ALL of your works (videos) are so incredibly well researched and truthfully cannot be denied by the lds community, for everything you present is factual and extremely if not overly documemted by many close to Smith.

It would be good for you to review my complete statement: "Of course, I know that. But I’m not talking about what you believe, but what heterodox Christians believe. For instance, many Christians today believe in astrology without realizing the inherent contradictions. It is not my job to defend orthodoxy. I’m just a historian and a scholar of religion who describes the way things are, not what they ought to be according to some ideology."

I’m only here to teach about JS and early Mormon history. I leave it up to my listeners to decide how to use this information or what it may mean in their lives. I’m more interested in discussing how JS viewed himself, and that was certainly not as a sorcerer. The Book of Mormon condemns magic and sorcery. I want to understand JS, not judge and condemn him. If my discussions raise doubt about JS, it is a byproduct of trying to get the story right. This is serious discussion, not diatribe.

I've been researching the occult aspects of Joseph Smith and his family, taking great interest in the Jupiter Talisman found on Smith after his death. The Mormon scholar and Professor of Religion at Brigham Young University, LaMar C. Berrett reveals that "This piece was in Joseph Smith's pocket when he was martyred at Carthage Jail". Emma herself said it belonged to Joseph Smith. In 1974 Dr. Reed Durham, who was Director of the LDS Institute of Religion at the University of Utah and President of the Mormon History Association, made a discovery so startling that it caused great consternation among Mormon scholars and officials. Dr. Durham found that what had previously been identified as the 'Masonic jewel of the Prophet Joseph Smith' was in reality a 'Jupiter talisman.' This is a medallion which contains material relating to astrology and magic. Dr. Durham, apparently not realizing the devastating implications of his discovery, announced this important find in his presidential address before the Mormon History Association on April 20, 1974: ". . . I should like to initiate all of you into what is perhaps the strangest, the most mysterious, occult-like esoteric, and yet Masonically oriented practice ever adopted by Joseph Smith. . . . "'All available evidence suggests that Joseph Smith the Prophet possessed a magical Masonic medallion, or talisman, which he worked during his lifetime and which was evidently on his person when he was martyred. His talisman is in the shape of a silver dollar and is probably made of silver or tin."

This is very disturbing. How can we help Mormon's see if they aren't allowed to look at anything else but their books and website? They are taught all other documentation is "anti mormon" and to draw them away from the "truth". I wish there was a way.

Reformed Egyptian ?!? I'm wondering why, if the angel Moroni had these magical powers, he couldn't have reworked the golden plates into English before leading Joseph Smith to them. When God gave the ten commandments to Moses, were they in a different language, perhaps reformed Pig Latin, that Moses had to translate by looking at a stone in a hat?

I can't tell you how different these truths are from what I was taught/raised with/indoctrinated growing up in The Church. I can only wonder and regret how my life would have been so much different if I had known the TRUTHS EARLIER, rather than so late in my life. Frankly all I can do is SMH and be VERY ANGRY.

Another great vid! Thank you Mr. Vogel.

Thank you for your research and accuracy! I’m sure your releasing of this material has had some repercussions. Again thanks

Would anybody knows about the drawing in 18:11. What is it, and where it could be found?

Thank you for your search for detailed historical truth! We learn more about ourselves through your work!

Is this where we get the term "gold digger?"Anyone who reads the Bible should know that ANY form of divination(like the "seer stone in the hat") is an abomination to God, the Father Almighty. God was never a man...He was always GOD.

Great video as always, Dan. I have only one complaint. When you quote various peoples' accounts of these events, it would be convenient if you reiterated the date of the event they are referring to. After all, the dates aren't the same in each account. I'm just having a hard time placing things in chronological order as I listen.

Amazes me what people will believe. My step son is a Mormon, this explains a lot haha. My nephew is waiting for Xenu to come back. I'm just trusting God and using the old right from wrong meter. Seems to work pretty good for me.

This is excellent. I’d absolutely love to have you on my podcast someday

Joseph Smith was such an amazing relegon story teller and was so believable... In Hearing Dan Vogel read this account, it is no wonder to me looking back why I believed it... He was quite a character... I believe he invented religion using the Bible as his blue print and he did believe in prayer... did have answers to them at times, other times he made shit up or lied... I call him him the Tesla of religion...

