Conclusion

To the first readers the Book of Mormon was much more than a religious record. It was also a political commentary, a critique of Jacksonian America. Right or wrong, it is certain that Martin Harris and other early readers held anti-Masonic interpretations of the Book of Mormon's contents. How deep these went is not entirely clear. I have attempted to suggest possible ways Harris and others interpreted the book's contents.

Did Harris and other early readers follow the prevalent anti-Masonic rhetoric that Jackson and his supporters were a Masonic party, a political "secret combination" seeking to destroy the nation? They certainly would have found grounds for this view in the Book of Mormon. Besides warning Jacksonian America of the political ascendancy of "secret combinations," other aspects in the Book of Mormon's description of the decline and destruction of the Nephite and Jaredite nations undoubtedly reminded the earlier readers of Jackson of these concerns: the gradual disintegration of theocracy, the acceptance of non-religious leadership, a general lack of concern for the nation's spiritual welfare and persecution of the prophets, pursuit of worldly wealth, social and religious pluralism, unfair competitive advantage of the upper classes, decentralization of government, and the break out of civil strife. If Harris and others were typical anti-Masons who feared Jackson's rule, the Book of Mormon did little to quell that anxiety.

The Book of Mormon, however, was much more than political anti-Masonry and a defense of the concept of a "Christian party in politics." It does not simply advocate that political leaders should be religious, but rather it puts forth the more radical proposition that the ideal political leader should be charismatic or inspired. While the Book of Mormon rejected the Jacksonians as irreligious, it ultimately rejected the Adams administration and other ex-Federalists, even anti-Masons as religious hypocrites, members of corrupt churches, and without proper authority to carry out their pan. No one, not even the best anti-Masons, had authority to establish a Christian party in politics. The Book of Mormon warns Jacksonian Americans to flee to the theocracy of the New Jerusalem or be destroyed (III Nephi 20:22; 21:21-29; Ether 13:1-11). Thus early Mormonism was not simply a reflection of political anti-Masonry, if anything, it was a radicalized, charismatic version.