One of the most exciting stories of lost treasure comes from the early days of the Mormon settlers in Utah. If you have ever been to Salt Lake City, the most impressive site is the Mormon Temple. On the very top of the temple is a statue of the angel, Moroni. The statue is covered with solid gold. According to Mormon legend the gold was provided by Thomas Rhoades, from mines known only to him. This is the story of those mines.

The story begins with Brigham Young adopting and baptizing Chief Wakara, of the Ute Indians, as a member of the Mormon Church. Wakara made an agreement with Brigham, that he could designate one man as his representative and Wakara would show him where a fabulous gold mine was located. Brigham designated Thomas Rhoades as his representative. Wakara took Rhoades to the secret place where the gold was hidden, only after he and Brigham had agreed that no other man would ever know it's location. During his trips into the mountains, Rhoades discovered several old Spanish mines, but they were not the source of the Church gold shown to him by Wakara. Very likely some of the Indians who accompanied him to the place where the sacred gold was hidden also showed him places where other ancient mines were located. This Link will take you to a Deseret News story written about Thomas Rhoades just last year.

According to the story the mines were located in the Uinta Mountains, in an area approximately 75 miles long from Hanna to White Rocks. I have traveled much of this country and it is very rugged. Even if you knew within a mile where the mine was located, it might take you a lifetime to find it. I have spent alot of time in the area of Rock Creek and Moon Lake following clues. Even if you don't find anything, it is a beautiful area to visit. From my investigations I have determined that there may be as many as seven mines. The one that Rhoades was taken to is considered sacred by the Indians, and is know to them by the name of, Carre-Shin-Ob. According to the legend the Indians didn't pass the location on to the next generation. Chief Wakara was concerned because the younger braves were learning about white man's whiskey and that they would sell the secret of the treasure for whiskey.

There are many stories about people who have found pieces of the Spanish treasure in this area. One story tells about a doctor that was fishing along Rock Creek. As he worked his way along the river he found an iron door set into the hillside, under some weeds. As he was trying to get the door open he heard a sound. He turned to find two Indians behind him. They grabbed him and cut off his hand. They told him, if he ever came there again, it would be his head. There have been a number of people that have died in these mountains while looking for this treasures. So if you go looking, be sure to watch your back.

At the lodge at Moon Lake they have an old Spanish cannon that was found in the area. There have been Spanish gold pans found in the area and also Spanish armor. All of the mines were originally worked by the Spanish, they worked the Indians as slaves until the Indians, finally rebelled and drove them out. Years later a group of 10 Spaniards tried to sneak back and recover some of the gold they had hidden. The Indians caught them and slaughtered them all. They say they buried the whole wagon full of gold somewhere near Rock Creek If you would like to learn more about this Treasure, there are two very good books on the subject they are, "Footprints in the Wilderness ", by Gale Rhoads, and "Faded Footprints ", by George A. Thompson.