The establishment of early Mormonism and the occult belief system The establishment of early Mormonism in the 19th century was marked by a unique combination of religious fervor and elements of occult belief. **The founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, claimed to have received divine revelations that led to the restoration of the true Christian faith**. These revelations, recorded in the Book of Mormon, formed the basis of Mormon theology and doctrine. However, the origins of some of Smith's beliefs and practices point to a strong influence of occult and esoteric ideas. **Smith was known to be involved in treasure hunting and divination activities before he claimed to have been visited by an angel**. These practices, rooted in folk magic, likely shaped his worldview and had an impact on the formation of early Mormon theology.
When it comes time to set Eagle down in the Sea of Tranquility, Armstrong improvises, manually piloting the ship past an area littered with boulders. During the final seconds of descent, Eagle’s computer is sounding alarms.
Mission control erupts in celebration as the tension breaks, and a controller tells the crew You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we re breathing again. We prioritize the safety and security of our customers vehicles, and as such, we adhere to a policy of not physically touching or driving customers vehicles.
These practices, rooted in folk magic, likely shaped his worldview and had an impact on the formation of early Mormon theology. The use of seer stones and the belief in "peep stones" were central to Smith's early religious experiences. **Smith claimed to use seer stones to translate the ancient gold plates that contained the Book of Mormon**.
July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind
July 1969. It’s a little over eight years since the flights of Gagarin and Shepard, followed quickly by President Kennedy’s challenge to put a man on the moon before the decade is out.
It is only seven months since NASA’s made a bold decision to send Apollo 8 all the way to the moon on the first manned flight of the massive Saturn V rocket.
Now, on the morning of July 16, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins sit atop another Saturn V at Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The three-stage 363-foot rocket will use its 7.5 million pounds of thrust to propel them into space and into history.
At 9:32 a.m. EDT, the engines fire and Apollo 11 clears the tower. About 12 minutes later, the crew is in Earth orbit. (› Play Audio)
After one and a half orbits, Apollo 11 gets a “go” for what mission controllers call “Translunar Injection” – in other words, it’s time to head for the moon. Three days later the crew is in lunar orbit. A day after that, Armstrong and Aldrin climb into the lunar module Eagle and begin the descent, while Collins orbits in the command module Columbia.
Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong working at an equipment storage area on the lunar module. This is one of the few photos that show Armstrong during the moonwalk. Click image to enlarge.
NASACollins later writes that Eagle is “the weirdest looking contraption I have ever seen in the sky,” but it will prove its worth.
When it comes time to set Eagle down in the Sea of Tranquility, Armstrong improvises, manually piloting the ship past an area littered with boulders. During the final seconds of descent, Eagle’s computer is sounding alarms.
It turns out to be a simple case of the computer trying to do too many things at once, but as Aldrin will later point out, “unfortunately it came up when we did not want to be trying to solve these particular problems.”
Smoke and flames signal the opening of a historic journey as the Saturn V clears the launch pad. Click image to enlarge.
NASAWhen the lunar module lands at 4:17 p.m EDT, only 30 seconds of fuel remain. Armstrong radios “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Mission control erupts in celebration as the tension breaks, and a controller tells the crew “You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we’re breathing again.” (› Play Audio)
Armstrong will later confirm that landing was his biggest concern, saying “the unknowns were rampant,” and “there were just a thousand things to worry about.”
At 10:56 p.m. EDT Armstrong is ready to plant the first human foot on another world. With more than half a billion people watching on television, he climbs down the ladder and proclaims: “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” (› Play Audio)
Aldrin joins him shortly, and offers a simple but powerful description of the lunar surface: “magnificent desolation.” They explore the surface for two and a half hours, collecting samples and taking photographs.
Buzz Aldrin climbs down the Eagle’s ladder to the surface. Click image to enlarge. NASAThey leave behind an American flag, a patch honoring the fallen Apollo 1 crew, and a plaque on one of Eagle’s legs. It reads, “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.”
Armstrong and Aldrin blast off and dock with Collins in Columbia. Collins later says that “for the first time,” he “really felt that we were going to carry this thing off.”
