Mormons and Magick

Mormons, often unwittingly, participate in magickal ceremonies; also known as rituals. Don’t believe me? Allow me to illustrate.

O God, the Eternal Father!
We ask thee in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify
This bread to the souls of all those
Who partake of it.  That they may eat in remembrance
Of the body of thy son, and witness unto thee, O God,
The Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name
Of thy son, and always remember him,
And keep his commandments which he hath given them,
That they may always have his spirit to be with them.
Amen.

O God, the Eternal Father!
We ask thee, in the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, to bless
And sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it,
That they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy son,
Which was shed for them.  That they may witness unto thee, O God,
The Eternal Father, that they do always remember him,
That they may have his spirit to be with them.  Amen.

Smith, Joseph. The Book of Mormon in Three Volumes: Three: Words of Jesus, Jaredite History, and writings of Mormon and Moroni (p. 204). Kindle Edition.

These incantations are offered each week during Mormon’s Sunday service. It is considered to be the pinnacle of Sunday worship.

Currently, Mormons, on average, believe that this prayer, and consumption of bread and wine (err, water), results in a re-baptism of sorts; a cleansing and forgiveness from the sins of the week. The prayer is offered by an Elder or Priest (typically, in the current Mormon tradition, it is a Priest), and the Bishop oversees the ritual, listening to ensure that the Priest says all the correct words. If a single word is said incorrectly, the Bishop will have the Priest repeat the prayer to make sure it is performed correctly.

In case you’re unaware, when practicing magick, the practitioner should do well to ensure their spells are performed with exactness; words, intent, etc. otherwise, it could result in, as one author puts it, flabbergasting failures. (A word to practicing Mormons: you may want to see if your Bishop is willing to have the Priests recite the prayer with exactness; replacing wine with water in the incantation may seem innocuous, but it may be the reason you do not see the promised blessings in your life. Just a suggestion.)

If that doesn’t convince you that Mormons believe in, and actively practice, magick, I’m not sure what else I can do to satisfy you, at this time. That being said, as it is written:

Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive!
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you!
For he that asketh, receiveth.
And unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Smith, Joseph. The Book of Mormon in Three Volumes: Three: Words of Jesus, Jaredite History, and writings of Mormon and Moroni (p. 122). Kindle Edition.