Very well done. Thank you. I find LDS history fascinating.

Gold digging sounds like a bit of excitement before television. The stories are reminiscent of Tolkein or fairy tales.

I relieved Dan of his 666 satanic like-count! Keep up the good work, Dan! As a proud apostate, I hail you. I'm not worthy.

Great work! very informative video!glad I found ur channel u explain subjects in a very thorough and interesting way !thanx sir! 🌹✝🔯🌜🌟🌞♒

You are so kind to say, thanks.

Yes. My next video will cover JS's claimed removal of the plates in 1827.

Good stuff, loving it! Is there a part 2 coming?

The information about Joseph Smith and the voice of Dan Vogel are the perfect match to fall asleep at night listening 👂 😴😃🙃

Great job, Dan Vogel. It's always interesting reading comments on videos like this. How otherwise intelligent (?), rational people, can throw all reason aside, and accept magic, and superstition, just so they can keep believing their religion is true, is just amazing. Evolution? No. Magic. Big bang? No. Magic. God of the gaps fills all the holes.

I just discovered these videos and I can't wait to view them all. THANK YOU, Dan, for producing some of the best (if not THE best) unbiased historical research on Joseph Smith and early Mormonism. I think consider your book "JOSPEH SMITH: THE MAKING OF A PROPHET" is THE best biography of Joseph Smith yet written--though it only covers his life from birth until his move to Kirtland, Ohio.

You seem to have done extensive research on this video. I salute you

Great Job, Dan !!!!

There never were gold plates, only golden mushrooms.

He was a creative conman , that's the extent of it.

These videos are so incredibly well researched. What I wouldn’t give for a version that gives a citation on screen (title, author, page number) so that I could do a transcription of this video complete with in-text sources. I’d love to chat with the sweet Mormon missionaries who visit my door, and let them know that none of what they’re doing is necessary for “salvation”.... but I’m not confident at all that when the inevitable objections come, that I could prove each of my assertions adequately. But anyway, your videos are amazing, and your ability as a researcher is unparalleled. Incredible work!

A sampling of the 3913 changes made to the most correct book on the earth inspired book on the earth... This changes section courtesy of the Jerald and Sandra Tanner. For more, order their book, "Mormonism, Shadow or reality?" from: bookstore. Original 1830 Edition, B of M- Joseph Smith, Jr. The author and proprietor of this work Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978- Joseph Smith, Jr. the translator of this work 1830 Edition : ''now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men... Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978- ''now if there are faults, they are the mistakes of men... 1830 Edition : 1 Ne 13:40 '' the lamb of God is the Eternal Father Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 '' the lamb of God is the son of the Eternal Father 1830 Edition : 1Nephi 11:21''the Eternal Father Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 '' son of the Eternal Father 1830 Edition : 1 Nephi 11:32 ''the Everlasting God Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 '' son of the Everlasting God 1830 Edition : 1 Nephi 20:1 '' words added Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 ''or out of the waters of Baptism 1830 Edition : 2 Nephi 12:9 '' the mean man boweth down Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 ''the mean man boweth not down 1830 Edition : Alma 29:4 '' Yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 ''words deleted 1830 Edition : Alma 37:21,24 ''directors Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 '' Interpreters 1830 Edition : Alma 30:16 '' it is the effects of a phrensied mind Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 '' it is the effect of a frenzied mind 1830 Edition : Alma 23:1''nor neither of their brethren Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 '' nor either of their brethren 1830 Edition : Mosiah 21:28; Ether 4:1 '' king Benjamin Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 '' Mosiah (Benjamin was dead at this time) 1830 Edition : 1 Nephi 12:18 '' Jesus Christ Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 '' Messiah (Jesus had not yet been revealed to the Nephites) 1830 Edition : ''1 Nephi 20:1 '' come forth out of the waters of Judah Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 ''or out of the waters of baptism (these words added after "Judah" 1830 Edition :2 Nephi 16:2 ''seraphims Editions 1837, 1888, 1920, 1964, 1978 ''seraphim (verse copied from older copy of KJV which made a gramatical error)

I'm blown away by the parallels between Muhammad and Joseph Smith / Islam and Mormonism. Both religions are founded on revisionist books authored by ultimate prophets, which books are deemed divinely authentic and the respective religions remain steeped in the past and struggle to reform. Having said this however I appreciate that modern Mormonism is overwhelmingly good for society because it centres on peaceful transformation while literal Islam imposes itself as it mandates force of some kind, ranging from coercion to law enforcement and violence.

