Thursday, February 11, 2021

Gracia N. Jones on D&C 111

 

 

The Salem Incident

 

Presuming that the Lord would surely bless his Prophet with the means to pay his debts, Joseph expected to find a solution. A man named Burgess showed up with a story that there was a treasure, supposedly hidden many years ago, in a house in Salem, Massachusetts. It was hoped that the Lord would bless Joseph to find this treasure, perhaps like the apostles of old found a coin in the mouth of a fish, in order for the Lord to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s.” On Monday afternoon, 25 July 1836, Joseph, Hyrum, Oliver, Sidney, and Sidney’s son-in-law, George Robinson (who was serving as Joseph’s scribe at the time), left by carriage for Salem, in hopes of finding the house, and the treasure, in order to provide badly needed funds to make the building of the Lord’s kingdom possible. On 19 August, Joseph wrote to Emma that they had arrived (Dean C. Jesse, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1984], pp. 349-50). While Joseph was away, Emma would have had to deal with many inquiries about where he had gone; those who knew that he was doing must have pressed her for news for his success or failure in this venture.

 

In Salem, the group was disappointed at every turn. After a time it became obvious that they were not going to find any treasure. Much disturbed and concerned, Joseph went to the Lord to inquire why. The answer came in the form of a revelation that informed Joseph the Lord was “not displeased” with them, notwithstanding their foolish attempt to find a treasure to finance the work (See Doctrine & Covenants 111). He was informed that in spite of his folly, the Lord would bless them. They were instructed to preach the gospel in and around Salem, and to look into the records of the past, as the records of their ancestors were to be found in that city—a treasure of a different kind, to be sure.

 

The Lor told Joseph not to concern himself about the debts, assuring him that the means of paying them would be provided, not through finding treasure, but by an increase of members who would give abundantly to the cause. Clearly, the Lord let Joseph come to the understanding that He (the Lord) would build His kingdom through sacrifice and service, not through miracles.

 

By the time they arrived home in the middle of September, a new plan had been devised, which they felt could alleviate the financial crisis. Since the Church had a great deal of land, it was hoped they could convert these solid assets into cash by opening a banking establishment in Kirtland. In November, papers were drawn up creating the Kirtland Safety Society. Orson Hyde went to Columbus to make application for Articles of Incorporation and to request a charter from the Ohio State Legislature. So sure were they of this plan, that Oliver was dispatched to Philadelphia to obtain plates to print notes for the Society. (Gracia M. Jones, Emma and Joseph: Their Divine Mission [American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications, Inc., 1999], 106-7)

 

Further Reading

 

Elizabeth Kuehn, More Treasures than One

 

Craig James Ostler, Treasures, Witches, and Ancient Inhabitants (D&C 111)