The New Israelites of Vermont - Precursors of the Mormons?

[Apologette]

Historical research indicates that the Cowdery family and Joseph Smith, Sr., were invovled to some extent in the "New Israelite" movement, a radical sect in Vermont which endorsed "dowsing,' or the use of rods in locating objects, etc. We know that Joseph Smith, Sr., was a treasure hunter, teaching that trade to his son, Joe, Jr. who also was involved with "the rod." Oliver Cowdery's father was a member of the group, and Oliver Cowdery was fairly well known as a dowser and his use of the rod. In fact, in the "Book of Commandments," the Mormon god claims he gave this "gift" to Cowdery, however that p***age has been excised and changed in the Doctrine and Covenants, as its connection with the occult was all too obvious. I found this information on the Wood Movement, or the New Israelite sect:

Nathaniel Wood formed the New Israelites in Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont at the end of the 1790s. Originally a Congregationalist, Wood was excommunicated in 1789, after which he began to preach to small meetings whose attendees were mostly family and relatives. The sect may have been influenced by the Newent Separates of Norwich, who believed in perfectionist immortalism and spiritual wifery, and the preaching of Rev. Joel Benedict, who taught that Hebrew was the angelic tongue.[1]
The sect claimed literal descent from the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, and they practiced divination and polygamy.[2] After the sect was joined by a counterfeiter and treasure seer named "Winchell" (probably Justus Winchell[3]) in the spring or early summer of 1800, the New Israelites began dowsing to look for buried treasure in Middletown and Rutland, Vermont. They also embarked on the construction of a temple. The group employed the divining rod for both treasure hunting and other forms of revelation. It was suspected that these efforts masked a counterfeiting operation. Wood predicted the arrival of a "Destroying Angel" on 14 January 1802 that would bring down plagues and earthquakes upon the "gentiles."

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"Members of the New Israelites may have included Joseph Smith, Sr., the father of the Mormon prophet, and William Cowdery, father of Book of Mormon witness Oliver Cowdery. The best case exists for connecting Cowdery family, as they are known to have lived near the Woods in the early 19th century, and later attended a Congregationalist church in Poultney, Vermont after the Wood S****e. Oliver Cowdery, who was not born at the time of the Wood S****e, was later known as a dowser, and was the second highest ranking early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, next to Joseph Smith, Jr. Witnesses from Vermont connected William Cowdery to the sect, before these witnesses could have known from media reports that his son Oliver was a dowser.[5]

Vermont residents who were interviewed by a local historian said that Joseph Smith, Sr. was also part of the New Israelites, and was one of its "leading rods-men".[6] However, there is no historical consensus linking Smith to the New Israelites because of the difficulty in placing Joseph Smith, Sr. in Rutland County, Vermont during that time period. Although residents said that he lived in Poultney, Vermont "at the time of the Wood movement here",[7] there are no other records placing Smith closer than about 50 miles away. On the other hand, Smith's involvement with the New Israelites would be consistent with his links to Congregationalism and his admission in 1837 that he entered the money digging business "more than thirty years" ago.[8]" (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Israelites)

Another researcher has also found a connection between the Cowdery and Smith family and the New Israelite sect:

John Pratt (Parley's relative) was living in Wells, having moved over from Hartford, New York. Also the news went on to Jeremiah Pratt who at that time lived near the Smith family at Sharon, Vermont.

This John Pratt was probably the Pratt listed in the History of Wells who was involved in the "Woods' Religious Movement," which William Cowdery, Jr., and Joseph Smith, Sr., were very prominent in. (see: http://solomonspalding.com/Lib/Fulr1994.htm; this is an important source for information on how Mormonism's Book of Mormon came to be)

Let's look at some of the similarities between the Woods' movement and Mormonism:

1. There is a connection through another cult with "spiritual wifery."
2. Polygamy was practiced.
3. Divination was practiced (young Smith used seer stones for divination)
4. The Woods cult believed they were actually descended from the Tribes of Israel. So did the Mormons.
5. The New Israelites were treasure hunters - we know that that was the Smith's primary occupation.
6. The cult began to construct a temple, but never finished. Mormons love building temples "built with hands."
7. The New Israelites were a millenialist group, looking for the soon end of the world. Mormonism began as a millenialist cult.
8. Non-Members were referred to as "gentiles."

Folks, these similarities are just toooooooooooooooooooooooooo much to consider that Mormonism doesn't derive many of its beliefs from the New Israelites. And Cowdery's father and Smith, Sr., were invovled. Coincidence? Doubt it! Spiritual deception tends to cross cultic lines - and if at first it doesn't succeed, it will infest yet another group with the same errors and heresies.

