Utah's Dream Mine keeps 19th century Mormon prophecy alive
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The Dream Mine in 2017. Satellite image via Google Earth
130 years ago this week, excavation began in a Utah County mountain that now stands as a monument to 19th century mysticism and faith: The Dream Mine.
- This is Old News, our weekly attempt to tunnel through the ores of Utah's past.
The intrigue: By 1894, farmer John Hyrum Koyle had robust confidence in his dreams. Eight years earlier, Koyle said he dreamed of a cow that had gone missing, and found her at the spot his vision showed.
- So when the Angel Moroni appeared in a dream and showed him caverns of gold and ancient relics in a nearby mountain, Koyle grabbed the nearest shovel.
Catch up quick: Moroni was the same angel Joseph Smith said revealed the Book of Mormon to him.
- The similarity between Koyle's professed visions and those described by Smith made them plausible to his neighbors, wrote historian Kevin Cantera.
Follow the money: The Koyle Mining Company incorporated 15 years later, drawing in "the credulous but thrifty poor among the Mormons," one of Koyle's followers wrote.
- They believed they were unearthing wealth that would help the church during the second coming of Jesus.
Friction point: By the turn of the century, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was pulling away from its earlier mysticism — and its leaders were suspicious Koyle was scamming his investors.
- Meanwhile, Koyle's followers thought church leaders were jealous of his prophetic powers.
Fallout: Koyle operated the mine on and off during the following decades, and ultimately was excommunicated in 1948. He died the following year.
- The mine had produced just $103.03 worth of ore.
Yes, but: Koyle's followers launched the Relief Mine Company in 1961 as the successor to the original company.
- It still exists and, while not operational, performs $100 of mining labor each year to keep its mining claim, Vice reported in 2016.
The latest: The Relief Mine had 7,500 stockholders as of Friday, according to the company's website.