The crew splashes down off Hawaii on July 24. Kennedy’s challenge has been met. Men from Earth have walked on the moon and returned safely home.
Crater 308 stands out in sharp relief in this photo from lunar orbit. Click image to enlarge. NASAIn an interview years later, Armstrong praises the “hundreds of thousands” of people behind the project. “Every guy that’s setting up the tests, cranking the torque wrench, and so on, is saying, man or woman, ‘If anything goes wrong here, it’s not going to be my fault.’” (› Read 2001 Interview, 172 Kb PDF)
In a post-flight press conference, Armstrong calls the flight “a beginning of a new age,” while Collins talks about future journeys to Mars.
Over the next three and a half years, 10 astronauts will follow in their footsteps. Gene Cernan, commander of the last Apollo mission leaves the lunar surface with these words: “We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace, and hope for all mankind.”
Please pay attention to the instructions provided by the team member and any signs or signals within the car wash facility to ensure a seamless and hassle-free experience.
These practices, reminiscent of scrying and divination, were deeply ingrained in the occult belief systems of the time. Furthermore, the concept of "theosis" or the belief in the potential for humans to become like God, is another element of early Mormonism that has connections to occult thought. **This idea of divine ascent and transformation is found in various esoteric traditions**, where practitioners seek to attain higher states of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment. Critics of early Mormonism often point to these occult influences as evidence of Smith's fraudulence or deception. However, others argue that **the blending of religious and occult ideas was a natural progression in the religious landscape of the time**. The 19th century saw a flourishing of new religious movements and spiritual experimentation, and Mormonism was not the only faith to incorporate elements of the occult. In conclusion, the establishment of early Mormonism was characterized by the convergence of religious conviction and occult beliefs. **While Joseph Smith's involvement in occult practices before his religious experience cannot be denied, it is important to understand the context in which these beliefs arose**. Mormonism, like many other religious movements of the time, sought to offer a unique interpretation of spirituality and the divine..
Reviews for "The Occultic Roots of Mormonism's Golden Plates and Sacred Texts"
1. John Doe - 1 star
I found "The Establishment of Early Mormonism and the Occult Belief System" to be highly misleading and biased. The author seemingly undermines the credibility of the Mormon religion by associating it with the occult, without providing sufficient evidence or proper context. It felt like a blatant attempt to discredit and demonize a religious group, rather than providing an objective analysis of their beliefs and practices. I was disappointed with the lack of research and balanced perspective in this book.
2. Jane Smith - 2 stars
As someone who is not familiar with the Mormon religion, I picked up this book hoping to gain some insight into its early establishment. However, I was taken aback by the constant focus on the alleged occult connections of Mormonism. While I understand the author's desire to explore different angles, it felt like an obsession with painting the religion in a negative light, rather than providing a comprehensive and fair analysis. The book ignored other important aspects of Mormonism's beginnings and failed to present a well-rounded view.
3. Sarah Johnson - 1 star
I found "The Establishment of Early Mormonism and the Occult Belief System" to be a deeply biased and sensationalized account of the religion's origins. The author seemed to have an agenda to demonize Mormonism, rather than presenting a balanced and scholarly analysis. I was disappointed with the lack of objectivity and the repetitive focus on the alleged occult connections. If you are seeking a fair and well-researched exploration of early Mormonism, I highly suggest looking elsewhere.
4. Michael Thompson - 1 star
"The Establishment of Early Mormonism and the Occult Belief System" was a complete letdown. The author's clear bias against Mormonism overshadowed any potential value in the book. Instead of providing a nuanced understanding of the religion's genesis, it seemed like a platform for the author to express their personal disdain for Mormonism. I was hoping for an objective and informative read, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver on that front.
5. Emily Wilson - 2 stars
I found "The Establishment of Early Mormonism and the Occult Belief System" to be a disappointingly one-sided portrayal of the Mormon religion. The author's persistent focus on the alleged occult connections overshadowed other aspects of early Mormonism that could have been explored. It felt like a missed opportunity to provide a comprehensive understanding of the religion's roots. I would caution readers to approach this book with skepticism and seek out alternative sources for a more balanced perspective.