Alan Taylor

assistant professor of history, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Rediscovering the Context of Joseph Smith’s Treasure Seeking

Dialogue 19.4 (Winter1986): 18–28
Taylor identifies the history behind the Smith Family and treasure seeking. During the 19th century treasure seeking is associated with both greed, but also obtaining spirtual knowledge like in Joseph Smith’s case.

Mormon Magic | D. Michael Quinn, Early Mormonism and the Magic World View

Articles/Essays – Volume 21, No. 2

Until recently, most Mormon writers have been pressed onto the defensive by the insistence with which anti-Mormons have exploited every hint that Joseph Smith, Jr.’s, family practiced folk magic. Consequently, the mounting evidence for the…