I now proceed forward with some speculative thinking in understanding Joseph Smith's original motives prior to and while writing the Book of Mormon. We all know that Joseph Smith was a treasure digger and if there were treasures to be found he could find them unless they
slipped back into the ground. Or how about treasures hidden away in an old house in
Salem? Smith would love to find the goods. Get my drift? Smith loved the fantasy of having treasure and the thought of having gold excited him. His heart was set on gold and silver and WOMEN! Oh, he loved women and the more the merrier. Sorry, Emma, but you need to make room for other women. Joseph's appetites are very strong and he will take advantage as you so well know, mam!
Now, if Joseph really believed that his Book of Mormon story was a historical account based on the actual telling of an angel and real gold plates, then he would have acted on that belief. How so? He would have provided the information necessary for an expedition to uncover the ruins and recover the artifacts of the ancient Nephites. Absolutely, he would have! It would have been Joseph Smith the archeologist all the way!
But as it was, Smith knew his story was just a story that he made up. He knew it was fiction. He knew there was no such place as the land of Nephi or a temple at Bountiful. He knew there was nothing to prove his story, so there was nothing further to be said about it. He organized his new Church and went from there. Book of Mormon geography IN THE MIND OF JOSEPH was the joke for the Church. It stuck and the people bought it. Are you buying Joseph's joke too? It will cost you 10% of your income, increase, and interest. Pay up!