In studying the minds of controversial leaders that have shaped history I can see some commonalities. Leaders are products of their environment and set out to fix a problem with a strong sense of destiny and mission. When they dabble in the occult they become more powerful and dangerous. The catalyst for delusion is secrecy. Delusion operates on 2 levels (1) self delusion and (2) mass delusion. Mass delusion goes often beyond the level of self delusion. Some commonalities in controversial leaders can be: • Occult mindset (Hidden, Secrecy, Lies, Manipulation, Duplicity) • Compartmentalized thinking • Ambition: Man is God in the making • Myth making: The deeper the antiquity the greater the authority • Megalomanic and Egomanic character traits • A strong sense of providential call & mission • Extreme attitudes: “The end justifies the means”

Terrific, Dan. Got as far as Bainbridge, but have to pack for the MHA in Layton. Michael Marquardt: thanks so much for posting a notice of this on Facebook, one of the few times I've found Facebook of any use. Dan, will this be available as a DVD?

Thanks Dan, Great Video.

Josephs fantastic tales were mesmerizing. He could draw followers like a moths to a campfire. Over time his campfire tales morphed into a religion of evidence free spiritualism. Then came Masonic marked underwear, heavenly garb, necro baptism and gods with wives and families forever.

He didn't doscover any 'plates' he made it all up.

Well done Dan.

What exact places was Joseph Smith doing his treasure seeking in NY and northeast PA.?

I'm just a man with some ideas. Do you want to fight, or learn about Mormon history? I have a very simple purpose here: to discuss Mormon history and Joseph Smith as fairly, accurately, and scholarly as possible.

You can’t say specific person is “demonically energized & driven” rather than some psychological state. You are merely guessing. I prefer to explain things naturally wherever possible. Being a former Mormon I’m perfectly aware of how psychological states can be misinterpreted as supernatural.

Thank You for your work Dan. Your amazing ! you have taught me a ton. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free!

As a skeptic, I regard such things as either delusion or fraud. Setting aside the charlatans, those “Christians” who practice these things believe their gifts are from God and distinguish their practice from those that are condemned. The Smith’s owned two parchments filled with magic characters and “St. Peter bind them” and “Holiness to the Lord”. They were well aware of being unorthodox.

30:29 that Franklin quote could be seen as magickal using working tools of a Mason...

it appears that a good portion of the quotes are from Eber D. Howe's "Mormonism Unvailed" and it occurred to me that maybe a good topic for a future video would be a discussion of the value of this book and any critical shortcomings you might regarding this. I found this very interesting and can tell you that my opinions lean towards yours Dan Vogel. Thanks for sharing and hope you don't think me to presumptuous to make that suggestion of the future video. thanks

Fantastic video. I really appreciate your great work. I think it is funny that Lucy claims the Smiths spent the night of Moroni's first appearance discussing the thousands of opinions on religion but doesn't mention Joseph's First Vision three and a half years earlier in which God and Jesus told him the creeds of all religions were an abomination. Did she not know the yarn?

I think "The Hopeful Spot" would be great name for a bar esp in SLC.

How did an angel appear in their little home without waking everyone else up? At least his siblings who were in the same room, right? Did his voice not make enough noise to wake any others up? His brightness didn't bother others in the room? Their home was small. How do these details add up?

If you are calling JS a sorcerer because you think he “exercised supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits; black magic; witchery,” I think that doesn’t accurately describe JS at all. My purpose in bringing up the magic parchments was to show the blend of magic and Christianity; hence, my use of white or Christian magic. I think necromancer is more accurate, although he really didn’t contact the dead, but only pretended to.

Joseph is a fascinating character of history. I am an atheist and don't believe in anything supernatural, so I naturally consider him to be a villain. The vast majority, if not all, founders of religions have been narcissists and/or sociopaths. I think you would have to be to present yourself as above humanity, tell lies without a twinge of conscience, and be so motivated by achieving power over others. (It just wouldn't be religion without an element of going mad with power.) In Joseph's case, the psychology of someone who would invent such wild tales as a means of fleecing people (even his own family) and wielding absolute power over them, is definitely 'out there' and even a little scary. If I had a time machine I would be fascinated to hear Joseph speak, but I hardly think he is someone to look to for our morals and authentic history.

