Pagan ideals found in Mormon beliefs

Spiritual Gifts found in the Role of Mormonism
One of the many aspects of Mormon culture that LDS members are known for is their belief in spiritual gifts. A list of these gifts can be found in two specific places of their scripture—one is in the Book of Moroni and the other in Doctrine and Covenants. It is believed that through prayer and a sincere desire, one can obtain each of these gifts from God if they ask unselfishly. Some are naturally born with some of these spiritual gifts while others develop them over the years through practice and prayer. The gifts listed in these two areas of scripture are not the only spiritual gifts that God can bless people with though. There are countless others that can be discovered through revelation, daily practice, or specific blessings.
Patriarchal Blessings
A common way for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to know that they are blessed with a number of these gifts is through what they call patriarchal blessings. These blessings act as a guide to the member for them to follow throughout their life. They are promised certain things if they continue to live faithful and righteous lives, including some spiritual gifts. Another common thing that can be found in patriarchal blessings is which tribe of Israel the member belongs to through a direct bloodline. If the member, for some reason, is not physically related to at least one of the tribes of Israel through blood, which rarely happens, they are then adopted into a tribe. Most Mormons in the United States belong to the tribe of Ephraim, but this is not always the case. There are still many who are descendants of other tribes, in the U.S. and around the world.
Spiritual Gifts
Even though not all spiritual gifts are listed in LDS scripture, here are some that have been listed:
Knowledge “that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world”—As stated above, some people are born knowing this principle, but almost all faithful members of the church have a testimony of this. It is necessary for them to obtain this gift in order to fulfill their eternal purpose, which is to attain the highest degree of glory after death and live with God once again.
The capacity to believe the words of those who testify of Jesus Christ—This is another common gift that many members and nonmembers of the LDS church have, whether they know it or not. Mormon missionaries are sent throughout the world to teach of Christ and convert others to their religion. This spiritual gift is eventually bestowed upon each of their investigators who willfully are baptized and become LDS.
Knowledge of “the diversities of operations”—This spiritual gift helps those who have it discern whether something is coming from God or some other source that they believe is invalid. It is very useful for LDS missionaries who are serving in areas that are especially influenced by things that are not of God. It helps them know where to be and when to be there, as well as where not to be and when not to be there.
The gift of faith—Another spiritual gift that many have and if they do not, can easily be developed compared to certain other gifts. Faith is the first step to becoming a righteous Latter-day Saint and without the gift of faith, it is impossible to progress in the Mormon church. It is needed for all things and can be acquired through prayer and desire. Another gift that falls under this one is the gift of faith to heal.
Folkloric Storytelling in Mormon Missionaries
Folklore used to Foster Camaraderie
Mormon missionaries use folklore to create a feeling of camaraderie amongst themselves. One way they do this is through unofficial initiation ceremonies of new missionaries, called “greenies”. An example of a new missionary initiation ceremony is a practical joke. It has been recorded in several locations (Texas, Norway, and Spain) that a senior missionary taught his greenie companion a “new” and “improved” way to pray. The senior companion insisted that because missionaries repeat certain thoughts in prayers on a regular basis, the most efficient way to pray is to number each prayer and repeat that number when the certain prayer is needed. This is not a common practice in the Latter-day Saint religion. Practical jokes help a new missionary feel welcome and included. Initiation ceremonies such as the one listed above are folkloric because they are traditions which are passed down from person to person by word of mouth.
Folklore used to Cope with Pressure
Mormon missionaries use folklore to cope with the pressure that comes from complying to mission rules. Some of these rules include strict daily schedules, policies restricting the use of electronics, limited amounts of communication with family members and friends, and an expectation that the missionary will follow all commandments and regulations laid out for members of the church. To deal with this pressure, missionaries tell folkloric tales. One tale that serves the purpose of coping with pressure begins when two missionaries in Zambia decide to break mission rules and go on vacation. They devise a plan and fill out their weekly reports to mission headquarters two weeks in advance. The reports are left with their landlady to send in each week, but she mixes them up and the missionaries are caught by their mission president This story relieves pressure because the characters in the stories do for them what they cannot do for themselves; take a vacation, at least in fancy, from the rigorous life they must pursue each day of their missions. The tale of the vacationing missionaries fits the traditional definition of folklore because it is a story that has been passed down by word of mouth.
