The Nation - News from May 6, 1985

A Mormon Church official says that, despite his earlier denials, the church does possess a letter in which founder Joseph Smith reportedly gives advice on magic. Jerry Cahill, spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said in Salt Lake City that he had been mistaken in saying last week that the church did not have the 130-year-old letter. Cahill said he inquired about the document “sometime back last year” and at that time the church did not have it. When asked again about the letter recently, he assumed nothing had changed. “I just goofed,” he said. “I relied on earlier information.”