Joseph's Myth

His father wanted wealth, his mother wanted God, and poor Joseph was caught in the middle. Consequently he invented a story that would keep them both happy, make them proud, and get him some attention.. .but it got out of control. The only amazing thing about all this is that so many Mormons have invested so much of their lives into deifying this guy.

Of course, I know that. But I’m not talking about what you believe, but what heterodox Christians believe. For instance, many Christians today believe in astrology without realizing the inherent contradictions. It is not my job to defend orthodoxy. I’m just a historian and a scholar of religion who describes the way things are, not what they ought to be according to some ideology.

Where did the Occult get the idea for deer stones?

I’m sorry, but I’m not going to participate in the politics of the Christian movement. I’m not going to decide who is a real Christian and who is not, or who can legitimately claim the name Christian. That’s your game, not mine.

How long would it take for the scale to drop from the eyes of mormon loyalties and see what a fraud mormonism is.Thank goodness I left this organization at last.

Yes, I’m using occult in a broad sense; hence my explanation added at the beginning of the video. There are some Evangelicals who want to approach Mormonism like it’s a secret satanic cult. These people are to be avoided because they are merely playing to their Evangelical audience who don’t know any better.

Hey Danny How’s about some new content one of these days!?

Jesus only meets with Moses and Elias in the Bible. Joseph Smith had to always try and "best" the Bible with his stories in the Book of Mormon. Everything was more, bigger, better. So he has himself meeting over 100 dead prophets, dead peoples, angels, God and Jesus. Really?!! NO ONE can see the face of God, but JS just had to best everyone and trump the Bible itself (which states that NO ONE can look upon the face of God), so he includes God, just not until a couple of practice, "first visions", which also leads to the thoughts that he is also lying about his 1st vision because of the more than 8 accounts, none of which were the same. Giving himself, "authority" over everyone in his area, especially those local preachers he was fighting with and gave himself and others Melchizedek priesthood and Aaronic priesthood. What a crock of lies! An angel with a fiery sword would kill him if he didn't marry lots of other girls and women, some married already. Bull!

Joseph lied

Scholarship can’t determine who is a true or false prophet, or who is in contact with God or Satan. That is theological speculation. As I said, my goal is to provide a fair, accurate, and scholarly description of early Mormon history; you can decide what that means.

What is interesting is that the LDS movement eventually obtained real gold via these stories. Joseph I suppose enjoyed a little of it before his assassination

There is nothing behind dowsing or the Ouija board except delusion. Both work by unconscious muscle movement. Most dowsers believe natural magnetic-like forces or a personal gift make it work. They certainly don’t think Satan is helping them. Ouija operators think they are in contact with the dead, not Satan. They should discontinue such practices not because it’s unorthodox but because it’s delusional.

Joseph Smith- The greatest con man to ever live.

Before Joseph Smith was much older than 10 years of age, his father and some family members were involved with a recent religious movement who had a manuscript to be published. This American Church group failed around 1815-1820 and the manuscript was obtained by local two men (Martin Harris and Sidney Rigdon ???) who were later appointed as senior members of the Joseph Smith' Mormons'. It seems that these men selected Joseph to be the front man to reintroduce a new form of the earlier cult religious movement. They had to fabricate the origins of the manuscripts and so eventually the Smith Family published the Book of Mormon.

Why is the evil spirit story any more unbelievable than the angel and the gold plates? It was probably a demon

" Thou shalt not allow a witch to live.." Warning from the Holy Bible

My point is background & context for prophetic prominence. Roots & soil.

Why can't members of the church be shown the exact spot where the records were obtained? I understand not being able to see the plates but why not show the cement box in the ground where they were found?

