Mormonism is a Western esoteric system with lots of Christian trappings.
When they speak of Jesus this is not the same Jesus most of us think of.
Many, very many early Americans actively practiced metaphysical belief systems and divination methods.
Young Joseph Smith was exposed to Swedenborgianism and freemasonry via his family background. His family came from an area in Vermont where there was lots of interest in divination methods for finding treasure hoards. Smith incorporated all this and very much more into his confection.
Found this out by reading Catherine Albanese's
A Republic of Mind and Spirit:A Cultural History of American Metaphysical Religion.
When they speak of Jesus this is not the same Jesus most of us think of.
Many, very many early Americans actively practiced metaphysical belief systems and divination methods.
Young Joseph Smith was exposed to Swedenborgianism and freemasonry via his family background. His family came from an area in Vermont where there was lots of interest in divination methods for finding treasure hoards. Smith incorporated all this and very much more into his confection.
Found this out by reading Catherine Albanese's
A Republic of Mind and Spirit:A Cultural History of American Metaphysical Religion.
