According to Latter Day Saint theology, seer stones were used by Joseph Smith, as well as ancient prophets, to receive revelations from God. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) believe that Smith used seer stones to translate the Book of Mormon. The culture that early Latter Day Saints developed in was steeped in western esotericism. A seer stone in this culture was a prevalent divination tool used for a form of crystal gazing, or scrying.