Having been a Mormon for many decades, I testify that neither I nor any Mormon I knew was ever taught that Joseph Smith used an occultic seer stone in a hat to “translate” the Book of Mormon. Instead, we were always shown pictures of the process using “urim and thummim” spectacles with stones in them–with no seer stone in a hat in sight!
Whether or not you think the urim and thummim is the same thing as Joseph’s seer stone is a moot point. My argument is that the Mormon church’s obvious deception of hiding Joseph’s seer-stone-in-a-hat method, alone, should be enough to cause disaffection from Mormonism.
Until 2015, for almost 200 years, the Mormon church denied that Joseph Smith used seer stones in his BoM “translation.” In fact, they even excommunicated people for making this and other valid claims against Mormonism which they now admit!
Today there is no doubt that Joseph Smith used seer stones. We now have access to the documents where he and his contemporaries wrote about Joseph’s use of them. And the LDS Church even finally admits he used them.
Mormons, ask yourselves, how can you trust a church that lies to you?
The use of a seer stone is proof that Joseph practiced very dark magic. Mormons try to minimize the use of this occult practice, claiming that it was commonly used among Christians. However, the fact is that most Christians did not involve themselves in such practices because they understood that it is occult divination condemned by the Bible.
According to two books on witchcraft (“Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft” (1830) by Sir Walter Scott and “Lectures on Witchcraft” (1831) by Charles Wentworth Upham, seer stones were described as passive scrying, which is a form of divination —”…a visual, meditative, or visionary process triggered by gazing into the stone, often combined with ritual preparation, mental focus, or spiritual conditions.”
Here’s how it worked:
“The seer gazes fixedly into a polished stone, crystal, or mirror until visions appear (like a trance or hallucination).” Scott compares it to hypnotic suggestion.
Hold the stone to the eye or place it in a hat (to block light).
Stare intently until images form — often described as “seeing through” the stone.
Often, people claim to see spirits or angels.
God clearly condemns this practice in Deut. 18:10: “There shall not be found among you any one…that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.” Yet, that is exactly what Joseph Smith did. And the Church denied this for almost 2 centuries. So, how can Mormons trust them?
