Early Mormonism and the Magic World View

Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1997. First Edition. 313pp Octavo [23.5 cm] Dark green cloth with the title gilt stamped on the front board and backstrip. Near fine/Near fine. A nice copy of this influential work, without the usual fading to the spine. Warmly inscribed by the author to fellow historian, Harold Schindler: "Dear Hal, I 'grew up' as a Mormon historian by reading your Porter Rockwell biography while I was as undergraduate at BYU, and also listened to S. Dilworth Young's attack on it at a devotional there. From one old warhorse historian to another, Michael." Nice association copy.

This thoroughly researched examination into occult (truncated) traditions surrounding Smith, his family, and other founding Mormons cannot be understated. Among the practices no longer a part of Mormonism is the use of divining rods for revelation, astrology to determine the best times to conceive children and plant crops, the study of skull contours to understand personality traits, magic formulae utilized to discover lost property, and the wearing of protective talismans. Ninety-four photographs and illustrations accompany the text. (Inventory #: 9981)