The Angel and the Sorcerer: The Remarkable Story of the Occult Origins of Mormonism and the Rise of Mormons in American Politics

As a born Mormon who wised up, I found this book a confirmation of my suspicions about Joseph Smith. But I could never have guessed what a wicked little fraud the man really was. He and Brigham Young caused my Mormon pioneer ancestors so much sorrow and misery; yet they remained faithful to the church probably due in part to the horrible threats, I now realize. This book is well researched, and is an important work.

Levenda's books are always informative, scholarly, and a pure pleasure to read. His ideas are, as usual, provocative, serious, and timely. The author has an inquisitive mind with a wide range of interests, and it's certainly worth reading anything penned by Peter Levenda--whether he analyzes secret societies, conducts Tantric research, contemplates "secret" philosophies/mysteries, dissects an occult nature of Nazism and of other similarly "sinister forces," etc. So why not Mormonism? I had a great time reading the book. Any text by Levenda is another step on the "stairway to haven," another architectural detail to the "secret temple" meant to facilitate internal transformation and enhance, sharpen the reader's perception of both human and divine natures of cosmos. On my way to read his new book!

I think Peter Levenda is an excellent writer and an even more profound researcher. His Sinister Forces series is extraordinary even though some conclusions seem a tad strained. Anyway, this book broke the ice on the cult by someone who could frankly give a damn whether Mormons offend mainstream Christianity or not and that is the key behind its power. If only Levenda had not stopped when and where he did. If only he had focused in on the ongoing misogyny of the cult and obscene levels of prescription drugs used to keep their sheep tightly packed together. If only he had mentioned their single-handed defeat of California's Proposition 8 a few years back but now, like their stance on blacks, they have seemingly reversed themselves. If only he had noted the incredible amount of female obesity in Utah and other Mormon environs. If only . . .

Good writer. Thoroughly researched.

Peter Levenda is always a slamm dunk regarding research. He touches on Mormonism in his great book series "sinister forces" but he reveals the church for what it is starting from the youth of Joseph Smith and his supposive encounter with the Angel and the golden plates to the rituals and maturation of the this religion. Great stuff as always.

Peter Levenda's favorite trick is to take some familiar page from American history and show us that we've failed to understand it. The author notes that, for most people, for most of history, magic was an unquestioned aspect of daily existence. He argues that in order to conjure the full richness of the past to visible appearance, we must take magic seriously as a motivating force and an explanatory principle - of human action if nothing else.When Levenda calls Joseph Smith a "sorcerer", it isn't meant as a pejorative label. Rather, he's offering Smith some overdue professional recognition. Joseph Smith was as powerful, and as successful, a ritual magician as the United States has ever produced. Levenda shows how the young man's exceptional prowess took him from poverty to the head of a major religious movement with political power and the largest paramilitary force in the US.Levenda situates Smith quite comfortably within the Western esoteric tradition, and demonstrates that he was, at every phase of his life, a practicing magician. This turns out to explain a great deal about Mormonism, including: its connection with Freemasonry, "sealed" marriages, the Solomonic symbolism of the golden tablets, and prophecy. And when it comes to the Mormon faith, the author has no particular axe to grind. Although he's a liberal from New York City, and probably not a Romney voter, but he places Mormonism on a equal footing with mainstream Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The revelation of Joseph Smith's magical practice may upset some readers, but it seems if anything to have endeared him to Peter Levenda. As history, the Book of Mormon comes up awkwardly short, especially in the face of recent DNA science. But when considered as the fruit of a magical working it undeniably a magnum opus. Still, this story is ultimately a tragedy in the Faustian mold, as Levenda argues that it was Smith's negligence in a magical operation that proved his undoing. Such is the trajectory of "Piety's rainbow."I couldn't put it down. But, as with all of this author's work, it's not for everybody. I've been recommending Peter Levenda's books to people for years now, and I always get one of two reactions. Either the reader loves them, or he stops returning my calls.Good riddance.

Peter Lavenda is an exacting researcher as well as an excellent author. He brings to light all the details of Joseph Smith's journey into the Mormon Church. Great Book.

I have studied Mormonism for years and found new information from old records in this volume, that was not in previous books. I appreciate the amount of research involved in compiling this book...well written.

Levenda has written an easily digestible synopsis of material taken (and credited) from more scholarly, nuanced and authoritative sources. As a long time student of Mormonism, I found very little new here if anything. But, the first part of the book would make a decent intro to Mormonism for a novice. However, in the second part of the book Levenda (despite his pleadings to the opposite) reveals a very strong anti-Mormon and pro-left wing bias. It is beyond rich for him to accuse Mormons and the Right of paranoid conspiracy weaving when he has made career of just that. Lavenda works the kooky-crackpot side of the left wing conspiracy street where there are Nazis under every bed. Plus, he caters to the kooks who buy into the most outlandish flying saucer conspiracy theories. I suspect Levenda believes very little of the flying saucer flapdoodle but he definitely pushes a loony-lefty agenda. If you are genuinely interested in the connection between Mormonism and the Occult read the books Levenda references.