Quite a few years ago, a family member was doing some repair work at a Baptist worship building when, as he was going about his work, he noticed some pamphlets on a wooden shelf to the side of the door that led into their chapel. He picked one up and noticed it was anti LDS “literature”. He brought it home to his wife who gave it to me. I was having a crisis of belief in my faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, so I gladly took the pamphlets home to study them. I owe a debt of gratitude to whoever wrote them because I quickly discovered that they were junk, written by someone who would either out and out lie or take statements that were out of context or use other strategies to prove his point. They were laughable to anyone who had studied even casually LDS history. I had a couple questions that I wanted to look up, so I did that and found the same deceit in them. My crisis of faith resolved after realizing the depths that Satan will go through to use ex members of the church to defame the modern day church of Jesus Christ and its beliefs. It makes me sad to realize that so many men and women are wasting their lives believing this garbage and/or writing it, such as Mr. Vogel does. I also learned that Christ stands ready to answer our questions if we humbly ask. And I give my personal testimony that long after these deceitful voices are silent, the LDS church will, with Christ as its’ head, still continue into the eternities.

Dum Dum dum Dum

Geez, people were incredibly gullible back then… 🙄🤦‍♀️

If I recall correctly - and correct me if I'm wrong please - William, Joseph's little brother said when in his 80s that the First Vision never happened. Meanwhile, his account of his older brother receiving the plates is drastically and disturbingly different than what the LDS version today is. Am I remembering incorrectly? Somebody either validate this for me or correct me. Thanks.

I know one thing Jesus is the Christ And that is good enough

you can't make yp your own gospel like smith did. In the book of paul we are warned against exactly this

This should be enough so that any educated Mormon would immediately seek how to resign and leave the cult behind. Here's the open door: quitmormon.com/about

JS mixed Christianity with the occult. Occult isn’t necessarily Satanic, but uses unorthodox methods to divine hidden or invisible things. Belief in enchanted treasures and the use of magic existed among people who considered themselves Christians. Stowell was a deacon in the Presbyterian Church, and JS attended Methodist revivals. Of course, the orthodox condemned such practices.

His mother's name was LUCY? That's interesting....Lucifer.

Dan Vogel Golden plates in stone boxes were not really known of in Joseph Smith's day. Went back to church 06/15/97 after many a year of inactivity. Started to notice a certain feeling about three weeks later. Asked the sunday school teacher WHAT IS IT. He said it's the same feeling that we all felt up in heaven before we came to this earth!!...to the here and now which is the 2nd estate. Some do know of this certain feeling that only Mormons talk of. Andy Poland (formerly in the Mormon church) tried to imply it's something it's not. One is going to have a difficult time convincing me to believe that it's something to do with Satanism or the devil. Care to show me how it's not of the divine.

May you hearken unto the Divinity of The First Visitation and the ordained meeting of Moroni

Why not the Best? When I was just a boy, I was quite serious minded and as I would look up into the night sky, I would wonder, “What is God like?” and “Who am I to him?” Well, I quickly discovered that there was no agreement on questions about God among any of the religions. Thus began a lifelong quest to find the answers. I have spent over thirty years talking to people of other faiths and visiting their services. It has been a wonderful experience and I think it has helped me to get a glimpse of why God allows so many religions. First of all, I have discovered that God answers the prayers of all people who call on Him. I have heard compelling testimonies of God’s mercy and miracles in all faiths, and even those without a church. It seems irrefutable that He does not require you to pronounce His Name correctly. Father, Jesus, God, Allah, Jehovah, Lord, etc. all seem to be understood by Him. He seems to know the intent of our prayers and our heart. We can communicate with Him even with incorrect beliefs. He loves all men (and women) and we are truly all brothers and sisters. Unfortunately when God answers the prayers of people in the different faiths, they misunderstand that answer as being “proof” of the correctness of their particular faith. They think God has put His stamp of approval on their religion and that they are authorized to persecute and sometimes kill people of other religions in defense of their “God”.None the less, There is an overwhelming amount of good that all religions accomplish. Looking at the big picture closer I discovered that all religions are trying to get their membership to do three things, 1. They want you to have a personal love and relationship with God. 2. They want you to actually live-----what boils down to be the “Ten Commandments” (Christians, Muslims ,Buddhists, Jews Hindus phrase it differently but it all comes down to the Ten Commandments) 3. They want you to treat our body as if it is the temple of God. This is what the leaders of all the different faiths would like their members to do. I discovered that when people actually do these three things, they all have the same results---Heaven on Earth. Or to be more realistic, they have greater happiness than through any other path. The good days are better and the tragedies are easier to survive. There are people in every faith that achieve these three things, and get “Heaven on Earth” So does that mean it doesn’t matter what religion you have? No, there is a difference. I’m a practical guy, and the practical measurable difference in the different religions is the percentage of members in a religion that achieve those three things. Some faiths may only have less than 10% of their members that do those three things. Other religions may have 20%, and others 30% . Results matter! In my lifetime of personal observations, I have not found any faith that comes close to success the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) has in getting it’s members to live those three things. It is the Best. I have six children who are happily married in the temple. I have twenty grandchildren who go to church with both parents every Sunday. I love my kids and grand kids more than life itself. I would not lead them anywhere, but where they will receive the greatest joy. Remember--- Results matter.----- Good enough is not good enough.------ Scott Marshall I have researched all the problems they talk about, and I'm still here.

