February 22, 2012

Don't try this at home!

Yes, its been a while since I posted.

I've been thinking about some of the gnostic or mystical practices in early Mormonism, and I've wondered, "Why don't we do that anymore?"

For example, Brigham Young is quoted in History of the Church (7:285) as saying about seer stones, "[The Prophet] Joseph [Smith] said there is a stone for every person on Earth." Further, he said, "The president of the priests has a right to the Urim and Thummim, which gives revelation."

At left, one of Joseph's seer stones which was present on the altar of the Manti Temple at it's dedication.

So doesn't it sounds like all Elders Quorum presidents should have a seer stone? Why did we give this up? Who wouldn't want one?