Source: Steven C. Harper, Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants: A Guided Tour Through Modern Revelations (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2008), 413
OUTCOMES
Doctrine and Covenants 111 reoriented Joseph and his companions. They sought out the place where the Lord wanted them to say, a house on Union Street not far form where Nathaniel Hawthrone was writing tales of buried treasure in Salem and the local newspaper was reporting similar rumours. [3] They visited from house to house and did some preaching. On August 19 they visited the East India Marine Society Museum. They were comparatively relaxed as they attempted to obey the revelation instructing them to stop being concerned with their debts and with things they could not control in Zion to focus instead on souls both past and present.
These efforts led to some of the “treasures” the Lord mentioned in verse 10. Returning from another trip to Salem in 1841, Hyrum Smith met with Erastus Snow, gave him a copy of section 111 and urged him to go there and harvest the “many people” the Lord promised to gather in due time (v. 2). At great sacrifice to himself and his family, Elder Snow went. He and Benjamin Winchester started the harvest, and others followed. In 1841 the Salem Gazette announced that “a very worthy and respectable laboring man, and his wife, were baptized by immersion in the Mormon Faith.” Six months later the Salem Register noted that “Mormonism is advancing with a perfect rush in this city.” [4] The Church has inquired into Salem’s early inhabitants, too. The early records of Salem and surrounding areas have been preserved and are accessible for genealogical research leading to the sacred ordinances of the house of the Lord.
With section 111, the Lord turned follies into treasures in his own due time.
Notes for the Above:
[3] David R. Proper, “Joseph Smith and Salem,” Essex Institute Historical Collections 100 (April 1964): 93. On August 6, 1836, the day section 111 was revealed, the Salem Observer reprinted a Long Island Star article on rumors of treasure buried by Captain Kidd and unsuccessful efforts to find it.
[4] Salem Gazette, December 7, 1841; Salem Register, June 2, 1842.
Further Reading: