Notes on andquot;The Golden Potandquot;
Grant H. Palmer
Taken from Signature Books : http://www.signaturebooks.com/excerpts/insider's3.htm

I have received inquiries from people seeking additional information and clarification on my andquot;Moroni and the Golden Potandquot; chapter, found in An Insider's View of Mormon Origins. I both hoped for and expected such a discussion. I have never believed that andquot;The Golden Potandquot; was the only influence upon Joseph Smith's angel and golden-plates story. In my book, I have written that andquot;regardless of where the motifs in the New York narrative came from, most of them, including the basic storyline, were already present in some form in the environment.andquot;1 andquot;The Golden Pot,andquot; other treasure motifs, and his own personal experience all influenced Joseph Smith's narrative.

The Cumorah Cave and andquot;The Golden Potandquot;

Fifty-one of Palmyra's leading citizens said the Smith family was andquot;famous for visionary projects.andquot;2 One of these centered on a nearby glacial drumlin, later called Hill Cumorah. Orsamus Turner said there were andquot;[l]egends of hidden treasureandquot; associated with the hill and Martin Harris said that andquot;money [was] supposed to have been hidden [there] by the ancients.andquot; This is what drew the Smith family to the hill.3 Between 1820 and 1827, both father and son were digging at and having experiences with Cumorah's guardian spirit. Before, during, and after the golden plates saga, the Smiths were engaged in seeking its treasures.4 There is solid evidence that, during this eight-year period, Joseph Smith and his father both claimed to have seen into the caves of the surrounding hills using second sight. The family freely shared these experiences with others.5 Katherine, Joseph's sister, said that Joseph andquot;went frequently to the hill and upon returning would tell us, 'I have seen the records.'andquot;6 Lucy Smith and Henry and Martin Harris all heard from Joseph that it was by means of a seer stone that he was able to view the records hidden in the hill.7 Over time, Cumorah's cave became increasingly important to the family. Joseph Jr. informed Orson Pratt: andquot;[T]he grand repository of all the numerous records of the ancient nations of the western continent was located in the hill [Cumorah], and its contents under the charge of holy angels.andquot;8 According to the Smiths, Moroni was the hill's primary guardian.9

The magical worldview of the Smith family and the mystical world of the andquot;The Golden Potandquot; story are remarkably similar. Archivarius (meaning archivist) Lindhorst is the principle guardian of the treasures at his andquot;ancient residence,andquot; just as Moroni is the primary guardian of Cumorah's treasures. Young Anselmus has a working relationship with Lindhorst that centers around his house. Joseph Smith has a recurring relationship with Moroni at the latter's cave headquarters. Anselmus and Joseph Smith can conveniently walk to their nearby house and cave in a short time. The house and cave both open upon their approach. Anselmus is greeted by Lindhorst and Smith is greeted by Moroni. Both of these beings are the last archivists of their respective civilizations.10 They are in charge of vast treasures including numerous andquot;rolls of parchmentandquot;11 and from the destroyed civilization of Atlantis on one hand and plates of precious metal from the Jaredites and Nephites on the other hand.

Anselmus and Joseph meet with their guardians both inside and outside of their house or cave. Anselmus meets with Lindhorst andquot;in the garden,andquot; in andquot;high groves with trees,andquot; in the azure room where andquot;the grove opens,andquot; and under trees in meadows.12 Lucy Smith said andquot;the angel would meet [Joseph] in the garden,andquot; in a andquot;sacred grove,andquot; and under a tree in a meadow.13 Lindhorst appears in majestic form in andquot;his damask dressing gown which glittered like phosphorus.andquot;14 He also appears as a nice old man on the streets of Dresden and elsewhere15 with andquot;whiteandquot; hair, dressed in a andquot;gray gownandquot; and wearing andquot;his three-cocked military hat.andquot;16 He also protects Anselmus against the evil andquot;spiritsandquot; who seek his treasure on the equinox17 and treats Anselmus to andquot;show and tellandquot; sessions at a nearby cafandeacute;, providing instant andquot;fireandquot; by snapping his fingers and telling about his historical past.18 Moroni similarly appears in a majestic form in a andquot;robeandquot; that was andquot;exceedingly white and brilliant.andquot;19 He also appears along Palmyra roads as a nice andquot;old man going to Cumorahandquot; and elsewhere with andquot;white hair,andquot; dressed in andquot;gray apparel,andquot; wearing a andquot;military half cocked hat.andquot; Moroni protects Joseph against evil andquot;spiritsandquot; who seek his treasure on the equinox. Moroni plows a field at the Whitmer farm and is seen about their sheds. Leman Copley, an early church member, said Smith told him and Joseph Knight Sr. that he saw and conversed with andquot;Moroniandquot; as andquot;an old manandquot; traveling to andquot;Charzee.andquot; Joseph said Moroni claimed to have a monkey in a box and that for andquot;five coppersandquot; he could see it.20 Moroni meets Joseph and tells him about his past. The witnesses andquot;went into a groveandquot; to behold the angel and the gold plates. They are also shown other artifacts and watch as Moroni returns them to andquot;the cave.andquot; Later, the gold plates are returned to the andquot;caveandquot; by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.21

It is also significant that both the house and cave contain a number of high and large chambers that are filled with Egyptian artifacts, illuminated golden treasures, swords, and fine furnishings. Within these vast libraries are seeric devices, breastplates, gilded books, and tripods containing priceless artifacts from the ancient past.22 Both guardians defend their treasures at all costs. They appear as frightful old men, as a andquot;transparent, white serpent [covered] with blood,andquot; a andquot;toadandquot; (or something that looked andquot;like a toadandquot;), and a andquot;bleeding ghostandquot; [whose] andquot;clothes were bloody,andquot; all for the purpose of keeping the treasures from the unauthorized.23 There is really only one important variation in all these descriptions:andnbsp;Anselmus sees all this in dreams, whereas Joseph Smith said they took place in reality.

A Brief Synopsis of andquot;The Golden Potandquot;

andquot;The Golden Potandquot; fairy tale is about Anselmus, a young man who has a split personality. His real life is dull, ordinary, and without meaning. Life in his fantasy dreams is exciting, unordinary and full of import. Anselmus is a theology student, but he usually prefers his fantasy world to his studies. His friends, such as theology professor Paulmann, the professor's daughter Veronica, and the college registrar Heerbrand all regard him as essentially andquot;mad.andquot; When Anselmus is in fantasy, Paulmann becomes Archivarius Lindhorst, the last archivist of Atlantis. Hoffmann clearly tells us that Lindhorst does not live in the flesh but has andquot;existence in the world of spirits.andquot;24 Veronica becomes Serpentina, one of Lindhorst's three daughters, who appear as little green snakes. Herrbrand seemingly has no counterpart but may be a portrayal of Anselmus at times. A nice old woman named Liese is in the story; she becomes an old witch in the fantasy dreams.

An important key to this fairy tale is that whenever Lindhorst, Serpentina, or the old witch are mentioned, Anselmus is in his dream world. Sometimes his dreams include real people mixed with the fantasy figures. After Vigil Eight, Anselmus, who andquot;has long been mente Captus,andquot; increasingly withdraws until in Vigil Twelve he is completely removed andquot;to the mysterious [Atlantean] land of wonders.andquot;25 In other words, he commits suicide. After Vigil Eight, except for a few flashbacks, there is no connection between the fairy tale and Joseph Smith's account of obtaining gold plates.

Vigil One:
The First Vision of the Eveningand#151;Receiving a Message

In early evening on Ascension Day, Anselmus is under an elder tree meditating about his shortcomings as one of God's future ministers. He passes into a dream experience and sees the three daughters of Lindhorst, each in the form of a green snake in the elder tree. One of the daughters, Serpentina, speaks to Anselmus, but he does not fully comprehend. Only after his fourth vision does the message become clear.26 Lindhorst is nearby in his study, across the river, listening and aware of what is transpiring but does not speak to Anselmus.27

Vigil Two:
The Second Vision of the Eveningand#151;Called to andquot;Translateandquot; Rare Documents

Upon awakening from his first fantasy dream, Anselmus is thought to be drunk or a bit crazy, especially in the eyes of his friends Paulmann, Veronica, and Heerbrand. They invite Anselmus to Paulmann's house to shake off his vision. Now late but still at the Paulmann house, Anselmus has a second dream experience. In this dream (and we know it's a fantasy because the fairy-figure Lindhorst is present), Heerbrand informs Anselmus that Lindhorst needs a secretary to copy the ancient records of his Atlantean civilization. Interested, Anselmus agrees to visit Lindhorst the following morning. Still in his dream, Anselmus does so. On the way he: (1) thinks about the generous salary and gift (a seeric pot) that he will receive; (2) encounters an evil witch, who tells him telepathically that he will fail in his assignment; (3) is frightened by the old witch at Lindhorst's doorstep; (4) and is abused by andquot;a white serpent,andquot; who is Lindhorst in one of his frightful forms. Paulmann, finding Anselmus andquot;lying quite senseless at the doorandquot; (in other words, still dreaming), returns him to his home.28 Thus, andquot;on returning to his senses, he [Anselmus] was lying on his own poor truckle-bed.andquot; Paulmann is there when he awakes and again thinks Anselmus is andquot;mad.andquot;

Vigil Three:
The Third Vision of the Eveningand#151;Hearing the History of Atlantis

Still in bed, Anselmus dreams he is at a cafandeacute; with Heerbrand. They listen to (fairy-figure) Lindhorst give a brief historical account of his life, which includes the founding of Atlantis by his ancestors. Anselmus agrees to copy Lindhorst's Atlantean manuscripts, promising to come andquot;tomorrowandquot; (his second try) and commence the work no matter what the obstacles.

Vigil Four:
The Morning Vision (4th)and#151;The Message Becomes Clear

Again under the elder tree, andquot;no sooner had he [Anselmus] seated himself on it than the whole vision which he had previously seen as in a heavenly trance again came floating before him. It was clearer to him now than ever.andquot; Anselmus believes this is confirmation that everything the andquot;glorious dreams have promised me of [in] another higher world shall be fulfilled.andquot;

Anselmus is so excited that he thereafter spends andquot;every eveningandquot; under the elder tree. One evening Lindhorst appears and chastises him, asking him why he has not come to do the scribal work as promised. Anselmus says that it was because of the frightful experiences on Lindhorst's doorstep. Lindhorst tells him, andquot;I have waited for several days in vain.andquot; Anselmus again promises to come andquot;tomorrow.andquot;

Vigil Five:
Waiting for the Fall Equinox

Vigil Five opens with Anselmus having for andquot;two days been copying manuscripts at Archivarius Lindhorst's.andquot; Lindhorst likes the work the young man is doing, but it is too soon to know if he will be suitable for the Atlantean history project. andquot;We will talk of it this time a year from now,andquot; it is decided. Meanwhile, a nice old woman named Liese induces Anselmus's fiancandeacute;e, Veronica, to venture out on a fall equinox adventure. The old woman will conjure Anselmus and assure a happy future for them, but only if Veronica is present. Loving Anselmus, and desperate andquot;to rescue him from the phantoms, which were mocking and befooling him,andquot; Veronica agrees.29 When the fall equinox arrives, we see Liese become an old witch in Veronica's fantasy dream. The witch's true motive is to kill Anselmus, her competition, and obtain the seeric pot for herself.30

Vigil Six:
Another Visitand#151;A Period of Probation

In another dream, Anselmus reaches Lindhorst's house and the door swings open on its own. Lindhorst appears and takes him through the following rooms: (1) andquot;the gardenandquot; room or andquot;greenhouse,andquot; with various birds, flowers, and trees; (2) several other decorated rooms all containing andquot;glittering wondrous furniture and other unknown thingsandquot;; and (3) a blue room containing andquot;palm-treesandquot; with glittering andquot;leavesandquot;and#151;each leaf andquot;a roll of parchment.andquot;31 In the middle of the blue room, resting on a tripod of Egyptian lions, is an Egyptian breastplate; resting on it is a seeric golden pot. Anselmus is most excited about the seeric device. Continuing, they arrive at a andquot;libraryandquot; where Anselmus will work. Lindhorst hands him an Arabic manuscript to copy and explains that andquot;while laboring here, you are under going a season of instruction.andquot; As Anselmus finishes each manuscript, Lindhorst hands him another, then another, and so forth. Anselmus is promised that if he is successful, he will work in the blue room. The young man gains confidence, encouraged by Serpentina. At day's end, Lindhorst is obviously pleased with his protandeacute;gandeacute;'s work and appears in a majestic form to praise and compensate him. Excited about his work, Anselmus no longer thinks about getting rich.