[Apologette]

Praise God, I see that the Mormons gave this thread a "thumbs down." Praise Jesus that the truth is getting out!

[RealFakeHair]

Just goes to show Joseph Smith jr. Had not an original ideas.

[Apologette]

Just goes to show Joseph Smith jr. Had not an original ideas.

Well, maybe the adultery angel!

[James Banta]

Just goes to show Joseph Smith jr. Had not an original ideas.

Not on these doctrines Apologette brings up and not even the basic idea of the American Indian being part of the lost 10 tribes as taught in the BofM.. In 1649 Men***ah published his book, The Hope of Israel, in Spanish and in Latin in Amsterdam, including Montezinos' account of the Lost Tribes in the New World. An English translation was published in London in 1650. In it Men***eh argued, and for the first time tried to give learned support in European thought and printing, to the theory that the native inhabitants of America at the time of the European discovery were descendants of the [lost] Ten Tribes of Israel. Men***eh said I think that the Ten Tribes live not only there ... but also in other lands scattered everywhere; these never did come back to the Second Temple and they keep till this day still the Jewish Religion. (Men***ah ben Israel, The Hope of Israel, London, 1650, English translation).

As you can see the "New Israelites" movements, and Smith teachings in the BofM had no originality.. These ideas were common in the cults that insisted that the Church fell into apostasy not long after the death of the Apostles. These cults existed at the time Joseph Smith Sr was employed as dowser as his primary occupation in 1820.

I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: . . . I had heard them tell marvelous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such an place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited kegs, barrels and hogheads of coined silver and gold—bars of gold, golden images, br*** kettles filled with gold and silver—gold candlesticks, swords (Affidavit of William Stafford, as quoted in Mormonism Unvailed, p. 237)

You are more correct than you realized.. IHS jim

[Apologette]

Not on these doctrines Apologette brings up and not even the basic idea of the American Indian being part of the lost 10 tribes as taught in the BofM.. In 1649 Men***ah published his book, The Hope of Israel, in Spanish and in Latin in Amsterdam, including Montezinos' account of the Lost Tribes in the New World. An English translation was published in London in 1650. In it Men***eh argued, and for the first time tried to give learned support in European thought and printing, to the theory that the native inhabitants of America at the time of the European discovery were descendants of the [lost] Ten Tribes of Israel. Men***eh said I think that the Ten Tribes live not only there ... but also in other lands scattered everywhere; these never did come back to the Second Temple and they keep till this day still the Jewish Religion. (Men***ah ben Israel, The Hope of Israel, London, 1650, English translation).

As you can see the "New Israelites" movements, and Smith teachings in the BofM had no originality.. These ideas were common in the cults that insisted that the Church fell into apostasy not long after the death of the Apostles. These cults existed at the time Joseph Smith Sr was employed as dowser as his primary occupation in 1820.

I first became acquainted with Joseph, Sen., and his family in the year 1820. They lived, at that time, in Palmyra, about one mile and a half from my residence. A great part of their time was devoted to digging for money: . . . I had heard them tell marvelous tales, respecting the discoveries they had made in their peculiar occupation of money digging. They would say, for instance, that in such an place, in such a hill, on a certain man's farm, there were deposited kegs, barrels and hogheads of coined silver and gold—bars of gold, golden images, br*** kettles filled with gold and silver—gold candlesticks, swords (Affidavit of William Stafford, as quoted in Mormonism Unvailed, p. 237)

You are more correct than you realized.. IHS jim
You are right, Jim. Mormonism is a composite religion. Originally, it was a blend of Seekerism, Campbellism, British Israelism (the twelve tribes migrated north, occupied the British Isles, and white northern Europeans are the rightful heirs of the promises to Israel), Communitarianism (which came through Rigdon), Utopianism (many Utopian communities in the American northeast existed since the 17th century and many practiced sexual promiscuity) and hyper-Millennialism. Smith kept his flock in line with promises of the imminent demise of not only the American government (not a shard will be left, according to Smith), but the soon coming of Christ to judge all "gentiles," and anoint Mormon priests as rulers over the world. As time went on, Mormonism lapsed more and more into outright paganism in terms of idolatry (belief in many gods), and even went beyond that which Smith had taught. Today's Mormonism is a blend of corporate "religion," and ingrained devotion to an historical past which has been revised over and over - putting lipstick on a pig (as they say).

[James Banta]

You are right, Jim. Mormonism is a composite religion. Originally, it was a blend of Seekerism, Campbellism, British Israelism (the twelve tribes migrated north, occupied the British Isles, and white northern Europeans are the rightful heirs of the promises to Israel), Communitarianism (which came through Rigdon), Utopianism (many Utopian communities in the American northeast existed since the 17th century and many practiced sexual promiscuity) and hyper-Millennialism. Smith kept his flock in line with promises of the imminent demise of not only the American government (not a shard will be left, according to Smith), but the soon coming of Christ to judge all "gentiles," and anoint Mormon priests as rulers over the world. As time went on, Mormonism lapsed more and more into outright paganism in terms of idolatry (belief in many gods), and even went beyond that which Smith had taught. Today's Mormonism is a blend of corporate "religion," and ingrained devotion to an historical past which has been revised over and over - putting lipstick on a pig (as they say).

You forgot the ball gown hehehehe... IHS jim

[Apologette]

Historical research indicates that the Cowdery family and Joseph Smith, Sr., were invovled to some extent in the "New Israelite" movement, a radical sect in Vermont which endorsed "dowsing,' or the use of rods in locating objects, etc. We know that Joseph Smith, Sr., was a treasure hunter, teaching that trade to his son, Joe, Jr. who also was involved with "the rod." Oliver Cowdery's father was a member of the group, and Oliver Cowdery was fairly well known as a dowser and his use of the rod. In fact, in the "Book of Commandments," the Mormon god claims he gave this "gift" to Cowdery, however that p***age has been excised and changed in the Doctrine and Covenants, as its connection with the occult was all too obvious. I found this information on the Wood Movement, or the New Israelite sect:

Nathaniel Wood formed the New Israelites in Middletown, Rutland County, Vermont at the end of the 1790s. Originally a Congregationalist, Wood was excommunicated in 1789, after which he began to preach to small meetings whose attendees were mostly family and relatives. The sect may have been influenced by the Newent Separates of Norwich, who believed in perfectionist immortalism and spiritual wifery, and the preaching of Rev. Joel Benedict, who taught that Hebrew was the angelic tongue.[1]
The sect claimed literal descent from the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, and they practiced divination and polygamy.[2] After the sect was joined by a counterfeiter and treasure seer named "Winchell" (probably Justus Winchell[3]) in the spring or early summer of 1800, the New Israelites began dowsing to look for buried treasure in Middletown and Rutland, Vermont. They also embarked on the construction of a temple. The group employed the divining rod for both treasure hunting and other forms of revelation. It was suspected that these efforts masked a counterfeiting operation. Wood predicted the arrival of a "Destroying Angel" on 14 January 1802 that would bring down plagues and earthquakes upon the "gentiles."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and:

"Members of the New Israelites may have included Joseph Smith, Sr., the father of the Mormon prophet, and William Cowdery, father of Book of Mormon witness Oliver Cowdery. The best case exists for connecting Cowdery family, as they are known to have lived near the Woods in the early 19th century, and later attended a Congregationalist church in Poultney, Vermont after the Wood S****e. Oliver Cowdery, who was not born at the time of the Wood S****e, was later known as a dowser, and was the second highest ranking early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement, next to Joseph Smith, Jr. Witnesses from Vermont connected William Cowdery to the sect, before these witnesses could have known from media reports that his son Oliver was a dowser.[5]

Vermont residents who were interviewed by a local historian said that Joseph Smith, Sr. was also part of the New Israelites, and was one of its "leading rods-men".[6] However, there is no historical consensus linking Smith to the New Israelites because of the difficulty in placing Joseph Smith, Sr. in Rutland County, Vermont during that time period. Although residents said that he lived in Poultney, Vermont "at the time of the Wood movement here",[7] there are no other records placing Smith closer than about 50 miles away. On the other hand, Smith's involvement with the New Israelites would be consistent with his links to Congregationalism and his admission in 1837 that he entered the money digging business "more than thirty years" ago.[8]" (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Israelites)

Another researcher has also found a connection between the Cowdery and Smith family and the New Israelite sect:

John Pratt (Parley's relative) was living in Wells, having moved over from Hartford, New York. Also the news went on to Jeremiah Pratt who at that time lived near the Smith family at Sharon, Vermont.

This John Pratt was probably the Pratt listed in the History of Wells who was involved in the "Woods' Religious Movement," which William Cowdery, Jr., and Joseph Smith, Sr., were very prominent in. (see: http://solomonspalding.com/Lib/Fulr1994.htm; this is an important source for information on how Mormonism's Book of Mormon came to be)

Let's look at some of the similarities between the Woods' movement and Mormonism:

1. There is a connection through another cult with "spiritual wifery."
2. Polygamy was practiced.
3. Divination was practiced (young Smith used seer stones for divination)
4. The Woods cult believed they were actually descended from the Tribes of Israel. So did the Mormons.
5. The New Israelites were treasure hunters - we know that that was the Smith's primary occupation.
6. The cult began to construct a temple, but never finished. Mormons love building temples "built with hands."
7. The New Israelites were a millenialist group, looking for the soon end of the world. Mormonism began as a millenialist cult.
8. Non-Members were referred to as "gentiles."

