Joseph Smith and the Use of Seer Stones

LDS Perspective

Yes, Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, did use a seer stone in the early stages of his prophetic ministry. Historical accounts reveal that, prior to the translation of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith used a seer stone to help locate lost items and treasure. His community accepted such practices as they were part of the folk traditions of the time, which included beliefs about divination and seership. Joseph located seer stones in the ground and used them, at times, to assist neighbors in locating lost property (Church History Topics, "Seer Stones," https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/seer-stones). After Joseph Smith received the golden plates in 1827, he was provided with a separate translation instrument referred to as the

Historical Perspective

Joseph Smith's use of a seer stone is a well-documented aspect of his early life and the foundational narrative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the cultural context of early 19th-century America, the use of seer stones was not uncommon, as many individuals engaged in folk magic practices and treasure seeking. Joseph Smith himself was raised in a family that participated in such practices; his father, Joseph Smith Sr., and mother, Lucy Mack Smith, acknowledged their belief in the spiritual properties of physical objects used for divination and revelation (Source 1: Mormon Discussion Inc. - https://youtube.com/watch?v=aj1H7y8v3cI&t=0). The specific seer stone often attributed to Joseph Smith was a brown stone, which he initially used for treasure hunting before employ