Summary:
The Smith family and other treasure seekers believed that enchantments on buried treasure had the power to move the treasure under the earth so that those seeking the hidden valuables could not acquire them. Porter Rockwell, a childhood friend of Joseph's stated how "the spades often struck the iron sides of the treasure chest, and how it was charmed away, now six inches this side, now four feet deeper, and again completely out of reach. " The treasure would move by means of some kind of enchantment.
Why this matters:
- In one instance, Joseph's father eagerly jumped into the pit they were digging and struck his pick allegedly on the lid of a chest breaking a piece off. The chest itself slipped away deeper into the ground but Joseph would later show this piece of the treasure chest as proof of how close they had once come.
- Slippery treasure is mentioned several times in the Book of Mormon, where the land was cursed and items buried could be lost forever.
- Joseph Smith and his family were hired by others to look for treasure on their land. They never found anything. The excuse of the treasure just being out of reach seems convenient.
- Sometimes an evil spirit or guardian would prevent the treasure seekers from getting their treasure. This foreshadows the actual acquisition of the plates from the Angel Moroni. Joseph could not get the plates until the Angel allowed him to.
- From a modern (non-magical) perspective "slippery treasure" is a highly suspect reason for not finding anything on the treasure digs.
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