Yea, its "reconstruction" alright too bad it is far from the truth.

what makes anyone think that dead people turn into angels? Nephi? Moroni? LOL

Unless you are already part of the cult, the whole thing sounds like a fast-sell thing.

The assumption is that JS (not Mormons) changed his revelation. I don’t think they were embarrassed as much as they wanted to link it to the Bible. Dowsing isn’t limited to Satanists. It’s more of a pseudoscience than religious practice.

What you have discovered is fascinating and I was happy to subscribe to your Channel to learn all I can about what I call "Religious Nonsense" ~!!!!!

The Mormon church is pagan , Man do not become angels after we die

The spectacles themselves are an anachronism. Wireframe glasses weren’t invented until 17th 18th century? How did they get in that box? The whole thing looks suspiciously Victorian to me.

For a man who claimed he saw god; he certainly had little faith, less obedience, even less courage and no regard for truth

Many of those who view this & other videos do not know that which, in this instance, you state you know. As a follower of Jesus Christ I am glad I take a stand for theological truth. Sorcery is deadly business & it should be opposed. From the history I have looked into Smith was steeped spirit & soul in sorcery from the cradle to the grave. What is your view as pertains to same?

JS condemned all churches to get people to join him & even canonized it. LDS do the same today, even door to door. JS in his practice of magical arts & sorcery absolutely was not following Christ, irregardless of any consideration of heterodox. Is your faith in the wisdom of men & not in the power of God? "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" 1 Cor. 2:15).

Amazing how the church continues to roll forth. Lol a true marvelous work and a wonder. 😂

This was great. But blows my mind🤯🤡 to think some of my relatives were pioneers in the Mormon cult. How weak minded were the people back then

To me Christianity is much bigger than what the orthodox define. Fundamentalists and Evangelicals are only a small sliver of what interests me. I’m not a minister trying to condemn a group to get them to join mine. I’m a scholar trying to seriously understand my subject and convey that information to anyone who will listen. I have clearly said JS was heterodox in his practice of Christianity, but as a scholar you won't find me talking about God and demons. I'll leave that to the ministers.

Seeing that you are bereft of a Biblical basis for your assertion that such practices are Christian, you should, at the very least, in the interest of accuracy, qualify your use of such words as Christians & Christianity by enclosing them in quotations. It is established strong & clear in Christian Scripture that engaging in any form of magical arts or sorcery is, in actual fact, anti-Christ activity. It is no stretch to refer to JS as Smith, the sorcerer. Do you know that he ever repented?

jem7v Well said Jem! Well said haha

Didn't it occur to anyone the days of intermediaries e.g., priest, Seers etc were over. The Book of Hebrews makes that clear. Human "Go Betweens" man and God ended with Thee Sacrifice and the aencingOmni ❤Presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart of every Beliver? "Which will teach us all things" Yet, there's still folks who think God, who can change the world in the blink of eye or quicken hundreds at Pentecost still needs someone to go digging in the dirt looking for a box with a message in it from God who wants it communicated to human kind. A limited idea of God for limited and guilable people who trust the fanciful works of man rather than trust the promise of being led directly, intimately by the Omninisant,Omnipresence God who wrote the law in stone. Mr. Smith clearly had a finite understanding of God who is limited in his means of communications with Belivers, The most unatural thing for the natural mind to do is Be Still and Know" Most modern Belivers will do anything from feeding the poor to building temples rather than go to where are they are told to meet be known and Know. ,

For outside are dogs and sorcerers, and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

1 Cor. 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.