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The Mature Joseph Smith and Treasure Searching

TitleThe Mature Joseph Smith and Treasure Searching
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1984
AuthorsAnderson, Richard Lloyd
JournalBYU Studies Quarterly
Volume24
Issue4
Pagination489-560
Date PublishedFall 1984
KeywordsEarly Church History; Folk Magic; Smith, Joseph, Jr.; Treasure Seeking
Abstract

The past year intensified the study of the Prophet's early life because of the release of two "treasure letters" seeming to illuminate the pre-Book of Mormon period. The questionable letter of Joseph Smith to Josiah Stowell in 1825 has a "clever spirit" guarding a treasure hoard. The questionable 1830 letter from Martin Harris to William W. Phelps claims that Joseph spoke of a salamander and "old spirit" at the hill in 1827, though Joseph's real experience could be obscured by such a singular secondhand report. Publicity on these documents has stimulated research and reevaluation, some of it asserting a lifelong interest of the Prophet in paranormal discovery of riches. This paper examines the basis of such claims after 1827 and finds them wanting.

Editor's Note: The online version of this article was revised after it became public knowledge that the 1830 Martin Harris letter referred to in the article was a Mark Hofmann forgery.

URLhttps://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-mature-joseph-smith-and-treasure-searching/?post_type=article&p=10130