joseph Smith (who had never been to Stowell's farm), looked into his seerstone, and accurately described the Stowell farm perfectly. Josiah asked if there was any buried treasure on the farm. Joseph Smith looked again, and said he saw a pot of what looked like gold buried under a treestump.
Stowell hired Joseph Smith and a few others to dig for the pot of gold and hopefully locate the Spanish silver mine. The digging was done, and a a pot or piece of quartz resembly gold was found under a tree truck. The only "gold looking" quartz is chalcopyrite rock; which is a copper-like substance that resembled gold. But Chalcopyrite had no value then, but Stowell insisted that Joseph and the others keep digging for the old Spanish silver mine.
A rock containing Chalcopyrite
Apparently somebody had done some digging on the farm at some time, found the Chalcopyrite, discovered it was not gold, then buried it in a pot under a tree (there was no trash pickup at the time and farmers had to burn or bury their rubbish). This is what Joseph Smith apparnelty saw in his seerstone. Joseph Smith writes of this:
MONEY DIGGER
JOSEPH SMITH'S ABILITY WITH THE SEERSTONE
Martin Harris, a Mormon and close friend of Joseph Smith an financier of the first publication of The Book of Mormon, later wrote:
"I...was picking my teeth with a pin while sitting on the bars. The pin caught in my teeth and dropped from my fingers into shavings and straw... We could not find it. I then took Joseph on surprise, and said to him--I said, 'Take your stone.' ... He took it and placed it in his hat--the old white hat--and place his face in his hat. I watched him closely to see that he did not look to one side; he reached out his hand beyond me on the right, and moved a little stick and there I saw the pin, which he picked up and gave to me. I know he did not look out of the hat until after he had picked up the pin."Martin Harris also tells us that Joseph used the seer stone to find the gold plates:
"In this stone he could see many things to my certain knowledge. It was by means of this stone he first discovered these plates."(27) Henry Harris, the son of Martin Harris, says:
"He [Joseph Smith] said he had a revelation from God that told him they [the Book of Mormon plates] were hid in a certain hill and he looked in his stone and saw them in the place of deposit."(28)
Several dozen Mormons in Utah in the 19th century claimed to have seerstones, and used them to find lost cattle, lost objects, and even to have visions. But this practice, for whatever reason, did not continue into the 20th century.
Recently (2007), a man in Kentucky by the name Todd Walker (a non-mormon) claims to have found a Seerstone, which he keeps in a leather holder. He claims to see visions and it and claims to have the ability to find lost and stolen property.
The Kentucky Seestone (in leather holder)
An independent film-maker named Jacob Young (NOT a Mormon and no relation to Brigham Young) did a documentary about Todd called Urim and Thummin in which he interviewed many people who testified on film that Todd found lost property of theirs using his seerstone. Bill O'Driscoll, a journalist with the Pittsburg City Paper, reviewed the documentary and wrote:
"Kentuckian Todd Walker found what he believes is a Biblical artifact in a Nashville thrift store that grants him visions, and now wants to convince others. For Young, Appalachian eccentrics are familiar terrain, and Walker's story suits the filmmaker's approach, which is radically empathetic even while remaining tuned to comic possibilities. It's hilarious when they gather testimonials from locals including a couple, both of whom are retired professional wrestlers; a local TV personality and his Jeopardy-champ wife; and a guy who paints "Jesus Saves" on his car. But Young makes it clear that Walker's faith is sincere." (Pittsburgh City Paper, June 7, 2007)According to many witnesses, who go on film testifying, the seerstone WORKED!
Perhaps Joseph Smith's seerstone also "worked" and he did have the ability to find lost or stoken property, and he did see what he thought was gold buried under a tree stump on Josiah Stowell's farm.
IS USING A SEERSTONE UNBIBLICAL?
The Bible forbids the following:
*Communication with the dead via mediums.
