Smith As A Treasure Seeker
Vogel states that he believes that the significance of treasure seeking in Smith’s early life deserves greater emphasis than has been given in previous biographies, and presents Smith as “a leader among the treasure seers of Manchester, New York.” Regarding these activities, it is suggested that “Smith was both convinced of his ability and also deceptive” and that “Smith may have believed himself to be inspired and may have at times heard voices or experienced visions but still used some deception to convince others.” In order to support the thesis of Smith’s primary focus in life being treasure hunting, the author makes extensive use of the Hurlbut affidavits originally published in E. D. Howe’s exposé Mormonism Unvailed and other early anti-Mormon publications.
Read more about this topic: Joseph Smith: The Making Of A Prophet
Famous quotes containing the words smith, treasure and/or seeker:
“Most people sell their souls, and live with a good conscience on the proceeds.”
—Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946)
“Our treasure lies in the beehive of our knowledge. We are perpetually on the way thither, being by nature winged insects and honey gatherers of the mind.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“How much more the seeker of abstract truth, who needs periods of isolation, and rapt concentration, and almost a going out of the body to think!”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)