Vigil Seven:
On the Equinoxand#151;Anselmus Passes His Test

The old woman and Veronica now andquot;undertake the adventure of the Equinox.andquot; They andquot;went at midnightandquot; and andquot;conjured certain hellish spiritsandquot; by drawing a magic circle and performing certain other rituals. When Anselmus is conjured up, the old woman reveals herself to be the evil witch and issues a command to her andquot;hellish spiritsandquot; to andquot;Bite him to death.andquot; Lindhorst arrives in the form of an eagle to save Anselmus and send the crone home. Using a andquot;bright polished metallic mirror,andquot; Veronica sees her fiancandeacute;e andquot;sitting in a stately chamberandquot; (the blue room rather than the usual library) with the strangest furniture and diligently writing at a desk encircled by andquot;large books with gilt leaves.andquot; Veronica wakes andquot;as from a deep dreamandquot; in which she has learned that Anselmus has passed his probationary test.

Vigil Eight:
andquot;Translatingandquot; the Atlantean History

Anselmus was seen by his fiancandeacute;e on the equinox in the room with the golden pot, breastplate, and special records. But in Anselmus's dream, Lindhorst makes him wait a few more days before andquot;translatingandquot; the Atlantean records. As an apprenticeand#151;while on probationand#151;Anselmus was a scribe only. However, now that he has seen the higher purpose of his assignment, beyond the money, he will leave the common library and the work of copying of manuscripts and graduate to the blue room and a more difficult assignment. In the blue room, Lindhorst pulls a leaf from one of the many palm trees in the room, andquot;and Anselmus saw that the leaf was in truth a roll of parchment, which the Archivarius unfolded, and spread out before the Student on the table.andquot; The writing is a mixture of Arabic, Coptic, and some in an unknown tongue. Anselmus andquot;directed his eyes and thoughts more and more intensely on the superscription of the parchment roll; and before long he felt, as it were from his inmost soul, that the characters could denote nothing else than these words: Of the marriage of the Salamander with the green snake,andquot; a reference to Lindhorst's distant ancestors who founded Atlantis. Continuing beyond the superscription, Anselmus begins to write the story of Lindhorst andquot;and his history.andquot; He receives the translation in the form of inspirational whispers from Serpentina, an Atlantean, while Anselmus is in a state of dreamy musings. At the end of the first day, when Anselmus andquot;awoke as from a deep dream, the copy of the mysterious manuscript was fairly concluded; and he thought, on viewing the characters more narrowly, that the writing was nothing else but Serpentina's story of her father [Lindhorst] in Atlantis, the land of marvels.andquot; andquot;Day by dayandquot; Anselmus continues to write or andquot;translatingandquot; Lindhorst's history in this manner. In other words, he is not merely transferring foreign characters from one document to another but is receiving understanding, knowledge, and meaning.

Hi PP,

You have been a great supporter of An Insider's View. The companion book of where I would like to see the LDS Church go, The Incomparable Jesus, is finally available here in SLC, and should be available from Amazon.com in about a week.

Benchmark Books offers a toll free # at: 1-800-486-3112, for $14:95.

I would appreciate if you would make this information known to those you think would be interested.

Thank you, Grant

"The autobiography,... was compiled from "various forms of manuscript, some in book form, some in loose leaves, whilst others were extracts from the Millennial Star, and other publications." The task of compiling, collating, and editing was laid upon Pratt's oldest son Parley P. Pratt, Jr. who was charged "just before [Parley's] departure on his last mission to the United States" with the "responsibility of publishing his history... Pratt's untimely death on May 13, 1857 required the younger Pratt to "[discharge the] duty..."

"The Narrow Neck Proposition, A Sub Theory -- Associated with the Unknown Planet Theory, but somewhat removed from its basic premise that the Lost Ten Tribes are now supposedly on a "portion of the earth" that has been "separated, detached or taken away from our globe," and placed on some other "planet, orb, sphere, and or near another star somewhere in the universe," is the "Narrow Neck Proposition." This "proposition" (perhaps better referred to as a kind of "sub-theory" of the main Unknown Planet Theory) states that "attached" to the earth by "a narrow neck of land" are two spheres (invisible or otherwise) which vary in size - one which is connected to the earth "north of the north pole" and the other which is connected to our globe "south of the south pole."