Folks, these similarities are just toooooooooooooooooooooooooo much to consider that Mormonism doesn't derive many of its beliefs from the New Israelites. And Cowdery's father and Smith, Sr., were invovled. Coincidence? Doubt it! Spiritual deception tends to cross cultic lines - and if at first it doesn't succeed, it will infest yet another group with the same errors and heresies.

The participation of Cowdery's father and Joe Smith's father, along with the fact that they were related to one another, is simply too much for any rational human to dismiss. There is no coincidence here. It is obvious that the root source of Mormonism at least partially comes from these New Israelites.

[BigJulie]

The participation of Cowdery's father and Joe Smith's father, along with the fact that they were related to one another, is simply too much for any rational human to dismiss. There is no coincidence here. It is obvious that the root source of Mormonism at least partially comes from these New Israelites.

First, what I have found is that the sources for a lot of this type of stuff is often questionable---garbage in, garbage out type of research (which is the type of research WM did).
Second, if you want to look at similarities going on---you can find them all over the place in all types of religions.

Look at the list and compare it with the bible: actually, all of these fit with the Bible except treasure hunting...which I am always amazed that people think of Joseph Smith as a treasure humter. He may have hunted for treasure at times, but that was not uncommon for that time period--I mean, look at the gold rush that happened later. But, if that is how Joseph Smith is perceived, he spent an awful lot of time giving up treasure, giving away his goods, taking care of others, suffering, being tarred and feathered by a mob. Boy, if he was into looking good, having means and having friends, he chose the absolute wrong way to go about it. He ended up with nothing and dead by a mob.

So, if we compare this list to the Bible----ummm, well, its there.

As far as the seer stones---here is from Wikipedia about them:

"In ancient Israelite religion and culture, Urim and Thummim (Hebrew: האורים והתומים‎, Standard haʾUrim vəhaTummim Tiberian hāʾÛrîm wəhatTummîm) is a phrase from the Hebrew Scriptures or Torah ***ociated with the hoshen (High Priest's breastplate), divination in general, and cleromancy in particular. Most scholars suspect that the phrase refers to specific objects involved in the divination.[1]"

You better take that up these things with God Apologette, as it appears you have a problem with the Bible.

[Apologette]

First, what I have found is that the sources for a lot of this type of stuff is often questionable---garbage in, garbage out type of research (which is the type of research WM did).
Second, if you want to look at similarities going on---you can find them all over the place in all types of religions.

Look at the list and compare it with the bible: actually, all of these fit with the Bible except treasure hunting...which I am always amazed that people think of Joseph Smith as a treasure humter. He may have hunted for treasure at times, but that was not uncommon for that time period--I mean, look at the gold rush that happened later. But, if that is how Joseph Smith is perceived, he spent an awful lot of time giving up treasure, giving away his goods, taking care of others, suffering, being tarred and feathered by a mob. Boy, if he was into looking good, having means and having friends, he chose the absolute wrong way to go about it. He ended up with nothing and dead by a mob.

So, if we compare this list to the Bible----ummm, well, its there.

As far as the seer stones---here is from Wikipedia about them:

"In ancient Israelite religion and culture, Urim and Thummim (Hebrew: האורים והתומים‎, Standard haʾUrim vəhaTummim Tiberian hāʾÛrîm wəhatTummîm) is a phrase from the Hebrew Scriptures or Torah ***ociated with the hoshen (High Priest's breastplate), divination in general, and cleromancy in particular. Most scholars suspect that the phrase refers to specific objects involved in the divination.[1]"

You better take that up these things with God Apologette, as it appears you have a problem with the Bible.

You know you want to deny historical facts, but never question the source of Joe Smith's first vision account? That's all you have? And now you are trying to accuse God of practicing the Devil's tricks by ***ociating the Hebrew Urim and Thummim with occultism. Shame on you. Blasphemy as far as I'm concerned. What's your MORMON source for trying to justify divination? Sickening to me that you would resort to such a trick as telling us God was an occultist! Maybe your Mormon "idol," not the True and Living God.