*Casting magical spells
*Fortelling the future via the entrails of dead animals (a common practice in biblical times)
Seerstones (also called "peepstones") were never used to communicate with the dead, nor to cast spells, nor to fortell the future! A "crystal ball" wherein Gypsies look into it to predict one's future is NOT a "Seerstone". Seerstones were used to find lost, hidden, or stolen objects; including lost people. Joseph Smith used it to find the location of the Gold Plates, from which The Book of Mormon was found. He also used it to translate The Book of Mormon into English. He also used it to find lost or stolen objects, as many testified to.
Did he use his Seerstone to find "buried treasure"?
TESTIMONY OF JONATHAN THOMPSON
The only person who really gave any "damning" testimony against Joseph Smith was one Jonathan Thompson, who claimed to be one of he diggers on Josiah Stowell's farm. Thompson is mentioned by name in Bishop Tuttle's "Court Record" as well as William D. Purple's account; although in the "Court Record" Thompson says he believes that Joseph Smith had the ability to see things in the earth, while in Purple accounts contradicts this, having Thompson saying that Joseph Smith was a fraud and deceiver.
Jonathan Thompson claimed to be one of the diggers, yet his name is not on the "Article of Agreement":
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT.There are plenty of "rumors" that Joseph Smith Jr. used a "peepstone" to claim to find buried treasure, but that the treasure "sunk down into the earth" just before being discovered. Again, these are "rumors" only; all 2nd or 3rd or 4th person accounts. The only first-hand account of Joseph Smith deceiving people by use of his seertone was from one "Jonathan Thompson" and only according to William D. Purple's "recollections" of the trial some fifty-one years before.We, the undersigned, do firmly agree, and by these present bind ourselves, to fulfill and abide by the hereafter specified articles:
First -- That if anything of value should he obtained at a certain place in Pennsylvania near a William Hales, supposed to be a valuable mine of either gold or silver and also to contain coined money and bars or ingots of gold or silver, and at which several hands have been at work during a considerable part of the past summer, we do agree to have it divided in the following manner, viz: Josiah Stowell, Calvin Stowell and Wm. Hale to take two-thirds, and Charles Newton, Wm. I. Wiley, and the widow Harper to take the other third. And we further agree that Joseph Smith, Sen. and Joseph Smith Jr. shall be considered as having two shares, two elevenths of all the property that may be obtained, and shares to be taken equally from each third.
Second -- And we further agree, that in consideration of the expense and labor to which the following named persons have been at (John F. Shepherd, Elijah Stowell and John Grant) to consider them as equal sharers in the mine after all the coined money and bars or ingot are obtained by the undersigned. Their shares to be taken out from each share; and we further agree to remunerate all the three above named persons in a handsome manner for all their time, expense, and labor which they have been or may be at, until the mine is opened, if anything should be obtained; otherwise they are to lose their time, expense and labor.
Third -- And we further agree that all the expense which has or may accrue until the mine is opened, shall be equally borne by the proprietors of each third and that after the mine is opened the expense shall be equally borne by each of the shares.
Township of Harmony, Pa., Nov. 1, 1825
In presence of:
Isaac Hale... Chas. A. Newton... David Hale... Jos. Smith, Sen.... P. Newton... Isaiah Stowell... Calvin Stowell... Jos. Smith, Jr.....Wm. I. Wiley
Anti-Mormons will believe the testimony of Jonathan Thompson, although the Tuttle account of his testimont disagrees with the Purple account of his testimony. Anti-Mormons don't care! They simply want to throw up enough dirt, and produce enough smoke, to get you to leave Mormonism, or not join it in the first place.
Mormons will believe the testimony of Josiah Stowell, Josiah Stowell Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, Joseph Smith Jr., and many others, who said that Joseph Smith "HAD" the ability to find hidden things with his seerstone, and deceived nobody by it.
CAN RUMORS BE TRUSTED?
According to "rumor" Mary, the mother of Jesus, had an affair with a Roman archer from Sidon (Lebanon) named Antonios Pantera, and Jesus was the result of this affair.