Folklore used to Persuade
Mormon missionaries use folklore to persuade themselves and their companions to conform to the mission standards and regulations. In this situation a more serious anecdote is retold. This type of folkloric tale informs missionaries of the misfortunes that will befall them if they choose to disobey the commandments of God. One widely told story among missionaries in particular persuades them to conform to mission rules. This story tells the tale of a missionary who attempts to strengthen his belief in Christ by gaining a testimony of Satan. One night the missionary makes an attempt to pray to the Devil. The missionary’s companion woke up and went to the window. He saw a black figure on a black horse coming down the road toward their apartment. The missionaries were up at least two stories. The first missionary, as the story goes, jumped out of the window. While many renditions of this story have been told, the missionary who prays to Satan always reaches the same end result of death. This story is told all over the world in places such as Norway, Brazil, and Oklahoma. Unlike other folkloric missionary stories on record, this tale is dark rather than lighthearted. It convinces missionaries to obey the commandments of God and live a righteous life. It is an example of folklore because it is a story that is passed down from one missionary to the next.<ref name="a1" />
Pagan Symbols found in Mormon culture
Seer Stones
When Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon he used a seer stone, called the Urim and Thummim. This tool aided him in translating the scriptures because it was in an ancient language that was not understood during his day and age. This stone had magical capabilities that only Joseph Smith could use and required him to have strong faith otherwise it would stop working and he would no longer be able to translate the scriptures. Later recorded the second President of the church, Brigham Young, stated to his apostle in 1955 that Joseph Smith actually had five stones. The Urim and Thummim was the brown stone that translated the gold plates. The white stone was used by the LDS president to dictate revelation and make prophetic statements. In one occasion, Orson Pratt asked Joseph Smith, "whether he could not ascertain what his mission was and Joseph answered he would see," (D&C 34). Joseph had Orson Pratt leave and he used the small stone to look through a hat in order to find out his mission destination. Another occasion of using the white seer stone was while giving a patriarchal blessing on October 7, 1835 to Newel K. Whitney and his wife Elizabeth. He set the stone on their heads while giving the blessing. There are rumors from Joseph's neighbors that he used the seer stones for fortune telling much like a fortune teller's crystal. Yet there is no true evidence to prove this. Another belief among many members was that everyone had their own peep stone, but that they were hidden because of their lack of faith. As stated in the scriptures that " a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom," (D&C 130: 10-11). The other three stones have no recorded history of use, but one is said to be made of crystal, another is green and the last one is very large and brown. All of these stones are said to be in a vault owned by the LDS church and only opened by those presiding over the Mormon church.
Treasure Hunting using Divine Rods
Joseph Smith was believed to be a treasure hunter as well, which is someone who searched for gold or ancient precious items that are buried deep in the ground, mountains, or under sea. He is mainly viewed by a treasure hunter because of his search for the golden plates or the Book of Mormon. He was lead by an angel to a hill by his home in New York where he was given strict instruction on how to obtain them and after four years of attempts he eventually was able to carry the golden plates to his home where he translated them. Canes which are quite similar to wands have been viewed as tools to aid in treasure hunting. Scholar Dr. Michael Quinn, stated in his novel Early Mormonism and the Magic World View, that Joseph Sr. used magical canes with his family to find gold or other precious things underground. Sr. Fayette Lapham, a news reporter, interviewed Joseph Smith Sr. in 1830 and wrote, " He also believed that there was a vast amount of money buried somewhere in the country; that it would someday be found: that he himself had spent both time and money searching for it, with divine rods." Even after his son, Joseph Smith, started the church his father continued using these rods to search for treasure. Heber C. Kimball wrote in his journal about an instance in which he used a rod for prophesying stating in his journal, "Last nite I clothed myself and offered up the Sines of the Holy Priesthood and called one the name of the Lord. He hurd me fore my heart was mad comfortable. I inquired by the rod. It was said my family was well." The most well known use of a rod in the LDS church was in 1847 in Salt Lake President Brigham Young pointed with his cane where the Salt Lake temple would be built. Today some members of the LDS faith still believe in diving rods, but they mostly live in rural areas and do not follow the revelation of the church's modern day prophets.
Magical Objects used for Healing
Many LDS mothers would keep their child's handkerchiefs from when they were first blessed as a baby and use them as healing tools to aid their child later in their lives. They believed that they carried special power to heal their child after they had been blessed as babies. In 1837 Heber C. Kimball an apostle serving in England stated, "Many scores of persons were healed by our sending a handkerchief to them,"(pg 313). Apostle Woodruff tells a story of Joseph Smith using a handkerchief to heal saying, " He took a red silk handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to me, and told me to wipe their faces with the handkerchief when I administered to them and they should be healed . . . I went with the man, and did as the Prophet commanded me and the children were healed. " In 1857 Woodruff took this same handkerchief healing his daughter of a lung ailment by placing it on her stomach and she was later cured of her illness. Joseph Smith consecrated a cape for healing purposes to John L. Butler his bodyguard. One family member of Butler wrote, "The family would often put it around an afflicted person and through their faith in the blessing of the cape they were made better."(pg. 316). Canes have also been said to be used for healing purposes as well. Elder Kimball had a cane that was made from one of the planks of wood used to carry Hyrum and Joseph to Carthage jail. Kimball states that, " In England, when not in a situation to go, I have blessed my handkerchief, and asked God to sanctify it and fill it with life and power, and sent it to the sick, and hundreds have been healed by it, in like manner I have sent my cane," (pg. 315). Apparently, this cane he sent with members would heal them once he set the cane on their heads. This healing power was brought about according to the power of God.

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