[BigJulie]

You know you want to deny historical facts, but never question the source of Joe Smith's first vision account? That's all you have? And now you are trying to accuse God of practicing the Devil's tricks by ***ociating the Hebrew Urim and Thummim with occultism. Shame on you. Blasphemy as far as I'm concerned. What's your MORMON source for trying to justify divination? Sickening to me that you would resort to such a trick as telling us God was an occultist! Maybe your Mormon "idol," not the True and Living God.

I am not accusing God of practicing the devils tricks. I am just recognizing that this stuff (such as polygamy, temples, gathering of Israel, referring to non-believers as gentiles, using seer stones aka the Urim and Thummim) are part of God's church as found within the Bible.

I showed you a sight from Wikipedia---not a Mormon site to see that there are those scholars who think using these seer stones (as occurred in the Bible) was a form of divination, just as you do. But here is what we learn in the Bible:


Exodus 29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. 30 Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

Why do you think Aaron was told to have the "Urim and Thummim' in his breastpiece? And how were they (and the breastpiece) "the means of making decisions for the Israelites" before the Lord?

Why did God have Aaron do this when the Lord specifically spoke against divination?
And why do you accuse Joseph Smith of divination when he also used the Urim and Thummim that were given to him by the Lord?

[James Banta]

[BigJulie;151091]I am not accusing God of practicing the devils tricks. I am just recognizing that this stuff (such as polygamy, temples, gathering of Israel, referring to non-believers as gentiles, using seer stones aka the Urim and Thummim) are part of God's church as found within the Bible.

The High Priest were the judges of doctrine for the People (There was no Church, That is a New Testament term ONLY). Stones were part of the garments of Aaron he wore in the performance of His temple duties.. He wore the twelve stones one representing the tribes of Israel as Aaron went into the Holy of Holies with the blood of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. On His vestment there were also two other stones that proclaimed himself as worthy to make that offering. The Urim and Thummim. Translated as lights and perfections, they testifies to Aaron's knowledge and cleanliness before God.. He understood the commandments and taught them to the people and was the judge as to whether they were obeyed or broken.. Therefore made decisions for the Israelites, keeping such over his heart.. In no way does the Bible tell us that these stones were used in making those decisions that was left to Aaron..


I showed you a sight from Wikipedia---not a Mormon site to see that there are those scholars who think using these seer stones (as occurred in the Bible) was a form of divination, just as you do. But here is what we learn in the Bible:

Why do you think Aaron was told to have the "Urim and Thummim' in his breastpiece? And how were they (and the breastpiece) "the means of making decisions for the Israelites" before the Lord?

Why did God have Aaron do this when the Lord specifically spoke against divination?
And why do you accuse Joseph Smith of divination when he also used the Urim and Thummim that were given to him by the Lord?

Instead of trying to show truth from Wikipedia, I think I have shown from the Bible what these stones really were.. Representation of the 12 tribes of Israel and the Knowledge and purity of the office of the High Priest..

It makes no sense that God would give means of divination to Israel and condemn it at the same time..

Deut 18:10
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to p*** through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch

Do you see that divination is included in the same p***age as those that force their children to p*** through fire, observe the times (Astrology), Enchanting, and witchcraft.. The Urim and Thummim was therefore no part of divination.. Divination is the product of evil not the works of God.. IHS jim

[Apologette]

I am not accusing God of practicing the devils tricks. I am just recognizing that this stuff (such as polygamy, temples, gathering of Israel, referring to non-believers as gentiles, using seer stones aka the Urim and Thummim) are part of God's church as found within the Bible.

I showed you a sight from Wikipedia---not a Mormon site to see that there are those scholars who think using these seer stones (as occurred in the Bible) was a form of divination, just as you do. But here is what we learn in the Bible:





Why do you think Aaron was told to have the "Urim and Thummim' in his breastpiece? And how were they (and the breastpiece) "the means of making decisions for the Israelites" before the Lord?

Why did God have Aaron do this when the Lord specifically spoke against divination?
And why do you accuse Joseph Smith of divination when he also used the Urim and Thummim that were given to him by the Lord?

Well, old Joey had Urim and Thummim in his top hat! And the funny thing is that he said Urim and Thummim were spectacles. You know, how do Mormons not stop laughing at this stuff?

[BigJulie]

Well, old Joey had Urim and Thummim in his top hat! And the funny thing is that he said Urim and Thummim were spectacles. You know, how do Mormons not stop laughing at this stuff?

They were gl***es?

Hmmm, I see them more as this type of thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38

Who hasn't used their hand to cover the bright outside light when they needed to see their device better?

[Apologette]

And here's how the Mormon cult depicted urim and thummim:

http://www.mormonthink.com/transbomweb.htm#whatmost