Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah Parchment

Summary:

This is a recreation of one of three magic parchments found among Hyrum Smith's possessions. It is called the Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah Parchment. It is so called because of three Jehovah's in the upper right and left. The center has a magic seal, surrounded by scripture from Numbers 6: 24-26. The bottom right has the symbol for the demon Jubanladace. Many of the magic symbols are copied directly out of The Magus by Francis Barrett published in 1801 and New and Complete Illustration of Occult Sciences by Ebenezer Sibly in 1784. All of the parchments likely belonged to Joseph Senior, but were inherited by Hyrum's family after his death. This parchment is in the property of a private collector and sadly there are no photographs that I am aware of.

Why this matters:

The fact that these items were owned by the Smith family implies that they had more than a passing interest in magic.
It demonstrates that the Smith family and the people of the time had no problem mixing Christianity with magic.
The purpose of this parchment seems to be to help protect the house from evil.

Learn More:

Amazon.com - Early Mormonism and the Magical World View
Wikipedia - Ebenezer Sibly
Wikipedia - Francis Barrett
Utah Lighthouse Ministry - Mormonism & Magic

About Me

I'm just a regular old Mormon that went on a mission, married in the temple and started a family. Later in life I discovered troubling issues about the church which did not seem to mesh with my understanding of the restored gospel. I ultimately left the church even though I really wanted to stay. I still respect the Mormon religion and identify with the culture.

I'm not a historian, and people searching for answers should really look to smarter people than me. But I'm hoping this blog will serve as a kick off point for anyone willing to critically think about the faith. These are just a few things I've encountered in my journey. Some fun, some serious, but all fascinating!