"Rumors" are seldom truth. They are usually based upon some "facts", but they are, having been retold many times, take upon themselves elements of fiction. There was probably a Roman archer named Antonios Pantera in Nazareth when Mary got pregnant, and people assumed he was the reason for it; since young virgin girls don't get pregnant.
Most people believe "rumors" put forth by trustworthy people. The Gospels say that Jesus was resurrected, and that the Roman guards saw two angels and they saw Jesus come out of his tomb. The Gospels say that they Roman guards said this to the High Priests, who then paid (bribed) the guards to lie; saying they had fallen asleep and that Jesus' disciples stole his body at night.
Whom are you going to believe? The Gospels were written by Jesus' followers; men who were fishermen, and tax-collectors. The High Priests were the most holy, respected men in all Judea at that time. They tell a completely different story. Naturally, the Jews trusted their religious leaders, the most respected and "honest" men in the country!
And their religious leaders said: "The Guards fell aleep and the Christians stole the body of Jesus at night. Just ask THEM! They will tell you themselves!"
Jesus' disciples said: "Oh, the High Priests paid the Guards to lie! The high priests are liars, and bribed the guards to say they had fallen asleep!"
Which group do you think the common Jew would believe:
1. Their respected and honorable religious leaders.
or...
2. The disciples of a false messiah
Case closed!
These are the "facts":
*Joseph Smith Jr. had several "Seerstones" by which he could find lost, hidden, or stoken objects. Martin Harris and Joseph Smith Sr. and Josiah Stowell all testified that Joseph Smith Jr. had this ability.
*Joseph Smith Jr. "saw" in his Seerstone which looked like a pot of gold under a tree stump on Josiah Stowell's farm. Stowell had heard that the Spaniards had a silver mind once on his property. A pot of chalcopyrite was found; a "gold looking" quartz which has no commercial value.
*Joseph Smith Jr. used his Seerstone to locate where the Gold Plates were. He also used the Seerstone (buried in his hat to block out all light) to translate The Book of Mormon into English.
*Joseph Smith Jr. never denied he was a money-digger but said he got only $14 a month for this effort.
ARE SEERSTONE "OCCULTIC" & "UNBIBLICAL"?
Is using a Seerstone to search for lost and stolen objects (including lost children) "unbiblical" (forbidden in the WORD of God)?
All Christians would agree that the Bible is the Word of God, and that the Old Testament is part of the Bible, and thus the Word of God. The Bible presents Samuel, as a true Prophet of God. It calls him a "seer". One day, a man named Kish looses some asses (donkies) and he tells his workmen to go and look for the lost donkies. One of the workmen is Saul, a very tall Benjaminite. Saul and his companion decide they should ask a "Man of God" where the donkies are, because they have no idea where to start looking. So, they go to Samuel, who is called a "Seer". Samuel tells them not to worry about the donkies, because they have already been found (presumably by Kish):
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was aKish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.Now, there is no mention that Samuel used a "seerstone" to know that the donkies had already been found. But it does not say HOW he knew! But this shows that people believed Samuel, the Seer, had the ability to find lost objects. And Joseph Smith the Seer had that same reputation.
2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a bgoodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to aenquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the bseer: for he that is now called a cProphet was beforetime called a dSeer.)
10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11 ¶ And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is abefore you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out aagainst them, for to go up to the high place.
15 ¶ Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their bcry is come unto me.
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house? (1 Samuel chapter 9)
Joseph Smith would use the seerstone by placing it in his hat, and covering his face with the hat, thereby eliminating all natural light, and this is how Joseph Smith was able to do the following:
*Find the location of the gold plates in the Hill Cumorah.
*Find lost or stolen property.
*Find a pot of quartzite located on Josiah Stowell's farm.
*Translate The Book of Mormon into English (except for the lost Book of Lehi).
CONCLUSION
Using a Seertone is NOT "anti-biblical" nor "occultic". As Mormon apologist Mike Ash writes:
????Joseph Smith was like the Prophet Samuel, who used to find lost or stoken objects for people.
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