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Guide Home > Early LDS History > Treasure Digging

Additional Topics

The following are additional topic areas related to Treasure Digging. If there is a bracket number after the topic, that number indicates how many actual articles there are related to that subject. If the link for the topic is not live, it simply means the topic is a 'planned area' for future growth.

1826 Trial [3]
Angel Moroni & Spaniard Ghosts [1]

FAIR Resources

These links are either to Web pages hosted on the FAIR Website, or to FAIR Papers. FAIR Papers are short articles about specific topics or questions, written by members of FAIR. These articles can be downloaded and read in PDF format and are intended to be distributed by e-mail or print for the general use of our patrons. (To read FAIR Papers you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. It can be downloaded free from the Adobe Web site.) Click on a title below to visit a FAIR Web page or to read the latest version of a FAIR Paper.

Russell Anderson, "The 1826 Trial of Joseph Smith," (2002 FAIR Conference presentation.) Was Joseph Smith convicted of being a fraud and glass looker?

Russell Anderson, "The 1826 Trial of Joseph Smith," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, August 2002) In his 2002 FAIR Conference presentation, Russell Anderson responds to critics who attempt to use the 1826 "trial" to impugn the reputation and character of Joseph Smith.

Samuel Katich, "Joseph Smith," Mormonism 201 (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR) Katich explores the many issues regarding Joseph Smith that are mentioned in Mormonism 101. Such issues include: polygamy, polyandry, imperfections, treasure digging and more.

Other Resources

The resources listed below are related items available on the Web that should be of interest. These links are to information not located on the FAIR Web site.

Richard L. Anderson, "The Mature Joseph Smith and Treasure Digging," BYU Studies (1984), 489-560 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.

Michael R. Ash, Treasure Digging and Seerstones.

Mark Ashhurst-McGee, "Moroni as Angel and as Treasure Guardian," FARMS Review (City Unknown: FARMS, 2006), 35-100 Mark Ashurst-McGee the sources and context in which Joseph Smith would have understood the Angel Moroni as a treasure guardian while still maintaining a belief that Moroni was an angel from God sent to bring forth new scripture.

Mark Ashurst-McGee, "Moroni: Angel or Treasure Guardian," Mormon Historical Studies (Sandy: Mormon Historic Site Foundation, 2001), 39-75

Marvin S. Hill, "Money-Digging Folklore and the Beginnings of Mormonism: An Interpretive Suggestion," BYU Stuides (1984), 473-488 Over the years, LDS church historians have responded to claims that the Mormon movement because as a money-digging speculation with accounts that minimize or deny any such connections. It has been seemingly assumed until very recently that if Joseph Smith believed in and practiced magic to find buried treasure then his story of the inspired discovery of the plates of the Book of Mormon may be suspect. Needless to say, the recent appearance of two letters with gold digging implications gave new life to the discussion of Mormon origins in these terms. The first is purportedly written by Joseph Smith in 1825 to Josiah Stowell. The second is attributed to Martin Harris, written in 1830 to W. W. Phelps.

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Last Updated September 28, 2008
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